Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01686/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01686-7/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

SYNRICO RODGERS,

Plaintiff,

v.

C. C. MARTIN, et al., 

Defendants.

Case No. 1:12-cv-01686-AWI-MJS (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

TO FILE AN AMENDED COMPLAINT

(ECF No. 35) 

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 

action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter proceeds against Defendants Martin 

and Blattel on claims of retaliation and deliberate indifference relating to a November 2010

incident. Defendants filed an Answer. The Court issued an order providing a March 30, 

2014 deadline to amend pleadings, a May 30, 2014 deadline to complete discovery and an 

August 11, 2014 deadline for dispositive motions. 

On March 17, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Complaint. The Court 

denied the motion without prejudice on March 31, 2014, identifying deficiencies and 

advising what was needed to correct them. 

On April 4, 2014, Plaintiff moved to file an amended pleading. The Court denied the 

motion for the reasons stated in its March 31, 2014 Order and found no basis for 

reconsideration of that Order. Plaintiff was again advised what was needed to correct 

deficiencies in his motion to amend. 

Case 1:12-cv-01686-AWI-MJS Document 39 Filed 05/19/14 Page 1 of 3
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Before the Court is Plaintiff’s April 14, 2014 motion to file an amended complaint. 

Defendants have filed opposition. Plaintiff has replied to the opposition.1

Plaintiff’s motion is procedurally deficient. Plaintiff filed it after the deadline to amend 

pleadings. Such an untimely motion must be supported by good cause and a showing of a 

need to amend and set forth the changes to be made. It also must address why Plaintiff 

was unable to comply with the Court’s deadline for amended pleadings. Plaintiff attributes 

missing the deadline solely to his pro se status. He provides no facts indicating good cause 

for the relief he seeks. He does not address the issue of whether Defendants would be 

prejudiced if relief were granted. Defendants maintain that they would in fact be prejudiced 

if required to answer and conduct discovery on new claims.

The proposed amendment would not in any event add a valid cause of action. It 

seeks to add a Fourth Amendment search and seizure claim arising from an October 2010 

cell search. Such a claim cannot succeed. The United States Supreme Court has held that 

“the Fourth Amendment has no applicability to a prison cell.” Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 

517, 536 (1984). Further, the Court noted, “[p]rison officials must be free to seize from cells 

any articles which, in their view, disserve legitimate institutional interests.” Id., at 528 n.8.

The remainder of claims Plaintiff wishes to add were previously dismissed without 

leave to amend as non-cognizable. (See ECF No. 7 at 5:2-12:23; ECF No. 9 at 4:16-6:16.) 

Plaintiff is aware of this. He notified the Court of his willingness to dismiss these claims and

to proceed only on the November 2010 retaliation and deliberate indifference claims. (See 

ECF No. 10; ECF No. 11 at 1:21-2:4.) 

Accordingly, for the reasons stated, it is HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s April 14, 

2014 motion to file an amended complaint (ECF No. 35) is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 18, 2014 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

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Plaintiff’s reply is untimely. Local Rule 230(l). Nonetheless, it has been considered. 

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