Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-02111/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-02111-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES LEE HELM, 

Plaintiff,

v.

SHERIFF ADAM CHRISTIANSON, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

1:09-cv-02111-SMS PC

ORDER RESOLVING REQUEST TO

CLARIFY PLAINTIFF’S STATUS

(Doc. 5.)

Plaintiff James Lee Helm is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this

civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On January 8, 2010, Plaintiff filed a request for the

Court to clarify his status as a civil detainee in this action. (Doc. 5.) Plaintiff objects to being

referred to as a prisoner, given the finding in Torrey that civil detainees are not prisoners. Page v.

Torry, 201 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2000.) Plaintiff requests that the Court instruct the Clerk of

Court and the defendants in this action not to refer to Plaintiff as a prisoner. In addition, Plaintiff

requests that the case number for this action be changed to reflect a wholly civil case.

The Court is aware that Plaintiff is a civil detainee and not a prisoner within the meaning of

the Prison Litigation Reform Act. The 555 nature of suit designation for this action reflects a case

filed by a civil detainee rather than a prisoner, and Plaintiff’s case is being treated as such. Any

inadvertent reference to Plaintiff as a prisoner should be disregarded. The assignment of Plaintiff’s

case number is purely administrative in nature, and has no substantive effect on this case. The case

1

Case 1:09-cv-02111-OWW -SKO Document 7 Filed 01/15/10 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

number was not assigned in error given how civil rights cases filed by prisoners and detainees are

handled administratively, and it will not be changed.

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s request for clarification is HEREBY DEEMED

RESOLVED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 14, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

2

Case 1:09-cv-02111-OWW -SKO Document 7 Filed 01/15/10 Page 2 of 2