Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-01336/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-cv-01336-1/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TIMOTHY THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 9-CV-1336-LAB-PCL

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

vs. COPIES OF DOCUMENTS

R HERNANDEZ, et al.,

Defendant.

On May 16, 2012 the Court ordered the Clerk to send Thomas an IFP Package. This

case has been pending since June of 2009, but Thomas still hadn’t received one, and as a

result he hadn’t been able to serve the Defendants. The most likely explanation for this is

that over the past three years Thomas has filed nine change-of-address notices, so any IFP

Package previously sent to him may have gone to the wrong address. 

On May 18, 2012, Thomas sent a one-page letter to the Clerk asking for “one copy

of all form starting 7/29/2009 to as of 5/16/2012.” Magistrate Judge Lewis construed this as

a motion for copies of all documents in this case and granted it, ordering the Clerk “to send

Plaintiff one copy of all documents in his case file.”

The undersigned Judge disagrees with Judge Lewis’ order and rescinds it. First,

Thomas’ letter did not ask for copies of all documents in the case docket; in fact, the caption

reads “Motion To Send One Copy of All Form Sent to the Court by Me.” Second, Thomas

offered no reason for needing the documents, and he doesn’t appear to have one. An IFP

Package has been sent to him, and it contains everything he needs at this point. Third,

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Thomas has no right to photocopies. See Sands v. Lewis, 886 F.2d 1166, 1169 (9th Cir.

1990) (per curiam); Jordan v. Mitchell, Case No. 10-CV-1951-MMA-PCL, Doc. No. 15 (“In

addition, Plaintiff should take note that an inmate has no right to free copies of pleadings.”). 

The magistrate judge’s order is RESCINDED. Thomas’ request for copies of

documents in the case docket is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 4, 2012

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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Case 3:09-cv-01336-LAB-PCL Document 37 Filed 06/05/12 Page 2 of 2