Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01799/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01799-3/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

JAMES E. SMITH, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. )

)

CHRIS CHRONES, et al., )

)

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:06-cv-01799-OWW-GSA-PC

 

ORDER CONSTRUING MOTION FOR

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AS REQUEST

FOR JURY TRIAL AND MOTION FOR

COURT TO RELEASE PLAINTIFF,

SERVE PROCESS, OR OPEN

DISCOVERY 

(Doc. 14)

ORDER DENYING MOTION

Plaintiff, James E. Smith ("plaintiff"), is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis

with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Now pending is plaintiff's "Motion for Injunctive

Relief," filed on April 11, 2007.

I. MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

A. Legal Standard

The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo if the balance of equities

so heavily favorsthe moving party that justice requires the court to intervene to secure the positions until

the merits of the action are ultimately determined. University of Texas v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 390, 395

(1981). A preliminary injunction is available to a plaintiff who “demonstrates either (1) a combination

of probable success and the possibility of irreparable harm, or (2) that serious questions are raised and

the balance of hardship tips in its favor.” Arcamuzi v. Continental Air Lines, Inc., 819 F. 2d 935, 937

(9th Cir. 1987). Under either approach the plaintiff “must demonstrate a significant threat of irreparable

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injury.” Id. Also, an injunction should not issue if the plaintiff “shows no chance of success on the

merits.” Id. At a bare minimum, the plaintiff “must demonstrate a fair chance of success of the merits,

or questions serious enough to require litigation.” Id.

B. Discussion

In his motion, plaintiff alleges that defendants refuse to remove false and misleading information

from his Central File. He alleges that defendants insist that he was sentenced to 28 years to life, without

providing plaintiff with evidence that this sentence is correct. Plaintiff also alleges that defendants have

discriminated against him, that he has exhausted his remedies, and that he suffers irreparable injuries.

As relief, plaintiff requests a court orderfor defendants to release plaintiff, or for discovery to be opened

immediately, or for service of process on defendants. He also requests a jury trial.

Although plaintiff has entitled his motion "Motion for Injunctive Relief," he does not request any

relief which would serve the purpose of securing the positions of the parties until the merits of the

action are ultimately determined. Moreover, plaintiff does not make any of the showing required to

support a motion for preliminary injunction. Plaintiff alleges that he has suffered irreparable injuries

due to defendants' acts, but he has not presented any facts to support this allegation. Nor does plaintiff

address the probability of his success on the merits. Instead, plaintiff's motion consists of a request for

a court order releasing him from custody, or for opening of discovery, or for service of process. Plaintiff

also requests a jury trial, which is not an appropriate request in a motion for preliminary injunction.

Based on the foregoing, it is apparent that plaintiff's motion does not seek injunctive relief. Therefore,

the court shall construe the motion as a request for jury trial and a motion for the court to release

plaintiff, open discovery, or serve process.

II. REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff requests a jury trial. The court will accept this request as a demand for jury trial

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38. To the extent that plaintiff's request is a demand for immediate trial, it

is DENIED.

III. MOTION FOR RELEASE

Plaintiff requests a court order for defendants to release him immediately from custody. A

request for release from custody is not properly brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Section 1983 cases

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concern challenges to the conditions of prison life, not challenges to custody. See McCarthy v. Bronson,

500 U.S. 136, 142, 111 S.Ct. 1737, 1741-1742 (1991); Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 498-99 n.15,

93 S.Ct. 1827, 1840-1841 n.15 (1973); Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 1 of the Rules Governing

Section 2254 Cases. Challenges to a state court’s incarceration of a petitioner or the length of that

incarceration are proper in a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus, which concerns whether a

petitioner is in custody in violation of the Constitution. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). Here, plaintiff has filed

a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Therefore, the court cannot grant plaintiff's

motion for release from custody in this action. Accordingly, plaintiff's motion for release must be

DENIED.

IV. MOTION TO OPEN DISCOVERY

Plaintiff has requested a court order immediately opening discovery. Plaintiff is advised to read

the First Informational Order issued in this action on February 15, 2007. (Doc. 9.) The First

Informational order explains that the court will issue an order opening discovery and setting the

deadlines for completing discovery after an answer is filed by defendants. (First Info Order at 3 ¶ 8.)

The court must first screen plaintiff's complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). If the court makes a finding

that the complaint states cognizable claims for relief under federal law against one or more of the named

defendants, the next step is for defendants to be served with process and make an appearance in the

action. After defendants have filed an answer, the court will issue a scheduling order opening discovery.

The court has not yet screened plaintiff's complaint. Therefore, plaintiff's motion to open discovery is

premature and shall be DENIED. 

V. MOTION TO SERVE PROCESS

Plaintiff has requested a court order for defendants to be served with process in this action. The

court must first screen plaintiff's complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). If the court makes a finding that

the complaint states cognizable claims for relief under federal law against one or more of the named

defendants, the next step is for defendants to be served with process. Because the court has not yet

screened plaintiff's complaint, plaintiff's motion for service of process is premature and shall be

DENIED.

///

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VI. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Based on the foregoing analysis, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that :

1. Plaintiff's motion for injunctive relief is construed as a request for jury trial and a motion

for the court to release plaintiff, open discovery, or serve process. 

2. The court accepts plaintiff's request for trial as a demand for jury trial under Rule 38 of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. However, to the extent that plaintiff's request is

a demand for immediate trial, the request is DENIED; and 

3. Plaintiff's motion for the court to release plaintiff from custody, open discovery, or serve

process is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 13, 2008 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

60kij8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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