Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00152/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00152-0/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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K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\JAH\11cv0152-Dismiss Duplicative.wpd.22Mar11 -1- 11cv0152 JAH (WVG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALLEN LEE RODRIGUEZ,

CDCR #V-35218,

Civil No. 11-0152 JAH (WVG)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL

ACTION AS DUPLICATIVE

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1)

 vs.

JAMES E. TOWERY, et al., 

Defendants.

Plaintiff, a state inmate currently incarcerated at the California Rehabilitation Center

located in Norco, California and proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights Complaint pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. §1983. Plaintiff has not prepaid the $350 filing fee mandated by 28 U.S.C.

§ 1914(a); instead, he has filed a certified copy of his inmate trust account.

I. Sua Sponte Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, obligates the Court to

review complaints filed by anyone “incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of,

sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms or conditions

of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program,” “as soon as practicable after

Case 3:11-cv-00152-JAH-WVG Document 4 Filed 03/22/11 Page 1 of 2
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K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\JAH\11cv0152-Dismiss Duplicative.wpd.22Mar11 -2- 11cv0152 JAH (WVG)

docketing” and regardless of whether the prisoner prepays filing fees or moves to proceed IFP.

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (c). The Court must sua sponte dismiss prisoner complaints, or any

portions thereof, which are frivolous, malicious, or fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 446-47 (9th Cir. 2000).

 Plaintiff’s instant Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it appears to be duplicative of a case Plaintiff has already litigated.

Plaintiff’s Complaint contains identical claims that are found in Rodriguez v. Bobo, et al., S.D.

Cal. Civil Case No. 10cv1134 JAH (AJB). A court “may take notice of proceedings in other

courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct

relation to matters at issue.” United States ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v.

Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992). 

A prisoner’s complaint is considered frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) if it

“merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103,

1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)) (citations and internal

quotations omitted). Because Plaintiff has already litigated the same claims presented in the

instant action in Rodriguez v. Bobo, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 10cv1134 JAH (AJB), the

Court hereby DISMISSES Civil Case No. 11cv0152 JAH (WVG) pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1). See Cato, 70 F.3d at 1105 n.2; Resnick, 213 F.3d at 446 n.1.

II. Conclusion and Order

 Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

Plaintiff’s Complaint in Civil Case No. 11cv0152 JAH (WVG) is DISMISSED as

frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). 

The Clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 21, 2011

JOHN A. HOUSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:11-cv-00152-JAH-WVG Document 4 Filed 03/22/11 Page 2 of 2