Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00691/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-00691-8/pdf.json

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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIE B. PENILTON IV,

Plaintiff,

v.

BENTON, et al., 

Defendants.

 /

1:05-cv-00691-AWI-SMS PC

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF THE COURT

TO REDESIGNATE CASE, REASSIGN

JUDGES, AND SEND NOTICE OF NEW

CASE NUMBER 

Plaintiff, Willie B. Penilton IV (“plaintiff”), is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The complaint was filed on May

23, 2005, and the Clerk of Court designated the action as a prisoner civil rights case. (Doc. 1.) On

June 24, 2005, plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. (Doc. 11.) On January 10, 2006, the court

dismissed the Amended Complaint for failure to state a claim, with leave to file a Second Amended

Complaint within thirty days. (Doc. 13.) On April 17, 2006, plaintiff was granted a thirty-day

extension of time to file the Second Amended Complaint. (Doc. 16.) On June 27, 2006, the case

was dismissed for plaintiff’s failure to comply with the court’s order, and judgment was entered.

(Docs. 14, 17, 18.) On July 13, 2006, plaintiff filed a motion to reinstate the complaint. (Doc. 19.)

On July 31, 2006, plaintiff lodged a Second Amended Complaint. (Doc. 20.) On October 13, 2006,

plaintiff’s motion to reinstate the complaint was granted, and the case was reopened. (Doc. 21.) The

Second Amended Complaint was filed on October 13, 2006. (Doc. 22.)

Case 1:05-cv-00691-OWW -GSA Document 23 Filed 09/19/08 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

In the Second Amended Complaint, plaintiff names as defendants the Central California

Appellate Project (“CCAP”), George Benton (Attorney, CCAP), William J. Arzbaeeher III, and

Florence Hoffman, for violation of his civil rights while representing him during his criminal appeal.

Plaintiff requests money damages and injunctive relief. 

The present action does not involve prison conditions of confinement. Plaintiff’s claims

relate to legal malpractice and include fabrication of documents, preparation of false documents, due

process violations, denial of access to court, false imprisonment, and infliction of mental distress.

In the Second Amended Complaint, plaintiff argues that his criminal conviction should have been

dismissed without question and states that “this has nothing to do with prisoners rights.” (Second

Amended Complaint at p 2.) Therefore, the designation of this action must be changed from a

prisoner civil rights case to a regular civil case.

Based on the foregoing, the Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to:

1. Change the designation of the present action to reflect that of a regular civil case;

2. Randomly assign new judges to the case; and

3. Send a notice of the new case number to all parties in this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 15, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-00691-OWW -GSA Document 23 Filed 09/19/08 Page 2 of 2