Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00441/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-00441-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
California Health Care Facility
Respondent
Michael L. Overton
Petitioner

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MICHAEL L. OVERTON, 

Petitioner, 

v. 

CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE 

FACILITY, 

Respondent. 

No. 2:20-cv-0441-EFB P 

ORDER 

 Mr. Overton is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel. This action was opened when 

he filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. ECF No. 1. However, he has not properly 

commenced this action. 

First, the court cannot conduct the required review of the petition because it is not signed. 

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a) (requiring that “[e]very pleading, written motion, and other paper . . . be 

signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney’s name—or by a party personally if the 

party is unrepresented.”). If Mr. Overton wishes to challenge a judgment of conviction entered 

against him in state court, he must file a signed application for a writ of habeas corpus using this 

court’s form petition. 

Second, Mr. Overton must either file an in forma pauperis affidavit or pay the required 

filing fee ($5.00). See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a); 1915(a). 

Case 2:20-cv-00441-EFB Document 3 Filed 03/10/20 Page 1 of 2
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Until Mr. Overton submits a signed petition and either pays the filing fee or meets the 

requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), there is simply no case before the court. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 

3; Rule 3, Rules Governing § 2254 Cases; Woodford v. Garceau, 538 U.S. 202, 203 (2003). 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The Clerk of the Court shall strike the petition (ECF No. 1) from the docket. 

2. Within 30 days, Mr. Overton shall file a signed petition using the form employed by 

this court and stating all claims and prayers for relief. 

3. Within 30 days of the date of this order, Mr. Overton shall either pay the $5 filing fee 

or submit a complete application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis using the form 

provided. 

4. Mr. Overton’s failure to comply with this order may result in this case being closed. 

5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Mr. Overton the court’s form application for 

writ of habeas corpus and application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 

DATED: March 9, 2020.

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