Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01112/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01112-2/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

JASON BERG,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

I. GUERRA, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:14-cv-01112-DAD-EPG-PC

 

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is currently incarcerated at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) in 

Delano, California, in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and 

Rehabilitation. 

Plaintiff’s complaint arises from events occurring at the California Correctional 

Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi, California, when Plaintiff was incarcerated there. The 

complaint alleges that Plaintiff was not provided adequate medical care at CCI.

On December 18, 2015, Plaintiff filed a “petition for relief” in which he requests a 

Court order directing prison officials at KVSP to provide him with access to the law library, 

manila envelopes, and use of confidential mail. (ECF No. 14.) Plaintiff asserts that in October 

2015, he made multiple valid requests for Priority Legal User (PLU) status and access to the 

law library, but his requests were denied. Plaintiff states that on October 21, 2015, he talked 

his way into the law library for two minutes to make copies. Using the standard procedure, he 

requested a manila envelope from law library staff to mail his documents to the Court, and he 

Case 1:14-cv-01112-DAD-EPG Document 17 Filed 08/24/16 Page 1 of 2
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was told they were out of manila envelopes, which Plaintiff calls “unheard of.” (ECF No. 14 at 

2.) Later in the day, Plaintiff obtained his own manila envelope and returned to the law library. 

Ordinarily the law library staff checks the mail for contraband and if none is found, they seal

the envelope and mail it to the Court. This time, library staff N. Karlow refused to seal 

Plaintiff’s mail, which denied him his rights to confidential mail and access to the courts. 

Plaintiff chose to mail his documents later in the day.

Plaintiff claims that his lack of access to the law library, legal books, case law, etc., 

caused him to miss a Court deadline to file a response. Plaintiff requests a Court order 

directing officials to grant him immediate PLU status, access to manila envelopes at his own 

cost, and access to confidential mail to the Court.

In light of Plaintiff’s allegations, the Court directs Supervising Deputy Attorney 

General Monica Anderson to address Plaintiff’s access to the law library, envelopes, and 

confidential mail to the Court.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Within fourteen days from the date of this order, Supervising Deputy Attorney 

General Monica Anderson shall address Plaintiff’s “petition for relief” filed on 

December 19, 2015; and 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve this order and a copy of Plaintiff’s 

“petition for relief” (ECF No. 14) on Supervising Deputy Attorney General 

Monica Anderson. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 23, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01112-DAD-EPG Document 17 Filed 08/24/16 Page 2 of 2