Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02016/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02016-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 560
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HOWARD SIPE, et al.,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

AUDREY KING, et al., 

 Defendants.

Case No. 1:14-cv-02016-LJO-MJS (PC)

ORDER SEVERING CLAIMS OF

STEPHEN WILSON, AND DIRECTING 

CLERK’S OFFICE TO OPEN NEW 

ACTION FOR STEPHEN WILSON

(ECF No. 1)

Plaintiffs Howard Sipe and Stephen Wilson are civil detainees proceeding pro se

in this civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaint purports 

to proceed on behalf of both Sipe and Wilson and is signed by both.

I. SEVERANCE OF CLAIMS

Plaintiffs’ allegations do not provide a basis for a class action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 

23(a)(4); Simon v. Hartford Life, Inc., 546 F.3d 661, 664–65 (9th Cir. 2008). 

Courts have broad discretion regarding the permissive joinder of parties. Fed. R. 

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Civ. P. 20, 21; see Coleman v. Quaker Oats Co., 232 F.3d 1271, 1296-97 (9th Cir. 

2000); Maddox v. County of Sacramento, No. 2:06-cv-0072-GEB-EFB, 2006 WL 

3201078, *2 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 6, 2006). The need for co-plaintiffs to agree upon and sign 

all filings becomes impossibly burdensome where, as here, the proposed co-plaintiffs 

are civilly detained.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs Sipe and Wilson shall each proceed separately on their 

claims. Wilson’s claims shall be severed, and a new action shall be opened for his 

claims. Gaffney v. Riverboat Serv. of Indiana, 451 F.3d 424, 441 (7th Cir. 2006). Sipe

shall proceed as the sole Plaintiff in this action. Each plaintiff shall be solely responsible 

for prosecuting his own action.

II. ORDER

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff Sipe shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case number 1:14-cv02016-LJO-MJS (PC);

2. The claims of Stephen Wilson are severed from the claims of Plaintiff 

Sipe; 

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open a separate § 1983 civil rights action for Stephen Wilson, 

CO-408-5, Coalinga State Hospital (5003), PO Box 5003, Coalinga, 

CA 93210-5003;

b. Assign the new action to the Magistrate Judge and District 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 the new action opened for

Stephen Wilson; 

d. Place a copy of the complaint (ECF No. 1), Exhibits (ECF No. 2), 

and Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 8) in the new 

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action opened for Stephen Wilson; 

e. Send Stephen Wilson a copy of this order, bearing the case 

number assigned to his own individual action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 10, 2015 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-02016-LJO-MJS Document 16 Filed 02/10/15 Page 3 of 3