Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01521/USCOURTS-caed-2_22-cv-01521-8/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

WILLIAM STEPHENSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

STEPHANIE CLENDENIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:22-cv-1521-DAD-JDP P

THOMAS BODNAR,

Plaintiff,

v.

STEPHANIE CLENDENIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:22-cv-1533-DAD-AC P

JOSHUA FORSTER,

Plaintiff,

v.

STEPHANIE CLENDENIN, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:22-cv-1191-KES-CDB P

ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES 

Plaintiffs and defendants in the three above captioned cases have moved to consolidate the 

cases into Stephenson v. Clendenin, 2:22-cv-1521-DAD-JDP P, the earliest filed of the three. 

ECF No. 56.1 The consolidation request in the proposed lead case was referred to me by the 

1 Docket numbers in this order will refer to the docket in 2:22-cv-1521. 

Case 2:22-cv-01521-DAD-JDP Document 59 Filed 11/01/24 Page 1 of 3
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district judge. ECF No. 58. For the reasons stated below, the actions should be consolidated as 

proposed by the parties.

The parties correctly assert that all three actions involve plaintiff patients that have sued 

defendant Clendenin for due process violations that allegedly occurred at the Department of State 

Hospitals-Coalinga. ECF No. 56 at 2. They contend that consolidation is appropriate because all 

three cases involve similar questions of law and fact and plaintiffs in all three cases have retained 

the same counsel. Id. Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides a court may 

consolidate actions that “involve a common question of law or fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a)(2). 

Courts should consolidate cases where the interests of judicial convenience outweigh any 

potential for delay, confusion, or prejudice caused by consolidation. Southwest Marine, Inc., v. 

Triple A. Mach. Shop, Inc., 720 F. Supp. 805, 807 (N.D. Cal. 1989). Here, the factual and legal 

similarity of the claims and the fact that plaintiff’s counsel is consistent across the three cases 

convinces me that the gains in judicial convenience far outweigh any potential pitfalls in delay or 

confusion. 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that:

1. Case Nos. 2:22-cv-1521-DAD-JDP; 2:22-cv-1533-DAD-AC; and 1:22-cv1191-KES-CDB (“Related Cases”) are CONSOLIDATED for pre-trial purposes, including fact 

and expert discovery and summary judgment. Case No. 2:22-cv-1521-DAD-JDP is designated as 

the “master file” and lead case. From the date of this order, all filings in this matter shall be made 

in the lead case.

2. Plaintiffs will prepare a consolidated complaint for Defendants’ review and 

approval to be filed within 45 days of the court’s order. Should the parties be unable to reach 

agreement on the final consolidated complaint after meeting and conferring, the parties will seek 

additional guidance from this court.

3. Defendants will not be required to file a pleading in response to the currently 

operative complaint in Bodnar v. Clendenin, Case No. 2:22-cv-1533-DAD-AC, and will instead 

file a responsive pleading to the consolidated complaint once approved for filing. If a 

consolidated complaint is not approved for filing, the parties will seek additional guidance from 

Case 2:22-cv-01521-DAD-JDP Document 59 Filed 11/01/24 Page 2 of 3
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this court regarding the filing of a responsive pleading to the currently operative complaint in the 

Bodnar case. Once this matter is settled, I will issue an order administratively closing the nonlead cases. 

4. The Clerk of Court shall file a copy of this order in all three of the above captioned 

actions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 30, 2024 

JEREMY D. PETERSON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:22-cv-01521-DAD-JDP Document 59 Filed 11/01/24 Page 3 of 3