Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-03303/USCOURTS-caed-2_11-cv-03303-11/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DANIEL JESUS ARZAGA, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CRAIG LOVETT, 

Defendant. 

No. 2:11-cv-3303 JAM EFB P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. The court appointed counsel for plaintiff for the limited purpose of filing an 

amended complaint. ECF No. 28. That complaint was filed on November 26, 2013. ECF No. 

30. For screening purposes under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the court found that the complaint stated a 

cognizable claim against defendant Lovett. ECF No. 31. Lovett was subsequently served with 

the complaint and filed a motion to dismiss. ECF Nos. 37, 39. When plaintiff failed to timely 

oppose the motion, the court issued an order to plaintiff to submit either an opposition or 

statement of no opposition by January 9, 2015. ECF No. 40. 

 In response to the court’s order, plaintiff has filed a brief motion asking for an extension 

of time to file his opposition. ECF No. 41. Plaintiff states that he is currently housed in a state 

hospital where he cannot access pens, paper, or legal materials. Id. Plaintiff asks that the court 

grant him a “meaningful amount of time” to file an opposition. Id. Defendant opposes the 

Case 2:11-cv-03303-JAM-EFB Document 43 Filed 01/30/15 Page 1 of 2
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request, arguing that, without counsel, plaintiff will likely be unable to draft an opposition brief. 

ECF No. 42. 

 The court finds that, because plaintiff alleges that he is currently being housed without 

access to the necessary materials to draft his opposition brief, it would be inappropriate to deny 

the requested extension of time. However, the court requires more information before it can 

determine the appropriate length of such extension. 

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 

1. Within 21 days of the date of this order, defense counsel shall coordinate with 

counsel for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to 

determine plaintiff’s housing status, including: (1) where plaintiff is currently 

housed; (2) if plaintiff is not currently housed at his normal institution of 

incarceration, when plaintiff is expected to be returned to that institution; and (3) 

whether plaintiff currently has access to pens, paper, his legal materials, and a law 

library. 

2. Upon receipt of the above information, the court will rule on plaintiff’s January 9, 

2015 request for an extension of time. 

DATED: January 29, 2015. 

 

Case 2:11-cv-03303-JAM-EFB Document 43 Filed 01/30/15 Page 2 of 2