Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02891/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02891-0/pdf.json

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

---

1

3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UBALDO PLENTYWOUNDS,

CDCR No. AX-3761

Plaintiff,

v.

CHASE BANK OPERATIONS 

MANGER; CHIEF OPERATING 

MANAGER VISTA BRANCH; JOHN 

DOE, Law Enforcement Officer ,

Defendant.

Case No.: 3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM

ORDER:

1) DISMISSING CIVIL ACTION AS 

FRIVOLOUS PURSUANT 

TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) 

AND

2) DENYING MOTION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Ubaldo Plentywounds (“Plaintiff”), currently incarcerated at the San Diego Central 

Jail, and1 proceeding pro se, has filed a civil rights complaint (“Compl.”) pursuant to 42 

 

1 While Plaintiff lists the San Diego Central Jail as his mailing address on the front of his Complaint, the 

envelope in which his pleading was sent states that his address is Wasco State Prison. A review of the 

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (“CDCR”) inmate locator indicates that 

Plaintiff is currently housed at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. See

http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/Results.aspx (website last visited Feb. 24, 2016).

Case 3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM Document 3 Filed 02/26/16 Page 1 of 3
2

3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

U.S.C. § 1983 (Doc. No. 1). 

Plaintiff did not prepay the civil filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) when 

he filed his Complaint; instead, he has a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”) 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) (Doc. No. 2).

II. Initial Screening per 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 docketing” and regardless of whether the prisoner prepays 

filing fees or moves to proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (c). Pursuant to this 

provision of the PLRA, The Court is required to review prisoner complaints which 

“seek[] redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a government 

entity,” and to dismiss those, or any portion of those, which are “frivolous, malicious, or 

fail[] to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,” or which “seek monetary relief 

from a defendant who is immune.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1)-(2); Resnick v. Hayes, 213 

F.3d 443, 446-47 (9th Cir. 2000).

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

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it is duplicative of another civil action he has already filed. See 

Plentywounds v. Chase Bank Operations Manager, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 3:15-

cv-02890 AJB (BLM) (ECF Doc. No. 1). 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.’” Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1225 (9th 

Cir. 2007) (quoting Bennett v. Medtronic, Inc., 285 F.3d 801, 803 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002)). 

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 

Case 3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM Document 3 Filed 02/26/16 Page 2 of 3
3

3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1103, 1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)) (citations and 

internal quotations omitted). Because Plaintiff is already litigating the same claims 

presented in the instant action in Plentywounds v. Chase Bank Operations Manager, et 

al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 3:15-cv-02890 AJB (BLM), the Court must dismiss this 

action as duplicative 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.

III. Conclusion and Orders

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this civil action, 

Plentywounds v. Chase Bank Operations Manager, et al., 3:15-cv-02891 DMS (BLM) is 

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

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed In Forma 

Pauperis (ECF Doc. No. 2) is DENIED as moot. 

The Clerk shall close the file.

The Clerk of Court is also directed to mail a copy of this Order to Ubaldo 

Plentywounds, CDCR AX-4764, Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, 480 Alta 

Road, San Diego, California 92179.

Dated: February 26, 2016

Hon. Dana M. Sabraw

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-02891-DMS-BLM Document 3 Filed 02/26/16 Page 3 of 3