Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02039/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02039-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
John Joseph Burroughs
Plaintiff
Sacramento County Main Jail
Defendant

Document Text:

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN JOSEPH BURROUGHS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-2039 LEW DAD P

vs.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY 

MAIN JAIL et al.,

Defendant. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se. Plaintiff seeks relief pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983 and has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 

This proceeding was referred to the undersigned magistrate judge in accordance with Local Rule

72-302 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

The court is required to screen all complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or claims within a complaint if the prisoner has

raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which relief

may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) and (2).

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In the present case, plaintiff has filed a complaint, claiming that defendants have

provided him with inadequate medical care. The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) of 1995,

42 U.S.C. § 1997e was amended to provide that “[n]o action shall be brought with respect to

prison conditions under section 1983 of this title, 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). The United States Supreme Court has

considered “whether or not a remedial scheme is ‘available’ where . . . the administrative process

has authority to take some action in response to a complaint, but not the remedial action an

inmate demands to the exclusion of all other forms of redress.” Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731,

736 (2001). The Court concluded that Congress has mandated exhaustion of prison

administrative procedures “regardless of the relief offered through [such] procedures.” Id. at

741. In addition, the Court emphasized that it “will not read futility or other exceptions into

statutory exhaustion requirements where Congress has provided otherwise.” Id. at 741 n.6.

Under regulations governing prison grievance procedures in California, state

prisoners “may appeal any departmental decision, action, condition, or policy which they can

reasonably demonstrate as having an adverse effect upon their welfare.” Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15,

§ 3084.1(a). The administrative appeal system progresses from an informal review through three

formal levels of review. See Cal. Code Regs. tit. 15, §§ 3084.1-3084.7. In light of the Supreme

Court’s holding in Booth v. Churner, a California prisoner must file a prison grievance on all

claims challenging prison conditions and, as a general rule, proceed to the Director’s level of

review prior to bringing a § 1983 action on those claims, regardless of whether the relief sought

by the prisoner is available through the administrative appeal system. 

A prisoner’s concession to nonexhaustion is a valid ground for dismissal of an

action. Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1120 (9th Cir. 2003). On plaintiff’s form complaint,

Question II.B. asks “Have you filed a grievance concerning the facts relating to this complaint?” 

Plaintiff has checked the “Yes” box. However, Question II.C. asks “Is the grievance process

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 Dismissal without prejudice may permit plaintiff to file a new action upon exhaustion 1

of the prison grievance process. 

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completed?” Plaintiff has checked the “No” box. (Compl. at 4.) If a court concludes, that a

prisoner has not exhausted administrative remedies, “the proper remedy is dismissal of the claim

without prejudice.” Wyatt, 315 F.3d at 1120. Here, plaintiff has conceded his failure to exhaust.

Accordingly, the undersigned will recommend that this action be dismissed without prejudice

due to plaintiff’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies prior to filing suit.1

Plaintiff is informed that if he decides to file a new action, he should not include

this case number on the new complaint. In addition, the new complaint should be accompanied

by a properly completed, updated application to proceed in forma pauperis.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

1. Plaintiff’s September 28, 2007 application to proceed in forma pauperis be

denied; and 

2. This action be dismissed without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative

remedies.

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty

days after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written

objections with the court. A document containing objections should be titled “Objections to

Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file

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objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. See

Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

DATED: October 10, 2007.

DAD:9

burr2039.efr

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