Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00512/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00512-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD JOSE DUPREE, JR. et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF 

CALIFORNIA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:15-cv-00512-AWI-SAB(PC)

ORDER DENYING LEAVE TO PROCEED 

IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND DISMISSING 

THE ACTION WITHOUT PREJUDICE

On March 23, 2015, Plaintiff Richard Jose Dupree, Jr., a state prisoner proceeding pro se,

filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the Sacramento Division of the 

Eastern District of California. Plaintiff also filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis by 

a prisoner. On April 2, 2015, the action was transferred to the Fresno Division and assigned to 

the undersigned.

Initially, the Court notes the Plaintiff states that this is a class action on behalf of himself 

and Luciano Galindo Lopez. A plaintiff, who is not an attorney, may not represent anyone but 

himself in court. Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th Cir. 1997); C. E. Pope 

Equity Trust v. United States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987). It is well established that a 

layperson cannot represent the interests of a class. Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 

(4th Cir. 1975). Plaintiff cannot bring this action pro se on behalf of other inmates.

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Further, Plaintiff is not entitled to proceed in forma pauperis in this action.1 Section 

1915(g) provides that “[i]n no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action . . . under this section if 

the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, 

brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that 

it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the 

prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In order to 

determine whether Plaintiff is entitled to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court may take judicial 

notice of court records in other cases. See United States v. Howard, 381 F.3d 873, 876 n.1 (9th 

Cir. 2004).

Here, Plaintiff has on more than three occasions, while incarcerated, brought an action 

that was dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The Court 

takes judicial notice of case numbers Dupree v. Scott, et al., No. 1:11-cv-00565-OWW-DLB 

(E.D. Cal.) (dismissed on July 12, 2011 as frivolous and for failure to state a claim; no appeal 

filed); Dupree v. Stephens, et al., No. 1:11-cv-01193-GSA (E.D. Cal) (dismissed on July 22, 

2011 for failure to state a claim; no appeal filed); Dupree v. Santiago, et al., No. 2:11-cv-00309-

EFC (E.D. Cal.) (dismissed on Feb. 22, 2011, for failure to state a claim; affirmed on appeal, 

mandate issued Jul. 28, 2011); Dupree v. U.S. Court’s of the Eastern Dist. Of Cal., No. 2:11-cv00263-DAD (E.D. Cal.) (dismissed on Mar. 24, 2011, as frivolous; no appeal filed); Dupree v. 

Mills, No. 2:11-cv-01619-JAM-DAD (E.D. Cal.) (dismissed on March 29, 2012 for failure to 

state a claim; no appeal filed); and Dupree v. U.S. Copyright Off., No. 2:11-cv-01700-WBS-KJN 

(E.D. Cal.) (dismissed on Jul. 28, 2011, as frivolous and for failure to state a claim; appeal 

dismissed on Dec. 22, 2011, for failure to pay filing fee) to name a few. These strikes were final 

prior to the date Plaintiff filed this action. Silva v. Di Vittorio, 658 F.3d 1090, 1098-1100 (9th 

Cir. 2011). Accordingly, Plaintiff is subject to section 1915(g) and is precluded from proceeding 

 

1 The Court notes that Plaintiff’s allegations are challenging his conviction and he is seeking immediate release from 

prison as well as monetary damages. Error! Main Document Only.When a prisoner is challenging the legality or 

duration of her custody and the relief she seeks is immediate or speedier release, her sole federal remedy is habeas 

corpus. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500, 93 S. Ct. 1827, 1841 (1973). Since Plaintiff clearly brought this as 

a civil rights action, the Court does not screen the complaint to determine whether the issues addressed could also 

constitute violations of his civil rights as he is precluded from proceeding in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(g).

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in forma pauperis unless he was, at the time the complaint was filed, under imminent danger of 

serious physical injury. 

The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s complaint and finds that Plaintiff does not meet the 

imminent danger exception. Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1053 (9th Cir. 2007). 

Plaintiff’s complaint alleges violations based upon his prosecution, trial, and conviction. 

Plaintiff also alleges that he is being falsely imprisoned and harmed by satellites that are being 

utilized to steal his intellectual property. Because Plaintiff alleges no facts supporting a finding 

that he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury, Plaintiff is ineligible to proceed in 

forma pauperis in this action. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this action are 

DENIED; 

2. This action is dismissed, without prejudice, to refiling with the submission of the 

$400.00 filing fee in full; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 9, 2015 

 SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE

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