Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00713/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00713-1/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

KELVIN SIMS, No. 2:15-CV-0713-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

CDCR, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court are the following motions filed by plaintiff: 

(1) “Motion/Request for Leave to Amend Complaint to Name Eighth Defendant H.K. Johnson

Based on New Evidence” (Doc. 8); (2) “Motion/Request for Reconsideration of Plaintiff’s

Motion/Request for Leave to Amend Complaint to Name Ninth Defendant CCII McComas to be

Served by U.S. Marshal Upon Court’s Approval” (Doc. 10); and (3) “Motion/Request for

Approved Forms to Provide Marshal to Serve Defendants Herein” (Doc. 9). 

By way of his motions, plaintiff seeks leave to amend to name additional

defendants. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that a party may amend his or her

pleading once as a matter of course within 21 days of serving the pleading or, if the pleading is

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one to which a responsive pleading is required, within 21 days after service of the responsive

pleading, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(A), or within 21 days after service of a motion under Rule

12(b), (e), or (f) of the rules, whichever time is earlier, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(B). In all

other situations, a party’s pleadings may only be amended upon leave of court or stipulation of all

the parties. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). In this case, because plaintiff’s original complaint has

not been served, and because no responsive pleading has been served, and because no motion

under Rule 12(b), (e), or (f) has been filed, plaintiff may amend his complaint without leave of

court. Plaintiff’s motions seeking leave to add an eighth and ninth defendants will, therefore, be

denied as unnecessary. 

If, however, plaintiff does not file an amended complaint within the time provided

by this order, the action will proceed on the original complaint. Until such time as plaintiff either

files an amended complaint which is deemed appropriate for service, or this court reviews the

original complaint and deems it appropriate for service, plaintiff’s request for forms necessary for

service by the U.S. Marshal will be denied as premature. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motions (Docs. 8 and 10) seeking leave to amend are denied as

unnecessary;

2. If plaintiff does not file an amended complaint within 30 days of the date

of this order, the action shall proceed on the original complaint; and

3. Plaintiff’s motion (Doc. 9) for issuance of service documents is denied as

premature. 

DATED: January 28, 2016

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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