Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00915/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00915-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OSCAR HUMBERTO GARCIA-MEJIA, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. )

)

CHARLES R. GILKEY, et al., )

)

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:07-cv-0915-OWW-GSA-PC 

 

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO

CORRECT FILED CIVIL ACTION

(Doc. 15)

Plaintiff, Oscar Humberto Garcia-Mejia ("plaintiff"), is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and

in forma pauperis with a civil rights action pursuant to Bivens vs. Six Unknown Agents, 403 U.S. 388

(1971). On August 7, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion for the court to make a correction to his filed civil

actions. Plaintiff has filed two civil rights actions which are currently pending at this court. In this

order, the court shall address plaintiff's motion as to the this action only. 

Plaintiff filed the complaint in this action on June 22, 2007. Plaintiff alleges that he intended

to commence a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983, but the court opened the case as a civil

rights action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403

U.S. 388 (1971). Plaintiff admits that he used the form for a Bivens complaint but states that he crossed

out the reference to a Bivens action and replaced it with a reference to a § 1983 action. Plaintiff

expresses concern that defendants in this action, who are employees at California City Correctional

Case 1:07-cv-00915-OWW -GSA Document 23 Filed 03/18/08 Page 1 of 2
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Center ("CCCC"), cannot be sued under Bivens because the CCCC operates under the authority and

control of the Corrections Corporation of America ("CCA"), which is a private contractor and not a

federal agency. He requests that the court make a correction by changing the designation of his case

from a Bivens action to a § 1983 action.

A civil rights action under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of

Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971) provides a remedy for violation of civil rights by federal actors. Plaintiff

alleges that this suit is brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, § 1983 applies to actions or

omissions by state actors. Because the CCCC, where the events at issue allegedly occurred, houses

federal prisoners via a contract between the CCA and the Bureau of Prisons, which is a federal agency,

plaintiff’s suit is properly brought via a Bivens action, not a § 1983 action. Therefore, plaintiff's motion

to make a correction shall be denied.

Based on the foregoing, plaintiff's motion for the court to make a correction to this action is

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 17, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00915-OWW -GSA Document 23 Filed 03/18/08 Page 2 of 2