Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00664/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00664-0/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DENNIS A. McCORNELL,

CDC #B-92969,

Civil No. 07-0664 L (CAB)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL

ACTION AS DUPLICATIVE

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1)

 vs.

CRUZ, et al., 

Defendants.

Plaintiff, a state inmate currently incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison located in

Corcoran, California and proceeding pro se, filed a civil rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983. While Plaintiff’s Complaint is not entirely clear, it appears that Plaintiff alleges that

prison officials from Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California violated

his constitutional rights when they determined he was “HIV” positive but participated in a

conspiracy to “cover up” Plaintiff’s medical status. 

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Case 3:07-cv-00664-L-CAB Document 3 Filed 04/25/07 Page 1 of 3
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I. Sua Sponte Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, obligates the Court to

review complaints filed by anyone “incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of,

sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms or conditions

of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program,” “as soon as practicable after

docketing” and regardless of whether the prisoner prepays filing fees or moves to proceed IFP.

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (c). The Court must sua sponte dismiss prisoner complaints, or any

portions thereof, which are frivolous, malicious, or fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 446-47 (9th Cir. 2000).

 Plaintiff’s instant Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it appears to be duplicative of a civil rights action he is already litigating.

Plaintiff’s Complaint contains identical defendants and claims that are found in McCornell v.

Cruz, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 07cv0199 L (LSP). A court “may take notice of

proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those

proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue.” United States ex rel. Robinson Rancheria

Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992). 

A prisoner’s complaint is considered frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) if it

“merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103,

1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)) (citations and internal

quotations omitted). Because Plaintiff is already litigating the same claims presented in the

instant action in McCornell v. Cruz, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 07cv0199 L (LSP), the Court

hereby DISMISSES Civil Case No. 07cv0664 L (CAB) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).

See Cato, 70 F.3d at 1105 n.2; Resnick, 213 F.3d at 446 n.1.

II. Conclusion and Order

 Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

Plaintiff’s Complaint in Civil Case No. 07cv0664 L (LSP) is DISMISSED as frivolous

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). 

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This dismissal shall operate without prejudice to Plaintiff’s pursuit of the same claims

presented herein in McCornell v. Cruz, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 07cv0199 L (LSP).

The Clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 25, 2007

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00664-L-CAB Document 3 Filed 04/25/07 Page 3 of 3