Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00988/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00988-12/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

KENNETH SCHULTZ,

Plaintiff,

 v.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT 

OF CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al., 

Defendant(s).

CASE No. 1:11-cv-00988-LJO-MJS (PC) 

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S 

RENEWED MOTION TO STAY ACTION 

DUE TO MILITARY DUTY

(ECF No. 63) 

ACTION STAYED TO AND INCLUDING 

APRIL 1, 2015

STATUS AND SCHEDULING 

CONFERENCE: MAY 7, 2015, AT 1:30 

P.M., IN COURTROOM 6 (MJS)

Plaintiff Kenneth Schultz, a state prisoner incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison 

(“CSP”), is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action filed June 

15, 2011 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter proceeds on a claim of medical 

indifference against Defendant Kim, M.D. On July 29, 2014, Defendant Kim moved to 

stay the action because, and while, he is on active military duty. On August 22, 2014, 

the Court denied the motion, as lacking an appropriate evidentiary showing, but did so 

without prejudice to refiling.

Before the Court is Defendant’s renewed motion to stay the action on grounds 

his military duty prevents appearance in this action until his deployment expires. Plaintiff 

filed opposition to the renewed motion. Defendant replied to the opposition. Plaintiff filed 

a surreply reiterating arguments in his opposition.1The matter is deemed submitted for 

ruling. Local Rule 230(l). 

Defendant Kim is currently serving in Afghanistan as a member of the United 

 

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The Court considered the surreply, though unauthorized, because Plaintiff proceeds pro se. 

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States Navy. Attached to his motion is a letter from the officer in charge of U.S. Naval 

Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Afghanistan, Captain E.J. Eder, 

stating that Defendant will be in Afghanistan until at least April 1, 2015, that military 

leave is not authorized, and that Defendant’s military duty prevents his appearance in 

court.

The Service Members Civil Relief Act, 50 App. U.S.C. §§ 501 to 596, known until 

2003 as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, 50 App. U.S.C. § 501, provides for the 

suspension of legal proceedings involving persons in military service when necessary to 

avoid prejudice to their civil rights. 50 App. U.S.C. § 502. Specifically, the Act allows for 

a stay of any civil action in which a service member is a party if certain conditions are 

met. To satisfy the conditions under which a stay may be granted, an application for 

stay must include the following:

(A) A letter or other communication setting forth facts stating the manner in which 

current military duty requirements materially affect the servicemember's ability to 

appear and stating a date when the servicemember will be available to appear.

(B) A letter or other communication from the servicemember's commanding 

officer stating that the servicemember’s current military duty prevents 

appearance and that military leave is not authorized for the service member at 

the time of the letter.

50 App. U.S.C. § 522(b)(2).

Defendant Kim has satisfied these conditions and is therefore entitled to a stay

pending completion of his current deployment to Afghanistan on or about April 1, 2015.

The fact that Kim is deployed and on duty overseas materially affects his ability to 

conduct a defense in this case. See e.g., Franklin v. Police Officer Balestrieri, No. 00 

Civ. 5883(BJS)(DFE), 2002 WL 54600, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 15, 2002) (finding that 

activation of defendant Navy reservist officer to military duty materially affected his 

ability to conduct his defense). If Defendant requires a continuation of the stay, he may 

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apply for such relief pursuant to 50 U.S.C. app. § 522(d).

Plaintiff’s opposition and surreply, arguing for bench trial and disputing that 

Defendant’s military service leaves him unable to participate in the action, is refuted by 

the evidence presented in support of the renewed motion for stay.

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Defendant’s renewed motion (ECF No. 63), is GRANTED such that the 

action is stayed against Defendant Kim until completion of his current 

military deployment to Afghanistan on or about April 1, 2015, 

2. The current September 12, 2014 deadline for Defendant to file and 

oppose dispositive motions is vacated and shall be reset when the stay is 

lifted, 

3. Counsel for Defendant Kim is directed to notify Plaintiff and the Court of 

any changes in Kim’s military deployment and duty status, and 

4. This matter is set for status and scheduling conference on May 7, 2015, at 

1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 6 (MJS), counsel for Defendant is required to 

arrange for the participation of Plaintiff in the status conference and to 

initiate the conference by calling the following conference call number and 

access code. Conference Call Number: 1-888-204-5984, Access Code:

4446176. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 29, 2014 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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