Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00123/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00123-0/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 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GREGORY WATSON, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-10-0123 MCE KJM P

vs.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

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Plaintiffs are state prisoners proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

This court has determined that each plaintiff should proceed separately on his

own claim. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide “[p]arties may be dropped or added by

order of the court on motion of any party or of its own initiative at any stage of the action and on

such terms as are just. Any claim against a party may be severed and proceeded with

separately.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. Courts have broad discretion regarding severance. See Davis v.

Mason County, 927 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1991).

In the instant action, plaintiffs are individuals in the custody of the California

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, presently confined at Mule Creek State Prison. In

this court’s experience, an action brought by multiple inmate plaintiffs proceeding pro se

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presents procedural problems that cause delay and confusion. Delay often arises from the

frequent transfer of inmates to other facilities or institutions, the changes in address that occur

when inmates are released to parole, and the difficulties faced by inmates who attempt to

communicate with each other and with unincarcerated individuals. 

Accordingly, the court will order that plaintiffs’ claims be severed. Plaintiff

Watson will proceed in this action, while the other plaintiffs will proceed in civil actions to be

opened by the Clerk of the Court. Each plaintiff will proceed with his own action and will be

solely responsible for his own action.

The Clerk of the Court will be directed to assign the new actions to the same

district judge and magistrate judge assigned to the instant action. The Clerk of the Court shall

make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for this

reassignment.

Each plaintiff will be given thirty days to file, in his own action, an amended

complaint identifying claims and facts applicable to that plaintiff only and a new application for

leave to proceed in forma pauperis1

 using the form provided by the court with this order. Each

plaintiff is advised that if an individual action proceeds further it is probable that each plaintiff

will incur a liability in the amount of the $350.00 filing fee, which amount will be collected from

the inmate’s prison trust account.2

 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The claims of plaintiffs Johnson, Freeman, Cooper and Franks are severed

from the claims of plaintiff Watson.

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 The court notes that plaintiff Watson did file a request for leave to proceed in forma

pauperis. However, it was not filed on the current form used by this court.

2

 See Information to Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a Civil Action in Federal

Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

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2. Plaintiff Watson shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case No. CIV S-10-0123

MCE KJM P. 

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open four separate civil actions for plaintiffs Johnson, Freeman,

Cooper and Franks;

b. Assign each action to the district judge and magistrate judge to whom

the instant case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the

assignment of civil cases to compensate for such assignment;

c. File and docket a copy of this order in each of the four files opened for

the plaintiffs listed in number 3a above;

d. Place a copy of the complaint in each of the four files opened for the

plaintiffs listed in number 3a above;

e. Strike from the caption of each plaintiff’s complaint all plaintiffs’

names except the name of the individual plaintiff proceeding in the action; 

and

f. Send each plaintiff a copy of his complaint bearing the amended

caption and the case number assigned to his own individual action.

4. Each plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed.

5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send each plaintiff a new form for filing a

civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and a new Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

By a Prisoner.

6. Each plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file

an amended complaint and a new application to proceed in forma pauperis using the forms

provided by the court with this order. Each plaintiff’s documents must bear the docket number

assigned to his own individual case. Each complaint must only include facts and claims

applicable to the plaintiff submitting the complaint and must be labeled “Amended Complaint.” 

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Each plaintiff must file an original and two copies of his amended complaint. Failure to file an

amended complaint or a new application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with this

order will result in a recommendation that the plaintiff’s action be dismissed.

7. All outstanding motions are denied without prejudice to refiling with each

individual complaint.

DATED: June 3, 2010. 

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wats0123.2(1.15.10)

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