Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00124/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00124-0/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

MARCUS R. WILLIAMS,

Plaintiff,

v.

DERRAL G. ADAMS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:05-CV-00124-AWI-SMS-P

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR CLASS

CERTIFICATION

(Doc. 5) 

Plaintiff Marcus R. Williams (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 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, plaintiff’s request for class certification, filed January 31,

2005, is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 15, 2005 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00124-AWI-SMS Document 11 Filed 06/16/05 Page 1 of 1