Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02307/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02307-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

T. D. HUDKINS, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-07-2233 LEW KJM P

vs.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

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Plaintiffs are state prisoners proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

This court has determined that each plaintiff should proceed separately on his

own claim. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide “[p]arties may be dropped or added by

order of the court on motion of any party or of its own initiative at any stage of the action and on

such terms as are just. Any claim against a party may be severed and proceeded with

separately.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. Courts have broad discretion regarding severance. See Davis v.

Mason County, 927 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1991).

In the instant action, plaintiffs are individuals in the custody of the California

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, presently confined at Centinela State Prison. In

this court’s experience, an action brought by multiple inmate plaintiffs proceeding pro se

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1

 See Information to Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a Civil Action in Federal

Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

presents procedural problems that cause delay and confusion. Delay often arises from the

frequent transfer of inmates to other facilities or institutions, the changes in address that occur

when inmates are released to parole, and the difficulties faced by inmates who attempt to

communicate with each other and with unincarcerated individuals. 

Accordingly, the court will order that plaintiffs’ claims be severed. Plaintiff

Hudkins will proceed in this action, while the other plaintiffs will proceed in separate actions to

be opened by the Clerk of the Court. Each plaintiff will proceed with his own action and will be

solely responsible for his own action.

The Clerk of the Court will be directed to assign the new action to the same

district judge and magistrate judge assigned to the instant action. The Clerk of the Court shall

make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of civil cases to compensate for this

reassignment.

Each plaintiff will be given thirty days to file, in his own action, an amended

complaint and an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, using the forms provided by

the court with this order. Each plaintiff is cautioned that if this action proceeds further it is

probable that each plaintiff will incur a liability in the amount of the $350.00 filing fee, which

amount will be collected from his prison trust account.1

 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The claims of all plaintiffs except those of plaintiff Hudkins are severed from

this action;

2. Plaintiff Hudkins shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case No. CIV-S-07-2233

LEW KJM P;

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3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open separate civil actions for each plaintiff other than Plaintiff

Hudkins; 

b. Assign the new actions to the district judge and magistrate judge to

whom the instant case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the

assignment of civil cases to compensate for such assignment;

c. File and docket a copy of this order in all of the cases;

d. Place a copy of the complaint filed October 19, 2007 in all the new

cases; 

e. Send each plaintiff an endorsed copy of his complaint bearing the case

number assigned to his own individual action; 

4. Each plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed;

5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send each plaintiff a new form for filing a

civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and a new Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

By a Prisoner; and

6. Each plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file

an amended complaint and a an application to proceed in forma pauperis, using the forms

provided by the court with this order. Each plaintiff’s documents must bear the docket number

assigned to his own individual case, and each complaint must be labeled “Amended Complaint.” 

Each plaintiff must file an original and one copy of his amended complaint. Failure to file an 

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amended complaint or an application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with this order

will result in a recommendation that the plaintiff’s action be dismissed.

DATED: October 26, 2007. 

1

hudk2233.2.2

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