Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-01281/USCOURTS-cand-3_12-cv-01281-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TIMOTHY PEOPLES, JR., H-63933, 

Plaintiff(s),

 v.

MATTHEW CATE, et al.,

Defendant(s). 

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No. C 12-1281 CRB (PR)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION

TO VACATE DISMISSAL

AND REOPENING CASE

(Dkt. #104)

Per order filed on February 2, 2015, the court granted defendants’ motion

for summary judgment and dismissal with partial leave to amend. The court

specified that plaintiff could amend to allege a retaliation claim and a separate

claim of denial of medical care against Dr. Mack, “within 28 days of this order.” 

Feb. 2, 2015 Order (dkt. #101) at 15. The court warned plaintiff that “[f]ailure to

file a proper amended complaint within the designated time will result in the

dismissal of this action.” Id.

Per order filed on March 26, 2015, the court dismissed the action because

“[m]ore than 50 days have passed and plaintiff has not filed an amended

complaint or sought an extension of time to do so,” and instructed the clerk to 

enter judgment and close the file. Mar. 26, 2015 Order (dkt. #102) at 1.

Plaintiff promptly moved to vacate the dismissal based on his claim that

he did not receive the February 2, 2015 order granting defendants’ motion for

summary judgment and dismissal with partial leave to amend. At the court’s

request, defendants filed a response noting that they do not oppose plaintiff’s

motion because a review of plaintiff’s incoming mail log indicates that he did not

receive any mail from the court during the month of February 2015. 

Case 3:12-cv-01281-CRB Document 108 Filed 06/02/15 Page 1 of 2
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Good cause appearing therefor, plaintiff’s motion (dkt. #104) to vacate the

dismissal is GRANTED. The clerk shall vacate the March 26, 2015 order of

dismissal and corresponding judgment, and reopen this case. The clerk also shall

serve plaintiff with a copy of the February 2, 2015 order and of this order.

By no later than July 10, 2015, plaintiff may amend to allege a retaliation

claim and a separate claim of denial of medical care against Dr. Mack, as set for

in detail in the February 2, 2015 order. The pleading must be simple and concise

and must include the caption and civil case number used in this order and the

words FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT on the first page. Failure to file a

proper amended complaint within the designated time will result in the dismissal

of this action.

Plaintiff’s renewed request for appointment of counsel is denied for lack

of exceptional circumstances. See Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1236 (9th

Cir. 1984) (decision to request counsel to represent an indigent litigant under 28

U.S.C. § 1915 is within “the sound discretion of the trial court and is granted only

in exceptional circumstances”). The court will consider appointment of counsel

on its own motion, and seek volunteer counsel to agree to represent plaintiff pro

bono, if it determines at a later time in the proceedings that appointment of

counsel is warranted. 

SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 1, 2015 

CHARLES R. BREYER

United States District Judge

G:\PRO-SE\CRB\CR.12\Peoples, T.12-1281.vacate-dismissal.wpd

Case 3:12-cv-01281-CRB Document 108 Filed 06/02/15 Page 2 of 2