Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00780/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00780-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LARRY D. DAVIS, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

JEANNE S. WOODFORD, et al., 

Defendants. _____________________________

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No. C 04-0780 JSW (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL BASED ON

DEATH OF PLAINTIFF

Plaintiff Larry D. Davis, a former state prisoner, filed this pro se civil rights

complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 regarding the conditions of his confinement at San

Quentin State Prison (SQSP). On June 29, 2004, this Court dismissed the case (docket

no. 4). Thereafter, Plaintiff moved for reconsideration and the Court granted Petitioner’s

motion and reopened the case, dismissing the complaint with leave to amend (docket no.

7). On April 25, 2005, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint (docket no. 8). 

Plaintiff currently has three pending claims before this Court under Case Nos. C

03-4412 JSW (PR); C 04-0536 JSW (PR); and C 04-0780 JSW (PR). In an order dated

March 3, 2006 on Case No. C 03-4412 JSW (PR), this Court granted summary judgment

in favor of Defendants (docket no. 29). Thereafter, the Court’s order served on Plaintiff

was returned to sender with a notation that the order was undeliverable, due to the

apparent death of Plaintiff. After orders of this Court directing Defendants’ counsel on

that matter to file and serve a statement of fact of death on Plaintiff’s “representative or

successor” (docket nos. 32, 33, Case No. C 03-4412 JSW (PR)), the Court was apprised

Case 3:04-cv-00780-JSW Document 9 Filed 07/25/06 Page 1 of 2
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that Plaintiff had died and that Defendants’ counsel had been unable to locate and serve

Plaintiff’s widow, Leticia Maria Hernandez (docket nos. 34, 35, Case No. C 03-4412

JSW (PR)). The Court takes judicial notice of those orders regarding the death of

Plaintiff in the instant case. 

When a party dies and the claim is not extinguished by applicable substantive law,

the court may order substitution of the deceased party with the proper legal

representative. Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1); Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 103 F3d 762, 766 (9th

Cir. 1996). Any party to the action or the deceased party’s successors may file a

“statement of fact of death” of the deceased party. The statement is served and filed in

the same manner as a motion generally. Barlow v. Ground, 39 F3d 231, 233 (9th Cir.

1994). The filing of the “statement of fact of death” commences the running of a 90 day

limitations period for substitution of the deceased party.

However, when no such successor or representative has been identified and the

Plaintiff is deceased, the Court will not keep this matter open. As such, Plaintiff’s

complaint is dismissed. The Clerk shall enter judgment and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 25, 2006

 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-00780-JSW Document 9 Filed 07/25/06 Page 2 of 2