Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00536/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00536-1/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LARRY D. DAVIS, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

H. SWAIN, ET AL., 

Defendants. _____________________________

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No. C 04-0536 JSW (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL BASED ON

DEATH OF PLAINTIFF

Plaintiff Larry D. Davis, a former state prisoner, filed this pro se civil rights

complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 regarding the conditions of his confinement at San

Quentin State Prison (SQSP). On November 2, 2005, this Court dismissed certain claims

with leave to amend within thirty days and stayed service of the other claims until an

amended complaint was filed (docket no. 8). 

Plaintiff has three pending claims before this Court under Case Nos. C 03-4412

JSW (PR); C 04-0536 JSW (PR); and C 04-0780 JSW (PR). In an order dated March 3,

2006 on Case No. C 03-4412 JSW (PR), this Court granted summary judgment in favor

of Defendants (docket no. 29). Thereafter, the Court’s order sent to Plaintiff was

returned to sender with a notation that the order was undeliverable, due to the apparent

death of Plaintiff. After orders of this Court directing Defendants’ counsel on that matter

to file and serve a statement of fact of death on Plaintiff’s “representative or successor”

(docket nos. 32, 33, Case No. C 03-4412 JSW (PR)), the Court was apprised that

Plaintiff had died and that Defendants’ counsel had been unable to locate and serve

Case 3:04-cv-00536-JSW Document 9 Filed 07/25/06 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff’s widow, Leticia Maria Hernandez (docket nos. 34, 35, Case No. C 03-4412

JSW (PR)). The Court takes judicial notice of those orders regarding the death of

Plaintiff. 

When a party dies and the claim is not extinguished by applicable substantive law,

the court may order substitution of the deceased party with the proper legal

representative. Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1); Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 103 F3d 762, 766 (9th

Cir. 1996). Any party to the action or the deceased party’s successors may file a

“statement of fact of death” of the deceased party. The statement is served and filed in

the same manner as a motion generally. Barlow v. Ground, 39 F3d 231, 233 (9th Cir.

1994). The filing of the “statement of fact of death” commences the running of a 90 day

limitations period for substitution of the deceased party.

However, when no such successor or representative has been identified and the

Plaintiff is deceased, the Court will not keep this matter open. As such, Plaintiff’s

complaint is dismissed. The Clerk shall enter judgment and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 25, 2006

 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

United States District Judge

Case 3:04-cv-00536-JSW Document 9 Filed 07/25/06 Page 2 of 2