Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-04426/USCOURTS-cand-3_16-cv-04426-0/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN WAYNE BONILLA,

Plaintiff,

v.

JAMES LOPEY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 16-cv-04426-VC (PR)

ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT 

WITH PREJUDICE

Plaintiff Steven Wayne Bonilla is a state prisoner who has filed a pro se complaint under 

the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), 5 U.S.C. § 552, against the Washoe County Sheriff’s 

Office in the State of Nevada and Washoe County Sheriff’s Sergeant James Lopey.1 Bonilla has 

been disqualified from proceeding in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) unless he is 

“under imminent danger of serious physical injury” at the time he filed his complaint. 28 U.S.C. 

1915(g); In re Steven Bonilla, No. C 11-3180 CW (PR); Bonilla v. Dawson, No. C 13-0951 CW 

(PR). 

The allegations in this complaint do not show that Bonilla was in imminent danger at the 

time of filing. Therefore, he may not proceed in forma pauperis. Furthermore, he may not 

proceed even if he pays the filing fee because FOIA applies only to agencies of the executive 

branch of the federal government, not to state agencies. See St. Michael’s Convalescent Hosp. v. 

California, 643 F.2d 1369, 1373 (9th Cir. 1981). Furthermore, the relief Plaintiff seeks pertains 

to his ongoing attempts to invalidate his conviction. Therefore, such claims, if raised, must be 

 

1

This civil case was incorrectly labelled on the Court docket as a petition for a writ of 

mandamus. The Clerk is directed to correct this error. 

Case 3:16-cv-04426-VC Document 3 Filed 08/18/16 Page 1 of 2
2

brought by Bonilla’s counsel in his pending federal habeas corpus action, Bonilla v. Ayers, No. C 

08-0471 YGR (PR).

Accordingly, this complaint is dismissed with prejudice. The Clerk of the Court shall 

enter a separate judgment and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

August 18, 2016

Case 3:16-cv-04426-VC Document 3 Filed 08/18/16 Page 2 of 2