Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01666/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01666-0/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

RANDALL HOPKINS,

CDC #V-97737,

Civil No. 13cv1666 LAB (KSC)

Plaintiff,

ORDER DISMISSING CIVIL

ACTION AS DUPLICATIVE

PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1)

 vs.

DANIEL PARAMO; K. SEIBEL;

R. OLSON; J. RAMIRES, 

Defendants.

Plaintiff, a state inmate currently incarcerated at the 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. Plaintiff has not prepaid the $350 filing fee mandated

by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a); instead, he has filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”)

[ECF No. 2]. 

I. 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,

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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 Complaint is subject to sua sponte dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(b)(1) because it appears to be duplicative of a case Plaintiff is currently litigating. 

Plaintiff’s Complaint contains identical claims that are found in Hopkins v. Paramo, et al., S.D.

Cal. Civil Case No. 13cv1153 GPC (PCL). 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 Hopkins v. Paramo, et al., S.D. Cal. Civil Case No. 13cv1153 GPC (PCL), the

Court hereby DISMISSES Civil Case No. 13cv1666 LAB (KSC) 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 that:

Plaintiff’s Complaint in Civil Case No. 13cv1666 LAB (KSC) is DISMISSED as

frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP is

DENIED as moot. The Clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 21, 2013

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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