Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01980/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01980-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Ismael Lopez-Rangel
Plaintiff
United States of America
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ISMAEL LOPEZ-RANGEL,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Defendant.

Case No. 1:14-cv-01980 DLB PC

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION AS 

DUPLICATIVE OF 1:14-cv-01175-DLB-PC

Plaintiff Ismael Lopez-Rangel, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, 

filed this civil action on December 8, 2014, pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, which 

authorizes tort actions against the United States if the United States, as a private person, would be 

liable to the plaintiff under California tort law. United States v. Olson, 546 U.S. 43, 44, 126 S.Ct. 

510, 511 (2005); Delta Savings Bank v. United States, 265 F.3d 1017, 1025 (9th Cir. 2001).

In this action, Plaintiff complains of medical care he received with respect to an eye infection

he sustained while incarcerated at USP-Atwater. In a previously-filed ongoing action, Plaintiff 

presents several claims concerning the same subject matter. See Lopez-Rangel v. Copenhaver, 1:14-

cv-01175-DLB-PC. In the instant action, Plaintiff names as federal actors: Warden Paul 

Copenhaver, Health Services Administrator Mettry, Dr. Franco, Nurse Franco, Unit Manager 

Gardea, Physician’s Assistant Dea Wong, Dr. Kenneth Grossman, and Dr. Joseph Grim. These are 

the same individuals named as Defendants in the previously-filed action. While the causes of action 

Case 1:14-cv-01980-DLB Document 6 Filed 01/21/15 Page 1 of 2
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are not the same, the factual allegations in both actions are identical. Therefore, the Court concludes 

that the instant action shall be dismissed as duplicative. To the extent Plaintiff wishes to present his 

claims pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, he must do so by moving to amend in the 

previously-filed action. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the instant complaint is DISMISSED as 

duplicative. This terminates this action in its entirety.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 21, 2015 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01980-DLB Document 6 Filed 01/21/15 Page 2 of 2