Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00730/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-00730-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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RANDOLPH, CREGGER & 

CHALFANT, LLP. 

1030 G St. 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

(916) 443-4443 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER ON PETITION FOR RELIEF 

FROM CLAIMS STATUTE 

Case No. 2:13-cv-00730 JAM KJN 

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RANDOLPH CREGGER & CHALFANT LLP

ROBERT L. CHALFANT, SBN 203051 

WENDY MOTOOKA, SBN 233589 

1030 G Street 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Phone: 916.443-4443 

Fax: 916.443-2124 

Email: rlc@randolphlaw.net

 wmotooka@randolphlaw.net

Attorneys for Defendants 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY and SCOTT JONES, 

individually 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DENNIS DEAN SR., INDIVIDUALLY, 

AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST 

FOR DECEDENT DENNIS DEAN JR., 

SUSANNAH HARDESTY, 

INDIVIDUALLY, 

Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, A 

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SCOTT 

JONES, INDIVIDUALLY, AMY 

HUMPHREYS, and DOES 1 THROUGH 

100 INCLUSIVE, 

Defendants. 

Civil Action No.: 2:13-cv-00730 JAM KJN

Complaint Filed: 04/12/2013 

ORDER ON MOTION TO RELIEVE 

PLAINTIFF FROM COMPLYING WITH 

CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE 

SECTION 945.4 AND FOR AN ORDER TO 

ALLOW FILING OF LATE CLAIM PER 

GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 

946.6(C)(1) 

Plaintiffs Dennis Dean Sr. and Susannah Hardesty filed a 

civil action on April 12, 2013, alleging claims under 42 U.S.C. 

Section 1983 and related state-law torts. Defendants County of 

Sacramento and its Sheriff Scott Jones moved to dismiss the 

complaint for failure to state a claim. On June 13, 2013, 

following a stipulation by the parties, the Court granted 

Plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint and terminated 

the motion. 

Case 2:13-cv-00730-JAM-KJN Document 16 Filed 08/12/13 Page 1 of 3
RANDOLPH, CREGGER & 

CHALFANT, LLP. 

1030 G St. 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

(916) 443-4443 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER ON PETITION FOR RELIEF 

FROM CLAIMS STATUTE 

Case No. 2:13-cv-00730 JAM KJN 

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 On June 27, 2013, Plaintiffs moved for an order to be 

relieved from the state-law claims filing requirements, pursuant 

to California Government Code section 946.6. Defendants opposed 

the motion on the grounds that this Court lacks jurisdiction to 

hear the matter, and in the alternative, opposed the motion on 

the merits. The motion was argued on August 7, 2013, with David 

Asch appearing for Plaintiffs, and Wendy Motooka and Peter Cress 

appearing for Defendants. 

 At oral argument, Plaintiffs requested that the Court 

exercise its jurisdiction to hear the motion, or that the Court 

allow Plaintiffs an additional 60 days to file their amended 

complaint. For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs’ motion is 

DENIED for lack of jurisdiction. There being no objection to 

Plaintiffs’ request for additional time to file an amended 

complaint, Plaintiffs’ request for extension of time is GRANTED. 

OPINION 

 Under specified circumstances, California Government Code 

section 946.6 authorizes a claimant to petition for relief from 

the claims presentation requirements of California Government 

Code section 945.4. At issue in this motion is whether this 

Court is a proper court to hear the petition. The statute 

provides: “The proper court for filing the petition is a 

superior court that would be a proper court for the trial of an 

action on the cause of action to which the claim relates.” Cal. 

Gov’t Code § 946.6(a). The plain language of the statute limits 

jurisdiction over such petitions exclusively to state superior 

courts. 

 While there has been a split in authority over whether a 

Case 2:13-cv-00730-JAM-KJN Document 16 Filed 08/12/13 Page 2 of 3
RANDOLPH, CREGGER & 

CHALFANT, LLP. 

1030 G St. 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

(916) 443-4443 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER ON PETITION FOR RELIEF 

FROM CLAIMS STATUTE 

Case No. 2:13-cv-00730 JAM KJN 

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federal court has jurisdiction to hear a petition under 

California Government Code section 946.6, the majority view is 

that the federal courts lack jurisdiction. See, e.g., Crisp v. 

Wasco State Prison, 2013 WL 3805150 at *2 (E.D. Cal. 2013); 

Henderson v. Alameda County Med. Ctr., 2007 WL 1880376 at *1 

(N.D. Cal. 2007). The Court agrees with the majority. The 

minority view is unpersuasive, as it is based on statutory 

language that has since been amended out of the statute. Rahimi 

v. Nat’l R.R. Passenger Corp. (Amtrak), 2009 WL 1883756 at *4 

(N.D. Cal. 2009); Perez v. Escondido, 165 F. Supp. 2d 1111, 1115 

(S.D. Cal. 2001). 

ORDER 

 For the reasons stated above, the Court rules as follows: 

 1. Plaintiffs’ Motion To Relieve Plaintiff From Complying 

With California Government Code Section 945.4 And For An Order To 

Allow Filing Of Late Claim Per Government Code Section 

946.6(C)(1) is DENIED for lack of jurisdiction. 

 2. Plaintiffs’ request for a further extension of time to 

file their amended complaint is GRANTED. Plaintiffs shall have 

until October 12, 2013, to file their amended complaint. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: August 9, 2013 /s/ John A. Mendez________________ 

 JOHN A. MENDEZ 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE 

 

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