Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00857/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00857-0/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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Order to Show Cause Regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies

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NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHNDELL HENDERSON, 

Plaintiff,

 v.

M.S. EVANS, et. al., 

Defendants. 

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No. C 05-0857 JF (PR)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

REGARDING EXHAUSTION OF

ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES 

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a civil rights complaint pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against prison officials at Salinas Valley State Prison. The Court

granted Plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis in a separate order. According to the

complaint, Plaintiff claims that he has not exhausted his administrative remedies prior to

filing the instant action. Accordingly, the Court issues an Order to Show Cause to

Plaintiff as to why the case should not be dismissed without prejudice for his failure to

exhaust his administrative remedies.

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**Original filed 10/5/06**

Case 5:05-cv-00857-JF Document 6 Filed 10/05/06 Page 1 of 4
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Order to Show Cause Regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies

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DISCUSSION

In his complaint, Plaintiff alleges that he did not present his claim for review

through the prison grievance procedure because “[he] will suffer ‘irreparable injury’ to

attempt to use the current grievance procedure. As it is inadequate and does not offer any

immediate, or speedy remedy to [him].” See Complaint at 2. Therefore, Plaintiff admits

his administrative remedies were not exhausted prior to his filing this complaint. 

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) provides that “[n]o action shall be

brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other Federal

law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such

administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). 

Exhaustion is mandatory and no longer left to the discretion of the district court. 

Woodford v. Ngo, 126 S. Ct. 2378, 2382 (2006) (citing Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731,

739 (2001)). “Prisoners must now exhaust all ‘available’ remedies, not just those that

meet federal standards.” Id. Even when the relief sought cannot be granted by the

administrative process, i.e., monetary damages, a prisoner must still exhaust

administrative remedies. Id. at 2382-83 (citing Booth, 532 U.S. at 734). Finally, the

mandatory exhaustion of available administrative remedies is not limited to suits under

§ 1983, but to any suit challenging prison conditions. Id. at 2383 (citing Porter v. Nussle,

534 U.S. 516, 524 (2002)). The plain language of the PLRA requires that prior to filing

suit, all “administrative remedies available [must be] exhausted.” 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). 

An action must be dismissed unless the prisoner exhausted his available administrative

remedies before he or she filed suit, even if the prisoner fully exhausts while the suit is

pending. McKinney v. Carey, 311 F.3d 1198, 1199 (9th Cir. 2002); see Vaden v.

Summerhill, 449 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2006) (where administrative remedies are not

exhausted before the prisoner sends his complaint to the court it will be dismissed even if

exhaustion is completed by the time the complaint is actually filed). 

The State of California provides its inmates and parolees the right to appeal

administratively “any departmental decision, action, condition or policy perceived by

Case 5:05-cv-00857-JF Document 6 Filed 10/05/06 Page 2 of 4
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Order to Show Cause Regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies

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those individuals as adversely affecting their welfare.” See Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §

3084.1(a). It also provides its inmates the right to file administrative appeals alleging

misconduct by correctional officers. See id. § 3084.1(e). In order to exhaust available

administrative remedies within this system, a prisoner must proceed through several

levels of appeal: (1) informal resolution, (2) formal written appeal on a CDC 602 inmate

appeal form, (3) second level appeal to the institution head or designee, and (4) third level

appeal to the Director of the California Department of Corrections. See id. § 3084.5;

Barry v. Ratelle, 985 F. Supp. 1235, 1237 (S.D. Cal. 1997). This satisfies the

administrative remedies exhaustion requirement under § 1997e(a). See id. at 1237-38. 

Accordingly, the Court issues an Order to Show Cause to Plaintiff as to why this

case should not be dismissed for failure to exhaust his administrative remedies prior to

filing this action. Plaintiff shall file a response to the order to show cause within thirty

days from the date this order is filed. The Court notes that if Plaintiff has not fully

exhausted his administrative remedies prior to filing this action, the complaint will be

dismissed without prejudice and Plaintiff may file a new complaint, if needed, once he

has fully exhausted his administrative remedies. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility to

prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the Court informed of any change of address by

filing a separate paper with the clerk headed “Notice of Change of Address.” He must

comply with the Court’s orders in a timely fashion or ask for an extension of time to do

so. Failure to comply may result in the dismissal of this action pursuant to Federal Rule

of Civil Procedure 41(b). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: JEREMY FOGEL 

 United States District Judge

10/4/06

Case 5:05-cv-00857-JF Document 6 Filed 10/05/06 Page 3 of 4
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Order to Show Cause Regarding Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies

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A copy of this ruling was mailed to the following:

Johndell Henderson

D-78769

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1050

Soledad, CA 93960-1050

Case 5:05-cv-00857-JF Document 6 Filed 10/05/06 Page 4 of 4