Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00362/USCOURTS-caed-2_18-cv-00362-3/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPHER LIPSEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

NORUM, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 14-cv-02767-VC (PR)

ORDER GRANTING, IN PART,

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

AND DISMISSING FIRST

AMENDMENT CLAIM WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE

Re: Dkt. No. 51

Plaintiff Christopher Lipsey filed a pro se civil rights complaint alleging that employees of 

Pelican Bay State Prison, where Lipsey was previously incarcerated, violated his constitutional 

rights. The Court found that Lipsey stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate 

indifference to his serious medical needs and a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim based on 

sleep deprivation. The Court found that a First Amendment claim based on lack of access to the 

courts was not cognizable and dismissed it with prejudice. See Dkt. No. 47.

On April 17, 2015, Lipsey filed a motion for permission to file a motion for 

reconsideration of the dismissal of the First Amendment claim so that he may pursue it in this 

lawsuit. The Court construes this motion as a motion for reconsideration and grants it, in part.

In reconsidering, the Court reaffirms its dismissal of the First Amendment claim, but now 

dismisses it without prejudice so that Lipsey may re-file it in a separate lawsuit. Federal Rule of 

Civil Procedure 20(a) provides that all persons “may be joined in one action as defendants if there 

is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative, any right to relief in respect of or 

arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any 

question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action.” Lipsey’s First 

Amendment claim arises out of a different transaction, occurrence or series of transactions or 

Case 2:18-cv-00362-KJM-DB Document 63 Filed 06/08/15 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

occurrences than his Eighth Amendment claims. In addition, there is no question of law or fact 

common to the Eighth Amendment and First Amendment claims. Under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 21, the appropriate remedy for misjoinder is to sever the claims against the misjoined 

parties. 

Therefore, the First Amendment claim against the misjoined parties is dismissed without 

prejudice. Lipsey, if he so wishes, may re-file it in a separate lawsuit. This Order amends the 

Court’s previous order, docket number 47 at 5, to state that the First Amendment claim is 

dismissed without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 8, 2015

______________________________________

VINCE CHHABRIA

United States District Judge

Case 2:18-cv-00362-KJM-DB Document 63 Filed 06/08/15 Page 2 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPHER LIPSEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

NORUM, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 14-cv-02767-VC 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on June 8, 2015, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing 

said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Christopher Lipsey ID: F-18039

Corcoran State Prison Housing 4AIL/64

P.O. Box 3476

Corcoran, CA 93212 

Dated: June 8, 2015

Richard W. Wieking

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

Kristen Melen, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable VINCE CHHABRIA

Case 2:18-cv-00362-KJM-DB Document 63 Filed 06/08/15 Page 3 of 3