Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02450/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02450-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NEZIAH IGNATIUS NESBETH,

Plaintiff(s),

CASE NO. 14cv2450-LAB (WVG)

ORDER DENYING REQUEST TO

APPOINT PLAINTIFF’S WIFE AS HIS

REPRESENTATIVE; AND

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

vs.

BARACK OBAMA, et al.,

Defendant(s).

Plaintiff Neziah Nesbeth filed his civil rights complaint in this case on October 14,

2014. At the time, he was a prisoner in federal custody in this District. On November 13, the

Court granted his motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, screened the complaint,

and dismissed it for failing to state a claim. That order gave him 45 days to reopen the case

by filing an amended complaint. 

On November 19, the Court’s order was returned as undeliverable, with the

annotation that Nesbeth was no longer in custody. Civil Local Rule 83.11(b) requires parties

proceeding pro se to keep the Court advised as to their current address.

On January 21, 2015, the Court accepted by discrepancy order a document received

in the Clerk’s office on January 15, and styled “Power of Attorney Consent and Change of

Address.” That document said nothing about an amended complaint, but instead purported

to give his wife, Cheryl Nesbeth, power of attorney to litigate this case. That same document

- 1 - 14cv2450

Case 3:14-cv-02450-LAB-WVG Document 8 Filed 01/23/15 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

says his current address is the same as his wife’s, in Kissimmee, Florida, which confirms that

he is in fact no longer in custody.

Nesbeth’s request to have his wife litigate this case for him is DENIED. See Civil

Local Rule 83.11(a) (providing that any person appearing pro se cannot delegate litigation

duties to others, including spouses). Nor can she substitute in as counsel of record, because

she is not admitted to practice before this Court. A review of public records she is also not

admitted to practice in California.

While Nesbeth never received the Court’s order of November 13, 2014 in the mail,

the fact that he did not resulted from his violation of local rules, and was his own fault.

Furthermore, because he has been released from custody (apparently no later than

November 19, 2014), he is no longer entitled to the benefit of the “prisoner mailbox rule” or

any of the other procedural protections afforded to prisoners. Being out of custody, he would

have found it relatively easy to check the docket and follow the progress of the case.

Moreover, it was his obligation to do so. See Witty v. Dukakis, 3 F.3d 517, 520–21 (1 Cir. st

1993) (citing the “abecedarian rule of civil practice [that] parties to an ongoing case have an

independent obligation to monitor all developments in the case and cannot rely on the clerk’s

office to do their homework for them”); Civil Local Rule 16.1(b) (providing that pro se litigants

“must proceed with diligence to take all steps necessary to bring an action to readiness for

trial”). See also Powell v. Smith, 2011 WL 4527412, at *2 (E.D.Cal., Sept. 28, 2011) (holding

that pro se prisoner’s failure to check the docket did not excuse failure to comply with time

limits).

Because Nesbeth did not file an amended complaint within the time permitted, in

order to reopen this case (see Docket no. 4), this action is DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE

TO AMEND. The Clerk is directed to close the docket.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 22, 2015

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

- 2 - 14cv2450

Case 3:14-cv-02450-LAB-WVG Document 8 Filed 01/23/15 Page 2 of 2