Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01419/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01419-0/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

MAURICE C. CAMPBELL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-1419 MCE KJM P

vs.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

CORRECTIONS AND

REHABILITATION, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks relief pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983 and has requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915. This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 72-302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 636(b)(1).

Plaintiff has submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a). Accordingly, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be granted. 

Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28

U.S.C. § 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). Plaintiff has been without funds for six months and is currently

without funds. Accordingly, the court will not assess an initial partial filing fee. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(b)(1). Plaintiff is obligated to make monthly payments of twenty percent of the

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preceding month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. These payments shall be

collected and forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time the

amount in plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(b)(2).

Plaintiff’s complaint states a cognizable claim for relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). If the allegations of the complaint are proven, plaintiff has a

reasonable opportunity to prevail on the merits of his Eighth Amendment claims against

defendants Haythorne, Hague, Rodriguez, Rueller and Arnt. Therefore, the court will order

service of process on these defendants. With respect to the other claims and defendants

identified in plaintiff’s complaint, plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief

can be granted.

Plaintiff asks that this action proceed as a class action. Plaintiff, however, is a

non-lawyer proceeding without counsel. It is well established that a layperson cannot ordinarily

represent the interests of a class. See McShane v. United States, 366 F.2d 286 (9th Cir. 1966). 

This rule becomes almost absolute when, as here, the putative class representative is incarcerated

and proceeding pro se. Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407 (4th Cir. 1975). In direct

terms, plaintiff cannot “fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class,” as required by

Rule 23(a)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Martin v. Middendorf, 420 F. Supp.

779 (D.D.C. 1976). This action, therefore, will not be construed as a class action and instead

will be construed as an individual civil suit brought by plaintiff. 

Finally, plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States

Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent

indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298

(1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of

counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir.

1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the

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court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s request for the

appointment of counsel will therefore be denied.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.

2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 

The fee shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the Director of the

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith.

3. Service is appropriate for the following defendants: Haythorne, Hague,

Rodriguez, Rueller and Arnt. 

4. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff five USM-285 forms, one summons,

an instruction sheet and a copy of the complaint filed July 18, 2007.

5. Within thirty days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall complete the

attached Notice of Submission of Documents and submit the following documents to the court:

a. The completed Notice of Submission of Documents;

b. One completed summons;

c. One completed USM-285 form for each defendant listed in number 3

above; and 

d. Six copies of the endorsed complaint filed July 18, 2007. 

6. Plaintiff need not attempt service on defendants and need not request waiver of

service. Upon receipt of the above-described documents, the court will direct the United States

Marshal to serve the above-named defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4

without payment of costs. 

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7. Plaintiff’s request for class certification is denied.

8. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel is denied.

DATED: January 9, 2008. 

1

camp1419.1(7.18.07)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MAURICE C. CAMPBELL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV-07-1419 MCE KJM P 

vs.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF NOTICE OF SUBMISSION

CORRECTIONS AND

REHABILITATION, et al., OF DOCUMENTS

Defendants.

____________________________________/

Plaintiff hereby submits the following documents in compliance with the court's

order filed :

 completed summons form

 completed USM-285 forms

 copies of the 

 Complaint

DATED:

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