Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00976/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00976-4/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

GUILLERMO TRUJILLO CRUZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

MUNOZ, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:14-cv-00976 DLB PC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION TO SUBPOENA TRANSCRIPTS

[ECF No. 17]

Plaintiff Guillermo Trujillo Cruz (“Plaintiff”) is a California state prisoner proceeding pro se 

and in forma pauperis in this civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on 

June 23, 2014.

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 He names Correctional Officer Munoz as Defendant. On June 5, 2015, the Court 

dismissed the complaint with leave to file an amended complaint. On June 19, 2015, Plaintiff filed a 

First Amended Complaint.

On July 23, 2015, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for a subpoena directed to Kings County 

Superior Court to obtain transcripts of a sentencing hearing held in Plaintiff’s criminal case. The 

discovery phase of this litigation is not yet open. Plaintiff is advised that 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 

 

1 On July 24, 2014, Plaintiff consented to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge. 

Case 1:14-cv-00976-DAD-EPG Document 18 Filed 07/27/15 Page 1 of 2
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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). “Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any 

portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court 

determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.” 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). In this case, the Court has not yet screened the First Amended 

Complaint, and service has not yet been authorized. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motion for discovery is 

premature.

Further, assuming that Plaintiff is able to state a claim, the pendency of this action will not 

entitle Plaintiff to the issuance of a subpoena directed toward the Kings County Superior Court for 

issuance of transcripts. Plaintiff may not challenge his underlying conviction in a civil rights action; 

he must do so by way of a habeas corpus petition. Badea v. Cox, 931 F.2d 573, 574 (9th Cir. 1991); 

Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 485 (1973). In this case, the Court’s jurisdiction will be limited 

to the issuance of orders that remedy the underlying legal claim. Id. 

ORDER

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion for issuance of a subpoena

is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 25, 2015 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00976-DAD-EPG Document 18 Filed 07/27/15 Page 2 of 2