Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00142/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00142-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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WO JWB

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

James Eldon Rogers,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Dora Schriro, et al.,

Defendants. 

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No. CV 07-0142-PHX-MHM (JRI)

ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Temporary

Restraining Order, and Request for a Three Judge Court (Doc. # 17). The Court will deny

the motion.

I. Motion for Preliminary Injunction 

The purpose of preliminary injunctive relief is to preserve the status quo or to prevent

irreparable injury pending the resolution of the underlying claim. Sierra On-Line, Inc. v.

Phoenix Software, Inc., 739 F.2d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1984). When seeking injunctive relief

the moving party must show either: “(1) a likelihood of success on the merits and the

possibility of irreparable injury; or (2) that serious questions going to the merits were raised

and the balance of hardships tips sharply in its favor.” Walczak v. EPL Prolong, Inc., 198

F.3d 725, 731 (9th Cir. 1999). These two formulations both operate as a sliding scale,

whereby a stronger showing of irreparable harm can compensate for a weaker likelihood of

success. See id.; United States v. Nutri-cology, Inc., 982 F.2d 394, 397 (9th Cir. 1992).

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Under either test, the movant bears the burden of persuasion. Mattel, Inc. v. Greiner &

Hausser GmbH, 354 F.3d 857, 869 (9th Cir. 2003).

As a prerequisite to preliminary injunctive relief, a plaintiff must do more than allege

imminent harm sufficient to establish standing; he must also demonstrate immediate

threatened injury. Caribbean Marine Servs. v. Baldridge, 844 F.2d 668, 674 (9th Cir. 1988).

In other words, a plaintiff must show a real or immediate threat; a likelihood of substantial

and immediate irreparable injury. Gomez v. Vernon, 255 F.3d 1118, 1129 (9th Cir. 2001)

(quotation and citation omitted). Speculative injury is not sufficient. Carribean Marine

Servs., 844 F.3d. at 674. 

In his motion, Plaintiff asserts that he is confined in overcrowded conditions that

result in increased violence and extreme hostility (Doc. # 17 at 1-2). As a result, Plaintiff

argues that the conditions of the prison violate the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff further avers

that there is a substantial threat of irreparable harm in that Plaintiff fears for his life. Plaintiff

seeks an order to (1) provide Plaintiff with 60 square feet of floor space; (2) prohibit doublebunking; (3) provide adequate medical and mental health services, clothing, outside exercise,

and food service; and (4) segregate dangerous gang members, predator inmates, and mentally

ill inmates from the population (id. at 2-4). Defendants respond that Plaintiff has failed to

demonstrate any threat of imminent harm, and therefore Plaintiff’s preliminary injunction

motion must be denied (Doc. # 23).

Defendants correctly note that Plaintiff has not identified any specific threat of

immediate harm. Indeed, Plaintiff merely concludes that he will continue “to suffer serious

physical and mental injuries” (Doc. # 17 at 2). But Plaintiff does not specify what injuries

he has faced or is likely to continue facing if a preliminary injunction is not granted.

Moreover, Plaintiff has not provided the Court with any evidence of his claims, precluding

a finding that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits. For these reasons, Plaintiff’s motion

for preliminary injunction will be denied. 

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II. Temporary Restraining Order

Plaintiff has similarly not satisfied the requirements for a temporary restraining order.

The standard for issuing a temporary retraining order is the same as the standard for issuing

a preliminary injunction. Whitman v. Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp./Young Bros., Ltd.

Salaried Pension Plan, 27 F.Supp.2d 1225, 1228 (D.Haw. 1998). Thus, Plaintiff must

demonstrate a likelihood of substantial and immediate irreparable injury. Gomez, 255 F.3d

at 1129. The Court finds that the harm Plaintiff alleges he is being threatened with is not

“immediate” enough to warrant the issuance of a temporary restraining order. Rather,

Plaintiff has only alleged general and speculative injury. In his supporting memorandum,

Plaintiff relies on the decision in Helling v. McKinney to support the argument that he does

not have to wait for something tragic to happen to him before an injunction is warranted. 509

U.S. 25 (1993). In Helling, the Supreme Court articulated that the Eighth Amendment

protects against future harm and supports an injunction if an inmate proved that the

conditions in the prison are unsafe and life threatening. Id. at 33-34. Plaintiff’s allegations,

however, fail to meet this standard and are too general to establish immediate irreparable

injury. The motion for a temporary restraining order will, therefore, be denied.

III. Prisoner Release Order

In his motion, Plaintiff requests a hearing before a three-judge court, pursuant to18

U.S.C. § 3626, for consideration of a prisoner release order (Doc. # 17 at 1). A three-judge

court is required to enter a prisoner release order. 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(3)(B). A party

seeking a prisoner release order must submit materials sufficient to demonstrate that (1) the

court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief and that order has failed to

remedy the deprivation sought to be cured, and (2) the defendant has had a reasonable

amount of time to comply with the previous court order. 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)3(A)(i-ii)

and (C).

 Plaintiff argues that an “order for less intrusive relief” was issued in Harris, et al. v.

Cardwell, et al., and it failed to remedy the deprivation (Doc. # 17 at 7). Plaintiff is referring

to the 1982 Amended Judgment/Consent Decree in Harris, et al. v. Cardwell, et al., CV 75-

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185-PHX-SRB (D.Ariz.). But Plaintiff only cites to this other case; he does not explain the

“order for less intrusive relief” or how it failed to remedy the deprivation, or even what the

deprivation at issue was in the prior action. As such, Plaintiff has failed to submit materials

that demonstrate the conditions required for a release order. See 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)3(A)(iii) and (C).

More importantly, a civil rights action is not the proper means by which to enforce a

remedial decree. Cagle v. Sutherland, 334 F.3d 980, 986-87 (11th Cir. 2003); Klein v.

Zavaras, 80 F.3d 432, 435 (10th Cir. 1996); DeGidio v. Pung, 920 F.2d 525, 534 (8th Cir.

1990); Green v. McKaskle, 788 F.2d 1116, 1122-23 (5th Cir. 1986). Jurisdiction to enforce

the judgment is retained by the court that entered it. Jeff D. v. Kempthorne, 365 F.3d 844,

853 (9th Cir. 2004). A consent decree is negotiated by the parties in the case and may be

detailed or provide relief beyond constitutional requirements; therefore, individual prisoners

are not allowed to seek relief through a § 1983 action for violations of the decree. Cagle, 334

F.3d at 987; DeGidio, 920 F.2d at 534. Plaintiff’s request for a release order through this

action is improper and will be denied.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:

(1) Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Temporary Restraining Order, and

Request for a Three Judge Court (Doc. # 17) is DENIED.

DATED this 24th day of September, 2007.

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