Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02096/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02096-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RAFAEL PONCE MEDINA,

BOP #22436-298,

Civil No. 12cv2096 LAB (PCL)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL

ACTION AS FRIVOLOUS

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) AND DENYING

MOTION TO PROCEED 

IN FORMA PAUPERIS

AS MOOT

(ECF No. 2)

vs.

ERICK HOLDER; FRED A. SHEPPARD;

IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ICE,

Defendants.

Rafael Ponce Medina (“Plaintiff”), currentlyincarcerated at the Big Springs Correctional

Institution located in Big Spring, Texas, and proceeding pro se, initially submitted a civil rights

action in the Northern District of Texas. United States District Judge Sam R. Cummings

determined transfer to the Southern District of California was appropriate. (ECF No. 5 at 1-2.) 

In addition, Plaintiff has filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a) (ECF No. 2). 

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I. Sua Sponte Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)

As amended byThe Prison Litigation ReformAct, 28 U.S.C. § 1915A obligates the Court

to review complaints filed by anyone “incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of,

sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms or conditions

of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program,” “as soon as practicable after

docketing” and regardless of whether the prisoner prepays filing fees or moves to proceed IFP. 

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (c). The Court must sua sponte dismiss prisoner complaints, or any

portions thereof, which are frivolous, malicious, or fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 2010).

Plaintiff’s Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it is duplicative of a motion that he has filed in another action that

remains pending. Plaintiff’s Complaint is identical to a “Motion for Return of Property pursuant

to Rule 41(g)” that remains pending in USA v. Ponce-Medina, S.D. Cal. Crim. Case No.

10cr3756 JLS. A court “‘may take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and

without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at

issue.’” Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1225 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Bennett v. Medtronic,

Inc., 285 F.3d 801, 803 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002)).

A prisoner’s complaint is considered frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) if it

“merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103,

1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)) (citations and internal

quotations omitted). Thus, because Plaintiff has already filed a motion which is identical to the

Complaint he has filed in this action in USA v. Ponce-Medina, S.D. Cal. Crim. Case No.

10cr3756 JLS, the Court hereby DISMISSES S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 12cv2096 LAB (PCL)

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). See Cato, 70 F.3d at 1105 n.2; Rhodes, 621 F.3d at 1004.

II. Conclusion and Order

 Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

(1) Plaintiff’s Complaint in Civil Case No. 12cv2096 LAB (PCL) is DISMISSED as

frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).

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(2) Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No. 2) is DENIED as moot. 

The Clerk shall close the file.

DATED: October 8, 2012

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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