Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-02249/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-02249-3/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

BERNARD C. HUGHES,

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY OF MARIPOSA, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

1:09-cv-02249-GSA-PC

ORDER DENYINGPLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR

CERTIFICATION AS CLASS ACTION

(Doc. 15.)

Plaintiff Bernard C. Hughes (“Plaintiff”) filed this action on December 29, 2009. Plaintiff

seeks certification of this litigation as a class action. Plaintiff, however, is a non-lawyer proceeding

without counsel. It is well established that a layperson cannot ordinarily represent the interests of

a class. See McShane v. United States, 366 F.2d 286 (9th Cir. 1966). This rule becomes almost

absolute when, as here, the putative class representative is incarcerated and proceeding pro se.

Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975). In direct terms, plaintiff cannot “fairly

and adequately protect the interests of the class” as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). See Martin

v. Middendorf, 420 F. Supp. 779 (D.D.C. 1976). Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that

Plaintiff's motion for certification of this litigation as a class action is DENIED

.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 17, 2010 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

6i0kij UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:09-cv-02249-LJO-GSA Document 24 Filed 02/17/10 Page 1 of 1