Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06542/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06542-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BENNIE RAY BROWN, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. )

)

)

D.A. GARRETT HAMILTON, et al., )

)

Respondents. )

 )

1:03-CV-06542-OWW-TAG

FIRST INFORMATIONAL ORDER

Plaintiff Benny Ray Brown (“plaintiff”) is a prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In litigating this action, the

parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.) and the Local

Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California (Local Rules). This order

highlights specific rules of which the parties should take particular note. FAILURE TO

COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL RULES, LOCAL RULES, OR A COURT ORDER,

INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS FOR APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS, UP

TO AND INCLUDING DISMISSAL OF THIS ACTION. Local Rule 11-110; Fed. R. Civ. P.

41(b).

1. Documents intended to be filed with the court by pro se litigants must be mailed to the

Clerk of the Court. Local Rule 5-133(d)(1). All documents improperly mailed to a judge’s

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28 1 When a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the court for any purpose.

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chambers will be stricken from the record.

1

 A document requesting a court order must be styled

as a motion, not a letter. Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the filing

party or parties. Local Rule 7-131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted without the

required signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be bound separately at the

top left corner. Local Rule 7-130(b). If a document is bound behind another document, it will

not be filed and will not enter the court docket.

3. All paper documents filed with the court must be submitted with an additional legible

conformed copy for the court’s use. Local Rule 5-133(d)(2). A document submitted without an

extra copy for the court’s use will be stricken. If the filing party wishes the court to return a filestamped copy, he or she must include an additional copy for that purpose (i.e., submit an original

and two copies, one for the court’s use and one to be returned) AND a pre-addressed postage

paid envelope. The court cannot provide copy or mailing service for a party, even for an indigent

plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. Copies of documents from the court file may be obtained

at the cost of fifty cents per page.

4. After defendants have appeared in an action by filing a response to the complaint (i.e.,

an answer, a motion to dismiss, or a motion for summary judgment), all documents filed with the

court must include a certificate of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the

opposing party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule 5-135. A document submitted without the

required proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is represented, service on the party’s

attorney of record constitutes effective service. 

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the initials of

the District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned. Where plaintiff

simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she must file separate original documents and

the appropriate number of copies in each action to which the document pertains. Documents

submitted listing more than one case number in the caption will be stricken.

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6. The court cannot serve as a repository for the parties’ evidence (i.e., prison or medical

records, witness affidavits, etc.). The parties may not file evidence with the court until the course

of litigation brings the evidence into question (for example, on a motion for summary judgment,

at trial, or when requested by the court). Evidence improperly submitted to the court will be

stricken.

7. The Eastern District of California converted to an electronic filing, service, and

storage system, effective January 3, 2005. Pro se litigants are exempt from the electronic filing

requirement and must submit all documents to the court in paper. Local Rule 5-133(b)(2). Paper

documents submitted by pro se litigants for filing will be scanned into the electronic court file by

the Clerk’s Office. After being scanned into the electronic court file, the paper documents will

be retained in the Clerk’s Office for a limited period of time and then discarded. Local Rule 39-

138(d). For this reason, pro se litigants are cautioned not to send original exhibits to the court. 

When it is appropriate for pro se litigants to submit exhibits to the court (see paragraph 6), the

litigants shall retain their original exhibits and send photocopies to the court.

8. After an answer is filed, the court will issue an order opening discovery, and setting

the deadlines for completing discovery, amending the pleadings, and filing pre-trial dispositive

motions. No discovery may be conducted without court permission until an answer is filed and

the court issues the discovery order. Discovery propounded on a party is self-executing, and

must be served directly on the party from whom discovery is sought; parties should not file

copies of their discovery with the court. Local Rules 33-250, 34-250, 36-250. Discovery

documents inappropriately submitted to the court will be stricken. Where the response to

discovery is unsatisfactory, the party seeking discovery may file a motion to compel discovery,

including a copy of the discovery propounded and the response thereto. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37. A

motion to compel must be accompanied by “a certification that the movant has in good faith

conferred or attempted to confer with the party not making the disclosure in an effort to secure

the disclosure without court action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(2)(A). A discovery motion that does

not comply with all applicable rules will be stricken and may result in imposition of sanctions. 

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9. Because plaintiff is incarcerated and proceeds pro se, all pre-trial motions will be

submitted without a hearing. Local Rule 78-230(m). The parties are referred to Local Rule 78-

230(m) for the briefing schedule on motions.

10. All court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions must state

the reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the court before the deadline in

question. Local Rule 6-144.

11. A pro se plaintiff has an affirmative duty to keep the court and opposing parties

apprised of his or her address. Local Rule 83-182(f). If a plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice

of change of address, service of court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective

notice. Id. If mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable,

the court will not attempt to re-mail it. If the address is not updated within sixty days of the mail

being returned, the action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. Local Rule 83-183(b).

12. The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against

a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). 

The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are

legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or

that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1),(2). The court will direct the United States Marshal to serve plaintiff’s complaint

only after the court has screened the complaint and determined that it contains cognizable claims

for relief against the named defendants. The court has a large number of prisoner civil rights

cases pending before it and will screen plaintiff’s complaint in due course.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 26, 2005 /s/ Theresa A. Goldner 

j6eb3d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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