Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-00846/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-00846-17/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CUONG HUY DAO,

Plaintiff,

v.

P. TABOR, et al.,

Defendant.

No. 2:22-cv-0846-TLN-KJN

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pursuant to the mailbox rule, on February 12, 2024, Plaintiff filed a request 

for reconsideration of the magistrate judge’s Order filed November 29, 2023, denying Plaintiff’s 

motion to compel. (ECF Nos. 63, 78.) 

Pursuant to the mailbox rule, on February 13, 2024, Plaintiff filed a pleading docketed as 

objections to the magistrate judge’s Order filed February 1, 2024. (ECF No. 77, 79.) In the 

February 1, 2024 Order, the magistrate judge denied Plaintiff’s request for an order directing 

California State Prison-Sacramento (“CSP-Sac”) officials to stop tampering with plaintiff’s legal 

mail as moot. (ECF Nos. 77, 79.) This Court construes Plaintiff’s objections as a request for 

reconsideration of the February 1, 2024 Order. 

For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiff’s requests for reconsideration are DENIED. 

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Request for Reconsideration of Order Filed November 29, 2023

Local Rule 303(b), states “rulings by Magistrate Judges . . . shall be final if no 

reconsideration thereof is sought from the Court within fourteen days . . . from the date of service 

of the ruling on the parties.” Id. Plaintiff’s request for reconsideration of the magistrate judge’s 

Order of November 29, 2023, is untimely because it was filed on February 12, 2024.

In previous motions, Plaintiff claimed that prison officials tampered with his legal mail on 

or around the time the magistrate judge issued the November 29, 2023 Order. (ECF Nos. 67, 70.) 

In the pending request, Plaintiff does not explain why he did not file a timely request for 

reconsideration of the November 29, 2023 Order. In an abundance of caution, this Court 

considers the merits of Plaintiff’s request for reconsideration. 

Pursuant to E.D. Local Rule 303(f), a magistrate judge’s orders shall be upheld unless 

“clearly erroneous or contrary to law.” Upon review of the entire file, this Court finds that the 

magistrate judge’s November 29, 2023 Order denying Plaintiff’s motion to compel was not 

clearly erroneous or contrary to law. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request for reconsideration of the November 29, 2023 Order is 

DENIED.

Request for Reconsideration of Order Filed February 1, 2024

On February 1, 2024, the magistrate judge denied Plaintiff’s request for an order directing 

CSP-Sac officials to stop tampering with his legal mail as moot because Plaintiff was no longer 

housed at CSP-Sac. (ECF No. 77.)

In the request for reconsideration, Plaintiff does not dispute that he is no longer housed at 

CSP-Sac. (ECF No. 79.) Plaintiff again alleges that CSP-Sac officials tampered with his legal 

mail.

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(Id. at 2-6.) 

In the request for reconsideration, Plaintiff also claims that on January 3, 2024, he 

transferred to California State Prison-Lancaster (“CSP-Lac”). (Id. at 7.) Plaintiff alleges that 

1 This Court observes that on January 2, 2024, the magistrate judge granted Plaintiff an 

opportunity to obtain orders and/or pleadings that Plaintiff allegedly failed to receive during 

November 2023 and December 2023 while housed at CSP-Sac. (ECF No. 71 at 3.) 

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prison officials at CSP-Lac tampered with his legal mail. (Id. at 7.) Plaintiff alleges that on 

January 23, 2024, he transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”). (Id.) Plaintiff alleges 

that prison officials at SVSP poisoned his food and assaulted him. (Id. at 7-9.) Plaintiff alleges 

that he returned to CSP-Lac on February 9, 2024. (Id. at 10.)

Upon review of the entire file, this Court finds that the magistrate judge’s February 1, 

2024 Order, denying Plaintiff’s request for an order directing CSP-Sac officials to stop tampering 

with Plaintiff’s legal mail as moot was not clearly erroneous or contrary to law. Local Rule 

303(f). Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request for reconsideration of the February 1, 2024 Order is 

DENIED. 

This Court does not consider the new claims regarding SVSP and CSP-Lac raised in the

request for reconsideration of the February 1, 2024 Order because these claims were not raised 

before the magistrate judge.

Finally, in his request for reconsideration, Plaintiff requests appointment of counsel. 

(ECF No. 79 at 1.) This request is referred back to the magistrate judge.

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 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s Request for Reconsideration of the magistrate judge’s November 29, 

2023 Order denying Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel (ECF No. 78) is DENIED; 

2. Plaintiff’s objections (ECF No. 79) construed as a Request for Reconsideration of 

the magistrate judge’s February 1, 2024 Order denying Plaintiff’s request for an 

order directing CSP-Sac officials to stop tampering with Plaintiff’s legal mail as 

moot, is DENIED; and 

3. This case is referred back to the magistrate judge for further pre-trial proceedings. 

Date: February 29, 2024

Troy L. Nunley

United States District Judge

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