Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00600/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00600-11/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RODERICK WILLIAM LEAR,

Plaintiff,

v.

NAVARRO, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:21-cv-00600-DAD-BAM (PC)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

TO IDENTIFY DEFENDANT JOHN DOE

(ECF No. 45)

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT 

IDENTIFYING DEFENDANT JOHN DOE

THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff Roderick William Lear (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in 

forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds 

against Defendants Navarro, Neve, Allison, and John Doe 1 for excessive force in violation of the 

Eighth Amendment, arising from the incident on January 4, 2020.

On September 1, 2021, the Court found service of the complaint appropriate and directed 

Plaintiff to provide the Court with written notice identifying Defendant John Doe 1 with enough 

information to locate the defendant for service of process. (ECF No. 15.) Plaintiff was directed 

to provide written notice identifying John Doe 1. (Id.)

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to identify Defendant John Doe. (ECF 

No. 45.) Plaintiff states that he believes Defendant John Doe is Officer Plata. However, he 

requests that the Court order Defendants to state if Officer Plata either worked or was located in 

4A2 Right or Left on January 4, 2020. Plaintiff believes that Defendants and their attorneys are 

not likely to admit Officer Plata’s role in the events at issue in this case, but Plaintiff’s 

investigation shows he identified Plata in his original appeal. (Id.)

Case 1:21-cv-00600-KES-BAM Document 46 Filed 03/09/22 Page 1 of 2
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To the extent Plaintiff requests a court order directing Defendants to admit to particular 

facts, the Court declines to do so. Discovery was opened in this action on February 10, 2022, and 

Plaintiff is free to submit discovery requests directly to any Defendants served in this matter, 

without a Court order.

Plaintiff’s motion to identify Defendant John Doe as Officer Plata is granted. Plaintiff is 

directed to file a first amended complaint substituting the name of Officer Plata for any references 

to Defendant John Doe 1. To assist Plaintiff, the Court will direct the Clerk of the Court to send 

Plaintiff a copy of the original complaint in this action. Plaintiff is not required to change any 

other allegations in the complaint besides the name of Officer Plata.

Once the Court has received a first amended complaint that substitutes Officer Plata for 

Defendant John Doe 1, the Court will order services of the amended complaint on Officer Plata.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to identify Defendant John Doe, (ECF No. 45), is GRANTED, as 

discussed above;

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Plaintiff a courtesy copy of the complaint, (ECF 

No. 1);

3. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff is directed to file a 

first amended complaint substituting the name of Officer Plata for any references to 

Defendant John Doe 1; and

4. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in dismissal of Defendant John 

Doe 1 from this action, without prejudice, for failure to serve with process pursuant 

to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 9, 2022 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-00600-KES-BAM Document 46 Filed 03/09/22 Page 2 of 2