Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01942/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01942-2/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

Plaintiff Howard Allen Young (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil 

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff initiated this action on December 5, 2014. 

Plaintiff has consented to the jurisdiction of the United States Magistrate Judge. (ECF No. 6.) On 

February 17, 2015, the Court granted Plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 

In conjunction with his complaint, on December 5, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for 

emergency injunctive relief requesting that the Court order defendants to provide Plaintiff with all 

accommodations for the Hanukkah celebration from December 17, 2014, through December 24, 2014, 

including kosher food and access to the A-Yard chapel. (ECF No. 2, p. 2.) 

“A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy never awarded as of right.” Winter v. 

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 24, 129 S.Ct. 365, 376 (2008) (citation omitted). 

“A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, 

HOWARD ALLEN YOUNG,

 Plaintiff,

v.

M. D. BITER, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-01942-BAM (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR EMERGENCY 

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

(ECF No. 2)

Case 1:14-cv-01942-BAM Document 15 Filed 03/04/15 Page 1 of 2
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that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of 

equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Id. at 20 (citations omitted). 

An injunction may only be awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. Id. at 

22 (citation omitted).

In this instance, Plaintiff’s request for injunctive relief is moot. The Hanukkah celebration 

contemplated in December 2014 by Plaintiff has now passed. 

Additionally, “a court has no power to adjudicate a personal claim or obligation unless it has 

jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.” Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 

U.S. 100, 110, 89 S.Ct. 1562 (1969); S.E.C. v. Ross, 504 F.3d 1130, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 2007). In this 

case, the Court has not screened Plaintiff’s complaint to determine whether it states a cognizable 

claim, no defendant has been ordered served and no defendant has yet made an appearance. At this 

juncture, the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendants and it cannot issue an order 

requiring them to take any action. Zenith Radio Corp., 395 U.S. at 110; Ross, 504 F.3d at 1138-39. 

Plaintiff will screen Plaintiff’s complaint in due course. 

For these reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for emergency injunctive relief, filed on December 5, 

2014, is HEREBY DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 4, 2015 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01942-BAM Document 15 Filed 03/04/15 Page 2 of 2