Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05092/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-05092-0/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

TREVOR JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

D. HENSON, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:04-CV-5092-AWI-LJO-P

ORDER DECLINING TO ADOPT FINDINGS

AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN LIGHT OF

CHANGE IN LAW, DENYING

DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS FOR

FAILURE TO EXHAUST, AND REFERRING

MATTER BACK TO MAGISTRATE JUDGE

(Docs. 20 and 27)

Plaintiff Trevor Johnson (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United

States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 72-302.

On February 22, 2005, the Magistrate Judge filed a Findings and Recommendations herein

which was served on the parties and which contained notice to the parties that any objections to the

Findings and Recommendations were to be filed within thirty days. On March 30, 2005, plaintiff

filed objections, and on April 21, 2005, defendants filed a response to plaintiff’s objections. 

In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C) and Local Rule 73-305, this

Court has conducted a de novo review of this case. Having carefully reviewed the entire file, the

Court finds the Findings and Recommendations to be supported by the record and by proper analysis

in light of the law at the time the Findings and Recommendations was issued. However, on March

24, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Ngo v. 

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Case 1:04-cv-05092-AWI-LJO Document 34 Filed 07/18/05 Page 1 of 2
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Woodford, 403 F.3d 620 (9th Cir. 2005) that requires the Court to decline to adopt the Findings and

Recommendations and deny defendants’ motion to dismiss.

Plaintiff’s inmate appeal was rejected at the Director’s Level of review on October 22, 2002,

as untimely. In Ngo, the Ninth Circuit held that exhaustion occurs when all available avenues of

administrative relief are completed. Ngo, 403 F.3d at 631. In Ngo, as in this case, the plaintiff’s

appeal was rejected at the Director’s Level of review as untimely. Id. The Ninth Circuit held that

because the appeal was deemed time-barred and no further levels of appeal remained, exhaustion had

occurred. Id. Accordingly, pursuant to the decision in Ngo, this Court finds that exhaustion

occurred on October 22, 2002, when plaintiff’s appeal was rejected as time-barred at the third and

final level of review. Defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust shall therefore be denied.

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. In light of Ngo v. Woodford, 403 F.3d 620 (9th Cir. 2005), the Findings and

Recommendations, filed February 22, 2005, is not adopted; 

2. Defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust, filed October 13, 2004, is

denied on the ground that exhaustion occurred on October 22, 2002; and 

3. This matter is referring back to the Magistrate Judge for consideration of defendants’

motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and plaintiff’s motion to compel.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 15, 2005 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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