Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01654/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01654-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Tort Claim

---

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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GREGORY EDISON, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

GEO GROUP, Inc., MANAGEMENT & )

TRAINING CORP (MTC) Inc., and )

DOES 1-50, )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

)

GREGORY EDISON, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

GEO GROUP, Inc., MANAGEMENT & )

TRAINING CORP (MTC) Inc., and )

DOES 1-50, )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

RELATED CASES

1:12-CV-1654 AWI SKO

1:12-CV-1933 AWI SKO

ORDER VACATING JANUARY 7,

2013 HEARINGS, JANUARY 28, 2013

HEARINGS, AND MARCH 4, 2012

HEARING

ORDER REFERRING PENDING

MOTIONS TO DISMISS TO

MAGISTRATE JUDGE SHEILA

OBERTO

Plaintiff was a federal prisoner at Taft Correctional Facility (“Taft”). Plaintiff alleges that

entities running Taft violated state and federal law while Plaintiff was incarcerated there. 

Specifically, Plaintiff contends that Defendants were negligent by housing Plaintiff at a location

known for Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis), failing to properly mitigate Plaintiff’s exposure to

Valley Fever, and neglecting to appropriately treat Plaintiff’s Valley Fever, after Plaintiff

Case 1:12-cv-01654-AWI-JLT Document 28 Filed 01/03/13 Page 1 of 4
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

contracted it. 

For unknown reasons, Plaintiff has filed a total of three actions concerning these events. 

1

The various Defendants in these actions have now filed motions to dismiss and set these motions

to dismiss for several different hearing dates. The court’s understanding of the three cases is set

forth below:

Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO, is proceeding on Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint,

filed on November 14, 2012. In 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO, Plaintiff names the United States of

America, the GEO Group, and Management & Training Corporation (“MTC”) as Defendants. 

Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO alleges a negligence cause of action against the United States of

American, pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, for Defendants’ failure to provide Plaintiff

with a safe and habitable prison and for the United States of American’s failure to operate and

maintain Taft in a safe and habitable condition. Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO also alleges that

the United States of American breached its duty of care under 18 U.S.C. § 4042(a). Finally, Case

1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO alleges that the GEO Group and MTC were negligent in failing to

provide, operate, and maintain a safe and habitable prison.

Case 1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO was originally filed in the Kern County Superior Court on

October 9, 2012. This action names the GEO Group and MTC as Defendants. Case 1:12-cv1933 AWI SKO alleges Defendants were negligent for failing to provide a safe and habitable

prison and Defendants were negligent in their use of the premises. As with Case 1:12-cv-1654

AWI SKO, Case 1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO is also based on allegations that Taft is located on a

site immersed in the airborne spores that case Valley Fever and Defendants failed to implement

preventative measures to protect Plaintiff from the infection he now carries. Because

Defendants and Plaintiff are citizens of different states, on November 26, 2012, Defendants

removed Case 1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO to this court. 

 Plaintiff is encouraged to review his three cases. Plaintiff is advised to either dismiss 1

duplicative cases or request that all cases be consolidated and proceed with an amended

complaint. 

2

Case 1:12-cv-01654-AWI-JLT Document 28 Filed 01/03/13 Page 2 of 4
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

Case 1:12-cv-2026 AWI SKO was filed on December 13, 2012. Case 1:12-cv-2026

AWI SKO names the United States of America, the GEO Group, and MTC as Defendants. Case

1:12-cv-2026 AWI SKO alleges a negligence cause of action against the United States of

American, pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, for the United States of America’s failure to

provide inmates with a safe and habitable prison and for the United States of American’s failure

to operate and maintain prison facilities in safe and habitable conditions. Case 1:12-cv-2026

AWI SKO also alleges the United States of American breached its duty of care under 18 U.S.C. §

4042(a). Finally, case 1:12-cv-2026 AWI SKO alleges the GEO Group and MTC were negligent

in failing to provide, operate, and maintain a safe and habitable prison. 

 As stated above, multiple motions have been filed in Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO and

Case 1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO. In Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO: Defendant GEO Group has 2

filed a motion to dismiss set for hearing on January 7, 2013; Defendant United States of

America has filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction set for hearing on March 4, 2013;

and, Defendant MTC has set a motion to dismiss for hearing on January 28, 2013. In Case

1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO: Defendant GEO Group filed a motion to dismiss set for hearing on

January 7, 2013; and, Defendant MTC has set a motion to dismiss for hearing on January 28,

2013.

The court has reviewed the five pending motions in Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO and

case 1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO. The pending motions all concern whether Plaintiff has exhausted

relevant administrative remedies and whether the complaints’ allegations about Taft’s conditions

state a claim for negligence. Because these cases and the pending motions concern prison

conditions, the court finds that these motion should be referred to Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 72 for the entry for Findings and

Recommendations. 

 Given the early procedural posture of 1:12-cv-2026 AWI SKO, no motions have yet 2

been filed in this case.

3

Case 1:12-cv-01654-AWI-JLT Document 28 Filed 01/03/13 Page 3 of 4
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

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The five pending motions to dismiss in Case 1:12-cv-1654 AWI SKO and Case

1:12-cv-1933 AWI SKO are REFERRED to Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto; 

2. The hearing dates before the undersigned on January 7, 2013, January 28, 2013,

and March 4, 2012 are VACATED; 

3. In the event Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto desires to hold a hearing on some or

all of the pending motions, Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto’s Chambers will

contact the parties and set a hearing date at Magistrate Judge Sheila Oberto’s

convenience.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: January 3, 2013 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

4

Case 1:12-cv-01654-AWI-JLT Document 28 Filed 01/03/13 Page 4 of 4