Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00932/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00932-0/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

CLIFFORD C. LARSEN, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. CIV S-03-2168 RRB PAN P

vs.

TOM L. CAREY, 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, five plaintiffs are in the custody of the California Department

of Corrections and Rehabilitation, presently confined at different locations, and one is at liberty. 

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

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 See Information to Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a Civil Action in Federal 1

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

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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

Clifford Larsen will proceed in this action, while plaintiffs Michael Lagan, Demond Walker,

Jason Barke, Ronald Morris and Matthew Phillips will proceed in five civil 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 actions 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 has filed a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 

However, since the claims will be severed, each plaintiff will be given thirty days to file, in his

own action, an amended complaint and a new application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis,

using the forms provided by the court with this order. Each plaintiff is cautioned that if an

individual action proceeds further it is probable that each plaintiff will incur a liability in the

amount of the $150 filing fee, which amount will be collected from the inmate’s prison trust

account. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b) (2000).

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

1. The claims of all plaintiffs are severed;

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2. Plaintiff Clifford C. Larsen shall proceed as the sole plaintiff in case No. CIV

S-03-2168 RRB PAN P; 

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open five separate civil actions for plaintiffs Michael Lagan, Demond

Walker, Jason Barke, Ronald Morris and Matthew Phillips;

b. Assign each action 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 each of the five files opened for

the plaintiffs listed in number 3a above;

d. Place a copy of the complaint filed October 15, 2003, in each of the

files opened for the plaintiffs listed in number 3a above; 

e. Place the application to proceed in forma pauperis by a prisoner filed on

January 11, 2005, by Ronald Morris in the file opened for this plaintiff

f. Strike from the caption of each plaintiff’s complaint all plaintiffs’

names except the name of the individual plaintiff proceeding in the action;

g. Send each plaintiff an endorsed copy of the October 15, 2003,

complaint bearing the amended caption and 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 new 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

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

Each plaintiff must file an original and two copies of his amended complaint. Failure to file an

amended complaint or a new application to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with this

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

DATED: April 27, 2006.

\004

\lars2168.2

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