Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01508/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01508-1/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THURL H. LIGHT, II

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF FRESNO, FRESNO 

COUNTY JAIL, FRESNO COUNTY 

SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, D. SOTASO,

Defendants.

1:24-cv-01508-HBK (PC)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO SEND 

PLEADING TO APPROPRIATE 

INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL

(Doc. No. 6)

Plaintiff, who is confined in the Fresno County Jail, initiated this action by filing a pro se 

civil rights complaint on December 11, 2024. (Doc. No. 1). The court has not yet screened the 

complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, so no defendant has been served. On January 3, 2025, 

Plaintiff filed a two-page pleading titled “motion for complaint for temporary restraining order.” 

(Doc. No. 6, “Pleading”). Therein, Plaintiff s claims his life is in danger. (Id. at 1). The court 

construes the Pleading of a notice of danger instead of a motion for a temporary restraining order.1

1 A motion’s “nomenclature is not controlling.” Miller v. Transamerican Press, Inc., 709 F.2d 524, 527 

(9th Cir. 1983) (quoting Sea Ranch Ass’n v. Cal. Coastal Zone Conservation Comm’ns, 537 F.2d 1058, 

1061 (9th Cir. 1976)). Instead, the court is to “construe [the motion], however styled, to be the type proper 

for the relief requested.” Id. Here, the Pleading does not seek any specific relief and is facially deficient 

in that it fails to procedurally comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b) and Local Rule 231(a)-(b). Further no 

defendant has been served in this action. A federal court does not have personal jurisdiction over the 

parties and subject matter jurisdiction over the claim if no defendant has been served in the action. 

Zepeda, 753 F.2d at 727 (9th Cir. 1985) (if no defendant has been served with process, then injunctive 

relief is premature). 

Case 1:24-cv-01508-HBK Document 7 Filed 01/17/25 Page 1 of 2
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The court regularly receives pleadings or notices from confined persons who are proceeding 

pro se in actions before the court which contain allegations of suicide, danger of death, or imminent 

serious physical harm to themselves or to others. In an abundance of caution, the court expediates 

notice of such allegations to the appropriate state or federal officials for whatever action those 

officials deem appropriate. 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

1. The Clerk shall forward a copy of Plaintiff’s Pleading (Doc. No. 6) filed on January 3, 

2025 which contains allegations of danger of harm by a confined person to the appropriate officials 

at Fresno County Jail for handling as officials deem appropriate.

2. The Clerk shall indicate on the docket the name of the official(s) to whom notice was 

provided.

3. This Order is not a ruling on the allegations or relief requested in the notice or pleading 

or the merits of allegations in this case but is provided for informational purposes only. No response 

is required from officials to the Order.

4. The Clerk shall correct the docket to reflect the court construes the Pleading (Doc. 

No. 6) as a “notice of harm” and terminate it as a pending motion. 

Dated: January 16, 2025 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

Case 1:24-cv-01508-HBK Document 7 Filed 01/17/25 Page 2 of 2