Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-03780/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-03780-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TERRY LEO KRAMER,

Plaintiff,

v.

MEDVIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-03780-HSG 

ORDER DENYING WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE REQUEST FOR STAY; 

GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME TO 

FILE DISPOSITIVE MOTION

Dkt. No. 38

Plaintiff filed this pro se action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claiming that Defendants were 

deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs while he was housed at Mendocino County 

Jail. Now pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s request that the Court stay this case until he has 

the tools necessary to prosecute this case. Docket No. 38. For the reasons set forth below, this 

request is DENIED without prejudice.

BACKGROUND

On February 16, 2016, the Court ordered service of the first amended complaint on 

defendants Sheriff Tom Allman, RN Johns, Dr. Medvin, and Captain T. Pearce; dismissed certain 

defendants from the action; and granted Plaintiff leave to amend his claims against Mendocino 

County and California Forensic Medical Group. Docket No. 10. On March 7, 2016, Plaintiff filed 

a second amended complaint, which is currently the operative complaint in this action. Docket 

No. 12. On May 2, 2016, the Court screened the second amended complaint and found that, 

liberally construed, the second amended complaint stated cognizable claims against Sheriff Tom 

Allman, RN Johns, Dr. Medvin, Captain T. Pearce, RN Teske, Mendocino County, and California 

Forensic Medical Group. Docket No. 16. The Court ordered service of the second amended 

complaint on all defendants. Id. On August 1, 2016, Sheriff Allman, Mendocino County, 

Case 4:15-cv-03780-HSG Document 40 Filed 10/24/16 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Mendocino County Jail, and Captain T. Pearce filed a motion for summary judgment. Docket No. 

23. Plaintiff filed an opposition on September 13, 2016.1 Docket No. 35. The deadline for the 

reply brief in support of the summary judgment motion was September 27, 2016. However, as of 

this date, no reply brief has been filed.

On October 11, 2016, Plaintiff filed a letter with the Court, requesting that the Court stay 

this action because he has been unable to access the law library. Docket No. 38. Plaintiff does not 

specify how long he would like the instant action stayed.

On October 19, 2016, California Forensic Medical Group, Dr. Medvin, RN Johns, and RN 

Teske filed an answer to the second amended complaint. Docket No. 39. California Forensic 

Medical Group, Dr. Medvin, RN Johns, and RN Teske have not yet filed a dispositive motion.

DISCUSSION

The Court is reluctant to stay this action indefinitely. Moreover, there is a pending 

summary judgment motion filed by Sheriff Allman, Mendocino County, Mendocino County Jail, 

and Captain T. Pearce that is ripe for ruling. Instead, the Court will GRANT defendants

California Forensic Medical Group, Dr. Medvin, RN Johns, and RN Teske an extension of time to 

December 30, 2016 to file their summary judgment or other dispositive motion. Plaintiff’s 

opposition to the summary judgment or other dispositive motion must be filed with the Court and 

served upon Defendants no later than 28 days from the date the motion is filed. Defendants shall 

file a reply brief no later than 14 days after the date the opposition is filed. The motion shall be 

deemed submitted as of the date the reply brief is due. 

Because there are no pending deadlines in this case requiring Plaintiff’s compliance, the 

Court DENIES Plaintiff’s request for a stay without prejudice to re-filing a renewed motion for a 

limited stay if Plaintiff finds that a stay is still necessary. If Plaintiff files a renewed motion for a 

stay, Plaintiff should specify why the Court should stay this case rather than grant an extension of 

time to meet any pending deadlines, and should specify how long the stay should last.

 

1

The Court notes that Plaintiff has indicated that his letter filed on September 13, 2016 (Docket 

No. 35) is intended to serve as his opposition to the summary judgment motion filed by Sheriff

Allman, Mendocino County, Mendocino County Jail, and Captain T. Pearce. See Docket No. 35 

at 3, and Docket No. 37 at 3. 

Case 4:15-cv-03780-HSG Document 40 Filed 10/24/16 Page 2 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

With respect to Plaintiff’s allegation that he has been denied access to the law library, the 

Court certifies that Plaintiff is proceeding pro per in federal civil rights proceedings,2and requests 

that officials at the Napa County Jail provide Plaintiff with reasonable access to the tools needed 

to challenge the conditions of his confinement.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

______________________________________

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

 

2 According to documents filed with Plaintiff’s October 11, 2016 letter, on September 7, 2016, 

Napa County Department of Corrections denied Plaintiff access to the law library on the grounds 

that Plaintiff was represented by counsel. Docket No. 38 at 5. However, Plaintiff is not 

represented by counsel in the instant action.

10/24/2016

Case 4:15-cv-03780-HSG Document 40 Filed 10/24/16 Page 3 of 3