Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00568/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00568-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PHIA LEE, VOUA YANG, ALLADIN 1:08-cv-00568 OWW DLB PC

PANGILINAN, SAM-BAN CHENG

ORDER SEVERING PLAINTIFFS’ 

Plaintiffs, CLAIMS AND DIRECTING CLERK’S

OFFICE TO OPEN NEW ACTIONS FOR

vs. VOUA YANG, ALLADIN PANGILINAN,

and SAM-BAN CHENG

WARDEN et al., [Doc. 1]

Defendants. ORDER DIRECTING ALL PLAINTIFFS

TO FILE AMENDED COMPLAINTS

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFFS 

VOUA YANG, ALLADIN PANGILINAN,

and SAM-BAN CHENG TO PAY FILING FEE

OR FILE APPLICATIONS TO PROCEED IN

FORMA PAUPERIS

______________________________________/

I. Severance of Plaintiffs’ Claims

Plaintiffs Phia Lee, Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and Sam-Ban Cheng (“plaintiffs”) are

proceeding pro se in a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiffs are currently

incarcerated at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California. After reviewing the record in this

action, the court has determined that each plaintiff should proceed separately on his own claims. The

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide “parties may be dropped or added by order of the court on

motion of any party or of its own initiative at any stage of the action and on such terms as are just. Any

Case 1:08-cv-00568-ROS Document 8 Filed 06/04/08 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

claim against a partymay be severed and proceeded with separately.” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 21. Courts have

broad discretion regarding severance. See Davis v. Mason County, 927 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1991).

In this court’s experience, an action brought by multiple plaintiffs proceeding pro se where one

or more of the plaintiffs is incarcerated presents procedural problems that cause delay and confusion.

Delay often arises from the frequent transfer of inmates to other facilities or institutions, the changes in

address that occur when inmates are released on parole, and the difficulties faced by inmates who

attempt to communicate with each other and other unincarcerated individuals. In this case, all four

plaintiffs are incarcerated, and the need for the parties to agree on all filings made in this action and the

need for all filings to contain the original signatures of all parties will lead to delay and confusion.

Accordingly, the court shall order plaintiffs’ claims severed. Plaintiff Phia Lee will proceed in

this action, while plaintiffs Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and Sam-Ban Cheng will each proceed in

separate actions to be opened by the Clerk of the Court. Each plaintiff shall proceed separately and shall

be solely responsible for his own action.

The Clerk of the Court will be directed to assign the new actions to the same district judge and

magistrate judge assigned to the instant action. The Clerk of the Court shall make appropriate

adjustment in the assignment of cases to compensate for this reassignment.

Since the claims for each plaintiff will be severed, all plaintiffs shall file amended complaints

containing his own separate claims only. Further, plaintiffs Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and SamBan Cheng shall either pay the $350.00 filing fee in full or file an application to proceed in forma

pauperis. If any plaintiff wishes to voluntarily dismiss his action, that plaintiff must notify the court

within thirty days from the date of service of this order.

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff Phia Lee shall proceed asthe sole plaintiff in case number 1:08-cv-00568 OWW

DLB PC;

2. The claims of plaintiffs Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and Sam-Ban Cheng are severed

from the claims of plaintiff Phia Lee;

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to:

a. Open a separate action for plaintiff Voua Yang;

Case 1:08-cv-00568-ROS Document 8 Filed 06/04/08 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

b. Open a separate action for plaintiff Alladin Pangilinan;

c. Open a separate action for plaintiff Sam-Ban Cheng;

d. Assign the new actions to the district judge and magistrate judge to whom the

instant case is assigned and make appropriate adjustment in the assignment of

cases to compensate for such assignment;

e. File and docket a copy of this order in the three new actions opened;

f. Place a copy of the complaint filed on April 24, 2008 in the instant action in the

new actions opened; and

g. Send plaintiffs Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and Sam-Ban Cheng an endorsed

copy of the complaint, filed April 24, 2008, bearing the case number assigned to

his own individual action;

4. The Clerk of the Court shall send to plaintiffs Voua Yang, Alladin Pangilinan and SamBan Cheng an application to proceed in forma pauperis;

5. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, each plaintiff shall file an

amended complaint bearing his respective case number;

6. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, plaintiffs Voua Yang,

Alladin Pangilinan and Sam-Ban Cheng shall either pay the filing fee in full or submit

a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis bearing his respective case number;

7. In the alternative, if any plaintiff wishes to dismiss his action, that plaintiff must so notify

the court within thirty (30) days f rom the date of service of this order; and

8. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that the action be

dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: May 30, 2008 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

d274kd UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:08-cv-00568-ROS Document 8 Filed 06/04/08 Page 3 of 3