Opinion
Case No. 21-cv-01165-PJH
05-04-2021
RAYMOND ALFORD BRADFORD, Plaintiff, v. T. LEMON, et al., Defendants.
ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Re: Dkt. No. 3
Plaintiff, a state prisoner, filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The court ordered plaintiff to show cause why this action should not be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which provides that a prisoner may not bring a civil action in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 "if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). The plain language of the imminent danger clause in § 1915(g) indicates that "imminent danger" is to be assessed at the time of filing of the complaint. See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1053 (9th Cir. 2007) The order identified four prior dismissals that appeared to count under § 1915(g) and ordered plaintiff to show cause why pauper status should not be denied, and the action should not be dismissed. The order further stated that plaintiff also could avoid dismissal by paying the filing fee by the deadline.
Plaintiff has filed a response and does not contest that he has at least three strikes pursuant to § 1915(g). Instead plaintiff argues that he was under imminent danger of serious physical injury. Plaintiff alleges in the complaint that defendants are tampering with his mail to prevent him from filing cases with the court and he was denied legal supplies such as paper, pens and envelopes. He also states a light was out in his cell and he began to suffer blurry visions due to writing in the dark. With respect to being in imminent danger of serious injury, plaintiff contends that various prison officials at multiple prisons are conspiring to have him murdered and are tampering with his mail to prevent him from filing cases with the court. He says he has been assaulted at numerous prisons in the last few years by guards and most recently on March 12, 2021.
With respect to interference with access to the courts, the court notes that in the last four years plaintiff has filed and litigated nine cases in this court, eleven cases in the Eastern District of California, eight cases in the Central District of California and seven cases in the Southern District of California. It appears that plaintiff can adequately access the courts. While plaintiff's allegations of an assault by guards on March 12, 2021, is troubling, plaintiff has repeatedly presented the same allegations of assaults by guards and a conspiracy to murder him for the last several years. See, e.g., Braford v. Prison Law Office, Case No. 19-cv-1910 PJH (N.D. Cal.); Bradford v. Peralta, Case No. 19-1222 CAB BGS (S.D. Cal.); Bradford v. E. Jordan, Case No. 18-cv-2099 CMK (E.D. Cal.). In light of the similar general and conclusory allegations for many years, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to plausibly show that he was under imminent danger of serious injury when he filed this case. In addition, plaintiff filed this case on February 17, 2021, while at Salinas Valley State Prison and has since been transferred to the California Health Care Facility. Plaintiff's allegations of an assault by certain guards occurred nearly a month after he filed this case and perhaps at a different prison.
Each of the four earlier dismissals identified in the order to show cause counts as a dismissal for § 1915(g) purposes. Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee, has not shown that any of the prior dismissals could not be counted under § 1915(g), and has not shown that he was under imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time he filed this action, and has not otherwise shown cause why this action could not be dismissed. For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's in forma pauperis application (Docket No. 3) is DENIED. This action is DISMISSED for failure to pay the filing fee. The dismissal is without prejudice to plaintiff asserting his claims in a new complaint for which he pays the full filing fee at the time he files that action.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: May 4, 2021
/s/ Phyllis J . Hamilton
PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON
United States District Judge