Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01499/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01499-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE PIZARRO, 1:06-CV-1499 AWI SMS P

Plaintiff,

vs. FIRST INFORMATIONAL ORDER 

PAUL M. SCHULTZ, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff Jose Pizarro (“plaintiff”) is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in a civil rights action pursuant to Bivens vs. Six Unknown Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).

In litigating this action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R.

Civ. P.) and the Local Rules ofthe 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).

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

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

for any purposes.

from the record. A document requesting a court order must be styled as a motion, not a letter. See 1

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). 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 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.

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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.

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

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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: January 29, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

b6edp0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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