Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00192/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00192-4/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

ALBERT CRUZ, 

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

DR. HO, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:15-cv-00192-EPG-PC

 

ORDER DISMISSING PLAINTIFF FROM 

THIS CASE UNDER RULE 25, AND 

DISMISSING THIS CASE IN ITS 

ENTIRETY

ORDER FOR CLERK TO CLOSE CASE

I. BACKGROUND

Albert Cruz (“Plaintiff”), a jail inmate proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights action on 

February 5, 2015 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (ECF No. 1.) This action now proceeds on the 

initial complaint against defendant Dr. Ho (“Defendant”) for failing to provide adequate 

medical care in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

On February 12, 2015, Plaintiff consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this action 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 636(c), and no other parties have made an appearance. (ECF No. 4.) 

Therefore, pursuant to Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local Rules of the Eastern District of 

California, the undersigned shall conduct any and all proceedings in the case until such time as 

reassignment to a District Judge is required. Local Rule Appendix A(k)(3).

On May 3, 2016, Defendant filed a “Notice of Death of Plaintiff,” stating that counsel 

for Defendant was advised that Plaintiff Albert Cruz passed away on July 28, 2015. (ECF No. 

21.) Albert Cruz is the sole plaintiff in this action.

Case 1:15-cv-00192-EPG Document 22 Filed 08/23/16 Page 1 of 2
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II. FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 25

Pursuant to Rule 25 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “[i]f a party dies and the 

claim is not thereby extinguished, the court may order substitution of the proper parties. Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1). The motion for substitution may be made by any party or by the successors 

or representatives of the deceased party and, together with the notice of hearing, shall be served 

on the parties as provided in Rule 5 and upon persons not parties in the manner provided in 

Rule 4 for the service of a summons, and may be served in any judicial district. Id. Unless the 

motion for substitution is made not later than 90 days after the death is suggested upon the 

record by service of statement of the fact of the death as provided for herein for the service of 

the motion, the action shall be dismissed as to the deceased party.” Id.

Defendant has provided a certificate of service showing that the “Notice of Death of 

Plaintiff” was served upon plaintiff’s next of kin in the manner required by Rule 25, which was 

effective to trigger the ninety-day period for Plaintiff’s successors or representatives to move to 

substitute themselves for Plaintiff as a party. (ECF No. 21-1.) More than ninety days have 

passed since the “Notice of Death of Plaintiff” was served, and no motion for substitution has 

been filed by any party or any of Plaintiff’s successors or representatives. Therefore, Albert 

Cruz, the sole plaintiff in this action, shall be dismissed from this action. In light of Plaintiff’s 

dismissal, the case shall be dismissed in its entirety.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff, Albert Cruz, is dismissed from this action under Rule 25;

2. This case is dismissed in its entirety; and

3. The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 22, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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