Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00084/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-00084-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TERRENCE BROWNLEE,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S- 08-0084 GEB GGH P

vs.

A. HALL, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER 

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, seeks relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983, and has requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. This

proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 72-302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

28 U.S.C. § 1915 permits any court of the United States to authorize the

commencement and prosecution of any suit without prepayment of fees by a person who submits

an affidavit indicating that the person is unable to pay such fees. However, 

[i]n no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a

judgment in a civil action or proceeding 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.

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 Judicial notice may be taken of court records. Valerio v. Boise Cascade Corp., 80 1

F.R.D. 626, 635 n.1 (N.D. Cal. 1978), aff’d, 645 F.2d 699 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1126

(1981).

 The dismissal order specifically referenced 28 U.S.C. § 1915(A). 2

 The dismissal was affirmed on appeal. See Docket Entry # 23, in Case No. CIV S-04- 3

0623, filed on February 28, 2008. 

 Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PLRA), effective April 26, 1996. 4

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28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 

The plain language of the statute (§ 1915(g)) makes clear that a prisoner is

precluded from bringing a civil action or an appeal in forma pauperis if the prisoner has brought

three frivolous actions and/or appeals (or any combination thereof totaling three). See Rodriguez

v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1178 (9th Cir.1999). Court records, of which this court takes judicial

notice, indicate that plaintiff has filed no less than three civil rights actions which were 1

dismissed for failure to state a claim prior to the filing of this complaint, on January 14, 2008. 

See, Brownlee v. Barnett, CIV S-00-2666 LKK JFM P, dismissed for failure to state a claim

upon which relief may be granted, on August 7, 2001; Brownlee v. Stocker, CIV S-04-0623 2

MCE DAD P, dismissed for failure to state a cognizable claim for relief, on June 1, 2006 ;

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Brownlee v. Van Court, CIV S-06-2804 GEB GGH P, dismissed with prejudice for failure to

state claim, on December 11, 2007.

“Under the PLRA, prisoners who have three complaints dismissed under section 4

1915(e)(2) are barred from filing additional in forma pauperis complaints unless they are ‘under

imminent danger of serious physical injury.’” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d

1122, 1129 (9 Cir. 2000). To meet the exception, plaintiff must have alleged facts that th

demonstrate that he was “under imminent danger” at the time of filing the complaint. Andrews

v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1052-53 (9 Cir. 2007). th

The instant complaint consists entirely of plaintiff’s allegations regarding the

processing of his legal mail at the prison, the gravamen of which involves “issues with the legal

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mail of his going out and coming in being open.” Complaint, p. 6. Plaintiff seeks unspecified

money damages only. Nothing about the allegations comes close to demonstrating that he was

remotely “under imminent danger” at the time of filing the complaint. 

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff, within twenty days, must show cause why he should not be barred,

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), from proceeding in this action; 

2. In the alternative, plaintiff must submit the entire filing fee of $350.00, within

twenty days of the date of this order. 

3. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this

action be dismissed.

DATED: 04/28/08

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

 

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

brow0084.osc

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