Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00521/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00521-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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K:\COMMON\EVERYONE\_EFILE-PROSE\WQH\07cv0494&07cv0521consolidate.wpd, 887 -1- 07cv0494, 07cv0521

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT ORTIZ, Civil No. 07-0494 WQH (PCL)

07-0521 WQH (PCL)

Petitioner, ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES

vs.

WILLIAM J. SULLIVAN, Warden, et al.,

Respondents.

On March 19, 2007, Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a Petition for Writ

of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 together with a motion to proceed in forma

pauperis which the Clerk’s Office assigned the case number 07cv0494 WQH (PCL). On May

8, 2007, the Court granted Petitioner’s motion and on May 11, 2007, ordered a response to the

petition.

On March 21, 2007, Petitioner filed a second Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 which the Clerk’s Office assigned case number 07cv0521BEN (POR). The

Court dismissed the case on April 3, 2007, because Petitioner failed to either pay the $5.00 filing

fee or submit adequate proof of his inability to pay the fee. On April 10, 2007, Petitioner paid

the $5.00 filing fee, and the Court thereafter reopened the case and set a briefing schedule. 

After review of case numbers 07cv0494 and 07cv0521, the Court concluded that they

were duplicate petitions except for the addition of a fourth ground for relief stated in 07cv0521

Case 3:07-cv-00521-WQH-POR Document 16 Filed 08/13/07 Page 1 of 3
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and, on August 2, 2007, transferred case no. 07cv0521 to the calendar of Judge Hayes pursuant

to Local Civil Rule 40.1(d)(4). Both cases are now before this Court.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42 seeks to provide the Court with “broad discretion to

decide how cases on its docket are to be tried to that the business of the court may be dispatched

with expedition and economy while providing justice to the parties.” Huene v. United States,

743 F.2d 703, 704 (9th Cir. 1984) (citing 9 CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT & ARTHUR R. MILLER,

FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 2381 (2d ed. & Supp. 2000). Specifically, Rule 42

affords the Court “broad discretion” to consolidate cases pending in the same district either upon

motion by a party or sua sponte. In re Adams Apple, Inc., 829 F.2d 1484, 1487 (9th Cir. 1987).

The Court considers two factors in determining whether to consolidate cases. First, common

questions of law and fact must exist to warrant consolidation. Bank of Montreal v. Eagle

Associates, 117 F.R.D. 530, 532 (S.D.N.Y. 1987). Second, the interest of judicial convenience

must outweigh any potential for delay, confusion and prejudice that may result from such

consolidation. Id. at 532.

It appears that in both case nos. 07cv0494 and 07cv0521, Petitioner seeks to attack the

same criminal conviction, and the cases involve the same parties and call for the same

determinations of fact and law. (See Pet. in case nos. 07cv0494 and 07cv0521.) Accordingly,

because consolidation of the cases would serve to fairly expedite the resolution of these cases

without causing an confusion, prejudice or delay, the Court hereby ORDERS:

(1) case numbers 07cv0494 WQH (PCL) and 07cv0521 WQH (POR) shall be

consolidated under one case number, 07cv0494 WQH (PCL); and

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(2) the petition in case no. 07cv0521 [doc. no. 1] shall be filed nunc pro tunc to March

21, 2007, as a First Amended Petition in case no. 07cv0494 WQH (PCL);

(3) case no. 07cv0521 WQH (POR) shall be closed.

The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon Petitioner and upon

the California Attorney General.

DATED: August 8, 2007

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00521-WQH-POR Document 16 Filed 08/13/07 Page 3 of 3