Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01368/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01368-0/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID B. TURNER, JR.,

Inmate Booking No. 13719099 Civil

No. 13cv1368 MMA (DHB)

Plaintiff, ORDER: 

(1) DISMISSING ACTION AS

FRIVOLOUS PURSUANT TO 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(b); and 

(2) DENYING MOTION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

AS MOOT

vs.

CORPORAL SAUNDER; SAN DIEGO

SHERIFF DEP’T; SCOTT TORRES;

CORPORAL SEELEY,

Defendants.

Plaintiff, currently housed at the George Bailey Detention Facility located in San

Diego, California, and proceeding pro se, has filed an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983. Plaintiff has also filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) [ECF No. 2].

I. SCREENING PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)

Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A,

however, the Court is obligated to review civil actions filed by anyone “incarcerated or

detained in any facility who is accused of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for,

violations of criminal law or the terms or conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release,

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or diversionary program,” “as soon as practicable after docketing” and regardless of

whether the prisoner prepays filing fees or moves to proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a), (c). Because Plaintiff was a “prisoner” as defined by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(c)

at the time he filed this action, the Court must sua sponte dismiss his complaint, or any

portion thereof, which “seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee

of a governmental entity,” if it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which

relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), (b); Rhodes v. Robinson, 621 F.3d 1002,

1004 (9th Cir. 2010).

Here, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s action is frivolous as it is duplicative of an

action Plaintiff previously filed. Plaintiff’s Complaint contains identical claims that are

found in Turner v. San Diego Central Jail, et al., S.D. Cal Civil Case No. 13cv1133

WQH (BGS). A court “may take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and

without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters

at issue.” United States ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971

F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992). 

A prisoner’s complaint is considered frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) if

it “merely repeats pending or previously litigated claims.” Cato v. United States, 70

F.3d 1103, 1105 n.2 (9th Cir. 1995) (construing former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d)) (citations

and internal quotations omitted). Because Plaintiff has already litigated the same claims

presented in the instant action in Turner v. San Diego Central Jail, et al., S.D. Cal Civil

Case No. 13cv1133 WQH (BGS), the Court hereby DISMISSES Civil Case No. 

13cv368 MMA (DHB) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). See Cato, 70 F.3d at 1105

n.2; Resnick, 213 F.3d at 446 n.1.

II. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. The case is DISMISSED without prejudice as frivolous. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b). In addition, the Court finds further amendment would be futile. See Cahill

v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 339 (9th Cir. 1996) (denial of a leave to amend is

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not an abuse of discretion where further amendment would be futile);

2. The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No. 2) as moot.

The Clerk shall close the file.

DATED: June 18, 2013

Hon. Michael M. Anello

United States District Judge

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