Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00031/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00031-3/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

GUSTAVO CAZARES-MONTES, 1:06-CV-00031-OWW-SMS-P

Plaintiff,

vs. FIRST INFORMATIONAL ORDER 

KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S

DEPARTMENT, 

Defendants.

 

Plaintiff GUSTAVO CAZARES-MONTES (“plaintiff”) is a prisoner proceeding

pro se and in forma pauperis in a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In

litigating this action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

(Fed. R. Civ. P.) and the Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of

California (Local Rules). This order highlights specific rules of which the parties should

take particular note. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL RULES, FEDERAL

RULES OR A COURT ORDER, INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS

FOR DISMISSAL OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. See Local Rule 11-110;

Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).

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 When a document is stricken, it becomes a nullity and is not considered by the court 1

for any purposes.

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1. Documents intended to be filed with the court must be mailed to the Clerk of the

Court. See Local Rule 5-134(a). All documents improperly mailed to a judge's chambers

will be stricken from the record. A document requesting a court order must be styled as a 1

motion, not a letter. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.

2. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the

filing party or parties. Local Rule 7-131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted

without the required signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document must be

separately stapled. See Local Rule 7-130. If a document is stapled behind another

document, it will not be filed and will not enter the court docket.

3. All documents filed with the court must be submitted with an additional legible

conformed copy for the court's use. See Local Rule 5-134(b). A document submitted

without an extra copy for the court's use will be stricken. If the filing party wishes the

court to return a file-stamped copy, he or she must include an additional copy for that

purpose (i.e., submit an original and two copies, one for the court's use and one to be

returned) AND a pre-addressed postage paid envelope. The court cannot provide copy or

mailing service for a party, even for an indigent plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. 

Copies of documents from the court file may be obtained at the cost of fifty cents per page.

4. After defendants have appeared in an action by filing a pleading responsive to

the complaint (i.e., an answer or a motion to dismiss), all documents filed with the court

must include a certificate of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the

opposing party. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule 5-135. A document submitted without

the required proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is represented, service on the

party's attorney of record constitutes effective service. 

5. All filings must bear the file number assigned to the action, followed by the

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initials of the District Court Judge and the Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned

and the letter "P." Where plaintiff simultaneously pursues more than one action, he or she

must file separate original documents and the appropriate number of copies in each action

to which the document pertains. Documents submitted listing more than one case number

in the caption will be stricken.

6. The court cannot serve as a repository for the parties' evidence (i.e., prison or

medical records, witness affidavits, etc.). The parties may not file evidence with the court

until the course of litigation brings the evidence into question (for example, on a motion for

summary judgment, at trial, or when requested by the court). Evidence improperly

submitted to the court will be stricken.

7. After an answer is filed, the court will issue an order opening discovery, and

setting the deadlines for discovery, amended pleadings, and pre-trial dispositive motions. 

No discovery may be conducted without court permission until an answer is filed and the

court issues the discovery order. Discovery propounded on a party is self-executing, and

must be served directly on the party from whom discovery is sought; parties should not file

copies of their discovery with the court. See Local Rules 33-250, 34-250, 36-250. Discovery

documents inappropriately submitted to the court will be stricken. Where the response to

discovery is unsatisfactory, the party seeking discovery may file a motion to compel

discovery, including a copy of the discovery propounded and the response thereto. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 37. 

8. Because plaintiff is incarcerated and proceeds pro se, all pretrial motions will be

submitted without a hearing. See Local Rule 78-230(m). The parties are referred to Local

Rule 78-230(m) for the briefing schedule on motions.

9. All court deadlines will be strictly enforced. Requests for time extensions must

state the reason the extension is needed and must be filed with the court before the deadline

in question. See Local Rule 6-142.

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10. A pro se plaintiff has an affirmative duty to keep the court and opposing parties

apprised of his or her address. If a plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice of change of

address, service of court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective notice. 

See Local Rule 83-182(d). If mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the U.S. Postal

Service as undeliverable, the court will not attempt to re-mail it. If the address is not

updated within sixty days of the mail being returned, the action will be dismissed for

failure to prosecute. See Local Rule 83-183(b). 

11. The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has

raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which

relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from

such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). The court will direct the United States Marshal to

serve plaintiff’s complaint only after the court has screened the complaint and determined

that it contains cognizable claims for relief against the named defendants. The court has a

large number of prisoner civil rights cases pending before it and will screen plaintiff’s

complaint in due course. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 5, 2006 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

b6edp0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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