Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01270/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01270-1/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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1 06cv1270

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RANDAL RUIZ,

CDC# V-00678, Civil No. 06-CV-1270 JM (RBB)

Plaintiff,

ORDER:

(1) DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT

PREJUDICE FOR FAILING TO PAY

FILING FEES PURSUANT TO 28

U.S.C. § 1914(a) AND/OR MOVE TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a);

and

(2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT AS

DUPLICATIVE PURSUANT TO 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) 

vs.

Cpt ESQUIBEL,

Defendant.

Randal Ruiz (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner currently incarcerated at Richard J. Donovan

Correctional Facility (“RJD”) in San Diego, California, and proceeding pro se, has filed a civil

rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This case has been referred to the Honorable

Ruben B. Brooks, Magistrate Judge, pursuant to Local Rule 72.3, “Assignment of § 1983

Prisoner Civil Cases to United States Magistrate Judges” and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 

I. Failure to Pay Filing Fee or Request IFP Status

Effective April 9, 2006, all parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a

district court of the United States, other than a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of

Case 3:06-cv-01270-JM-RBB Document 4 Filed 09/22/06 Page 1 of 3
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$350. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a party’s failure to pay only if

the party is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). Here, Plaintiff has neither prepaid

the $350 filing fee required to commence this action, nor has he submitted a Motion to Proceed

IFP. Therefore, this action is subject to immediate dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a).

II. Sua Sponte Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, obligates the Court to

review complaints 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, 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). The Court must sua sponte dismiss prisoner complaints, or any

portions thereof, which are frivolous, malicious, or fail to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 446-47 (9th Cir. 2000).

 Plaintiff’s instant Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it appears to be duplicative of a civil rights action he is already litigating.

Plaintiff’s Complaint contains identical claims that are found in Ruiz v. Equibel, S.D. Cal. Civil

Case No. 06-1191 JM (AJB). 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 is already litigating the same claims presented in the

instant action in Ruiz v. Esquibel, S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 06-1191 JM (RBB), the Court hereby

DISMISSES Civil Case No. 06cv1270 JM (RBB) 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.

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III. Conclusion and Order

For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby:

1. DISMISSES this action sua sponte without prejudice for failing to pay the $350

filing fee or file a Motion to Proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a) and 1915(a); and

2. DISMISSES Plaintiff’s Complaint in Civil Case No. 06cv1270 JM (RBB) as frivolous

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). 

 The Clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 22, 2006

 Hon. Jeffrey T. Miller

 United States District Judge

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