Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00399/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00399-0/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

BARRY S. JAMESON, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

SCOTT RAWERS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:03-cv-5593-LJO-MJS (PC)

ORDER SEVERING PLAINTIFF’S CLAIMS

AND DIRECTING CLERK TO OPEN NEW

CASES FOR PLAINTIFFS SERRANO,

LAMB, AND GAITAN

(ECF No. 31)

I. Severance of Plaintiffs’ Claims

Plaintiffs Barry S. Jameson, Jessie L. Serrano, William Lamb, and Raul Gaitan

(“Plaintiffs”) are current and former state prisoners proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Having reviewed the record in this action, the Court determines that each Plaintiff

shall proceed separately on his own claims. 

Rule 21 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[o]n motion or on its

own, the court may at any time, on just terms, add or drop a party. The court may also

sever any claim against a party.” Courts have broad discretion regarding severance. See

Davis v. Mason County, 927 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1991). 

In the instant action, the four Plaintiffs are current and former prisoners of the State

of California. At one point in 2002-03, all of the Plaintiffs were simultaneously housed in

Avenal State Prison. At the time the Fifth Amended Complaint was filed in 2006, however,

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the four Plaintiffs were scattered with one Plaintiff incarcerated at Coalinga and the other

three out of prison and living in various cities throughout California. (ECF No. 31 at 49.) 

 In this Court’s experience, an action brought by multiple plaintiffs proceeding pro se

in which one or more of the plaintiffs is incarcerated presents procedural problems that

cause delay and confusion. Delay often arises from the frequent transfer of inmates to

other facilities or institutions, the changes in address that occur when inmates are released

on parole, and the difficulties faced by inmates who attempt to communicate with each

other and other unincarcerated individuals. In this case, the need for the Plaintiffs to agree

on all filings made in this action and the need for all filings to contain the original signatures

of all four Plaintiffs will lead to delay and confusion.

Accordingly, the Court shall order that the Plaintiffs’ claims be severed. Plaintiff

Jameson will proceed in this action, while Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan will proceed

in separate civil actions to be opened by the Clerk of the Court. Each Plaintiff shall

proceed separately and shall be solely responsible for his own action.

The Clerk of the Court will be directed to assign the new actions to the same

magistrate judge assigned to the instant action. The Clerk of the Court shall make an

appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for this

reassignment.

Since the claims of Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan will be severed, each shall

be given thirty days to file, in his own action, an amended complaint and a completed

application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, using the forms provided by the Court

with this order. 

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff Jameson shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case number 1:03-cv5593-LJO-MJS (PC);

2. The claims of Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan are severed from the

claims of Plaintiff Jameson;

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3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open three separate civil actions for Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and

Gaitan;

b. Assign the new actions to the magistrate judge to whom the instant

case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to

compensate for such assignment;

c. File and docket a copy of this order in the new actions opened for

Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan;

d. Place a copy of the Fifth Amended Complaint filed on April 20, 2006

in the instant action in the new actions opened for Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan;

e. Send Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan each an endorsed copy of

the Fifth Amended Complaint, filed April 20, 2006 bearing the case number assigned to his

own individual action;

f. Send PlaintiffsSerrano, Lamb, and Gaitan each a civil rights complaint

form; and

g. Send Plaintiffs Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan each the applications to

proceed in forma pauperis for a prisoner and non-prisoner;

4. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiffs

Serrano, Lamb, and Gaitan shall each file an amended complaint bearing his new case

number and either pay the filing fee in full or submit a completed application to proceed in

forma pauperis (prisoner or non-prisoner depending on incarceration status at the time of

completion) bearing his new case number; and

5. The failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that the

action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 7, 2011 /s/Michael J. Seng 

97k110 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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