Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-02084/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-02084-5/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

Plaintiff William Brown (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding se and in forma pauperis in 

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has consented to the jurisdiction of a 

United States Magistrate Judge. (ECF No. 6.)

On April 25, 2016, the Court dismissed Plaintiff’s first amended complaint for failure to state a 

claim, with leave to amend within thirty (30) days. (ECF No. 23.) Plaintiff was subsequently granted 

extensions of time to amend his complaint, (ECF Nos. 25, 27), but he has not yet filed any second 

amended complaint.

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel, filed July 25, 2016. (ECF 

No. 29.) Plaintiff asserts in that motion that he is the defendant in a criminal case in the County of Del 

Norte, California. He further asserts that his defense counsel in that action has filed a motion for an 

opinion as to Plaintiff’s mental competence, and a copy of the motion is attached. The motion, filed 

WILLIAM BROWN,

 Plaintiff,

v.

CONNIE GIPSON, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-02084-BAM PC

ORDER STAYING CASE AND REQUIRING 

PLAINTIFF TO FILE STATUS REPORT 

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO 

UPDATE PLAINTIFF’S ADDRESS OF RECORD

NINETY (90) DAY DEADLINE

Case 1:13-cv-02084-AWI-BAM Document 30 Filed 12/09/16 Page 1 of 3
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May 16, 2016, in the case of People of the State of California v. William Brown, Case No. CRPB-16-

5033, requests that the state court suspend its proceedings to make an inquiry into Plaintiff’s 

competence to stand trial in that matter.1(ECF No. 29, pp. 11-25.) The motion argues that Plaintiff’s 

psychiatric condition prevents him from fully understanding the nature and purpose of the criminal 

proceedings against him and that he is unable to assist his counsel in defending the charges pending 

against him. Due to his alleged mental condition, Plaintiff asserts that his action before this Court

presents exceptional circumstances, and that he should be appointed counsel to assist him with 

amending his complaint.

Based on Plaintiff’s representations, the Court has conducted an inmate location inquiry, and 

has determined that he has been moved to Salinas Valley State Prison for psychiatric evaluation. 

Plaintiff’s current status is unknown to the Court. Due to the issues he has raised, the Court requires 

information on his current status before it may determine whether this case presents the exceptional 

circumstances required to attempt the appointment of counsel. 

A district court “has broad discretion to stay proceedings as an incident to its power to control 

its own docket.” Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681, 706 (1997) (citing Landis v. North American Co., 

299 U.S. 254 (1936)). Consequently, the Court will temporarily stay the current proceedings in this 

case to give Plaintiff time to update the Court on his current mental health condition. Plaintiff must file 

a status report regarding his mental health condition and any related issues he wishes to raise regarding 

his request for the appointment of counsel, within ninety (90) days from the date of service of this 

order. Since the Court has determined that Plaintiff’s address has changed, it will request the Clerk of 

the Court update his address accordingly and serve this order at Plaintiff’s current address.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. This action is STAYED pending the filing of Plaintiff’s status report;

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1 A federal court may take judicial notice of court proceedings, including from state courts, that relate to the 

matters at issue in the case before it. U.S. ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 

244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992).

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2. Plaintiff is directed to file a status report within ninety (90) days from the date of 

service of this order regarding his mental health condition, and any related issues he 

wishes to raise regarding his request for the appointment of counsel; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to update Plaintiff’s address of record to T-58106, 

Salinas Valley State Prison, P.O. Box 1050, Soledad, CA 93960-1050, and to serve this 

order upon him at that address.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 8, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-02084-AWI-BAM Document 30 Filed 12/09/16 Page 3 of 3