Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00510/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00510-10/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

CARLOS MANWELL DAWSON, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

JEFF LYNCH, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:21-cv-0510 KJM AC P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983, has requested an extension of time to file an amended complaint. ECF No. 35. 

By order filed August 19, 2022, the undersigned screened the complaint and found that it 

did not state a claim for relief. ECF No. 22. Plaintiff was given the opportunity to file an 

amended complaint, but instead indicated that he intended to seek reconsideration of the 

screening order and requested an extension of time to do so. ECF No. 28. Despite receiving 

extensions of time to seek reconsideration (ECF Nos. 29, 31), plaintiff failed to do so and was 

ordered to file an amended complaint within thirty days (ECF No. 34). Plaintiff therefore had 

until February 6, 2023, to file an amended complaint, and his motion for an extension of time, 

which indicates it was mailed on February 12, 2023 (ECF No. 35 at 5), is untimely.1 

1

 Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 276 (1988) (establishing rule that a pro se prisoner’s court 

document is deemed filed on the date the prisoner delivered the document to prison officials for 

mailing). 

Case 2:21-cv-00510-DC-AC Document 37 Filed 02/27/23 Page 1 of 2
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In his motion, plaintiff states that he ran out of ink on January 27, 2023, and was not able 

to receive a replacement until February 10, 2023. ECF No. 35. The untimeliness of the motion 

will therefore be excused, and plaintiff’s request for an extension of time will be granted. 

However, in light of the significant delay that occurred as a result of plaintiff’s expressed desire 

to seek reconsideration, which he then failed to pursue, no further extensions of time will be 

granted absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time (ECF No. 35) is GRANTED. 

 2. Within fourteen days from the service of this order, plaintiff shall file a first amended 

complaint. No further extension of time will be granted absent a showing of extraordinary 

circumstances. Failure to file an amended complaint will result in a recommendation that this 

action be dismissed without further warning. 

DATED: February 27, 2023 

Case 2:21-cv-00510-DC-AC Document 37 Filed 02/27/23 Page 2 of 2