Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02478/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02478-6/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

DONNIE KAY SNEED,

Plaintiff,

v.

FRED FAULK,

Defendant.

No. 2:14-cv-2478 GEB KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding pro se. On December 14, 2016, the undersigned 

recommended that this action be dismissed based on plaintiff’s failure to file a second amended 

complaint. On December 15, 2016, plaintiff filed a motion for extension of time to file an 

amended complaint, which was entered on the court’s docket December 16, 2016. Plaintiff 

signed his motion on November 30, 2016; under the mailbox rule, his motion is timely. See

Jenkins v. Johnson, 330 F.3d 1146, 1149 n.2 (9th Cir. 2003) (date petition is signed may be 

considered earliest possible date an inmate could submit his petition to prison authorities for 

filing under the mailbox rule). Thus, the findings and recommendations are vacated. 

In his motion, plaintiff seeks a 90 day extension of time in which to file his second 

amended complaint. He claims he needs additional time to research his claims and to seek the 

return of certain relevant documents that were confiscated during a building search in January of 

2016. Plaintiff also provides exhibits pertaining to his efforts to exhaust administrative remedies 

Case 2:14-cv-02478-GEB-KJN Document 34 Filed 12/23/16 Page 1 of 3
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as to various unrelated incidents. 

This action was filed on September 29, 2014. To date, despite multiple opportunities, 

plaintiff has failed to allege facts that state a cognizable civil rights claim. Upon review of 

plaintiff’s recent exhibits, it also appears that plaintiff has not exhausted his administrative 

remedies as to many of his potential claims.

A prisoner may not bring a § 1983 action until he has exhausted such administrative 

remedies as are available to him. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). The requirement is mandatory. Booth v. 

Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741 (2001). California prisoners or parolees may appeal “departmental 

policies, decisions, actions, conditions, or omissions that have a material adverse effect on the[ir] 

welfare. . . .” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §§ 3084.1, et seq. An appeal must be presented on a CDC 

form 602 that asks simply that the prisoner “describe the problem” and “action requested.”1 

Therefore, this court ordinarily will review only claims against prison officials within the scope of 

the problem reported in a CDC form 602 or an interview or claims that were or should have been 

uncovered in the review promised by the department. 

Plaintiff is advised that he is not required to submit evidence in support of any second 

amended complaint. Rather, plaintiff must allege facts that demonstrate his constitutional rights 

 

1 On January 28, 2011, California prison regulations governing inmate grievances were revised. 

Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7. Now, inmates in California proceed through three levels of 

appeal to exhaust the appeal process: (1) formal written appeal on a CDC 602 inmate appeal 

form, (2) second level appeal to the institution head or designee, and (3) third level appeal to the 

Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”). Cal. Code 

Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.7. Under specific circumstances, the first level review may be bypassed. Id. 

The third level of review constitutes the decision of the Secretary of the CDCR and exhausts a 

prisoner’s administrative remedies. See id. § 3084.7(d)(3). Since 2008, medical appeals have 

been processed at the third level by the Office of Third Level Appeals for the California 

Correctional Health Care Services. A California prisoner is required to submit an inmate appeal 

at the appropriate level and proceed to the highest level of review available to him. Butler v. 

Adams, 397 F.3d 1181, 1183 (9th Cir. 2005); Bennett v. King, 293 F.3d 1096, 1098 (9th Cir. 

2002). Since the 2011 revision, in submitting a grievance, an inmate is required to “list all staff 

members involved and shall describe their involvement in the issue.” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, 

§ 3084.2(3). Further, the inmate must “state all facts known and available to him/her regarding 

the issue being appealed at the time,” and he or she must “describe the specific issue under appeal 

and the relief requested.” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §§ 3084.2(a)(4). An inmate now has thirty 

calendar days to submit his or her appeal from the occurrence of the event or decision being 

appealed, or “upon first having knowledge of the action or decision being appealed.” Cal. Code 

Regs. tit. 15, § 3084.8(b).

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were violated and identify the individuals who allegedly violated his rights. Moreover, plaintiff 

must first exhaust his administrative remedies as to any such claims before the instant action was 

filed on September 29, 2014. Thus, plaintiff may not raise in this action any claims based on 

incidents that occurred on or after September 29, 2014.

In an abundance of caution, plaintiff is granted 60 days in which to file his amended 

pleading. However, no further extensions of time will be granted. In the alternative, plaintiff 

may choose to voluntarily dismiss this action until he can adequately plead his claims. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time (ECF No. 33) is partially granted; 

2. Plaintiff is granted sixty days from the date of this order in which to file an amended 

complaint, or plaintiff may file a voluntary dismissal; and

3. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff the form for filing a civil rights action by a 

prisoner. 

Dated: December 23, 2016

snee2478.36

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