Opinion
No. CIV S-11-2293 CKD P.
October 5, 2011
ORDER
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He alleges that defendant failed to protect him from harm in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (Dkt. No. 1.)
On September 23, 2011, plaintiff filed a "motion to stop all court proceedings," asking the court to "[p]lease put a stop to all of my court proceedings" because "my incoming legal mail is coming into me [opened], read and then sent to me." (Dkt. No. 10 at 1.)
On September 27, 2011, plaintiff filed a "motion to stay," asking the court to "please stop all court proceedings" in this case (and in a related case, not before the undersigned) "until the U.S. Marshalls [sic] put a stop to this police retaliation and conspiracy."
Quair v. Honea et al., CIV S-11-2294 KJN (filed Aug. 29, 2011).
On September 30, 2011, plaintiff filed an untitled motion claiming that he is experiencing retaliation as a result of his two pending lawsuits against four Butte County jail officers, fears for his "life and freedom," and believes his legal mail is being tampered with. He asks the court to "order the United States Marshalls [sic] to come and get me out of here and into a safe environment. My life is in `immediate danger.'" (Dkt. No. 18.)
Plaintiff is advised that there is no mechanism for "staying" a section 1983 action, as compared to the "stay and abeyance option" available in habeas corpus actions. See Kilgore v. Mandeville, 2011 WL 4048406 at *2 (E.D. Cal. 2011) (same), citingRhines v. Weber, 544 U.S. 269 (2005). This being so, it is not clear what type of relief the court can offer to "stop court proceedings." The court has not yet screened the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a), determined whether plaintiff states a cognizable claim, or ordered service on defendant. If plaintiff would like to voluntarily dismiss his claims pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a), he may file papers so indicating. If not, the court will proceed to screen the complaint and order service on defendant if appropriate.
Here, it appears that plaintiff seeks relief from alleged problems surrounding his participation in this action (i.e., mail tampering, retaliation) rather than outright dismissal of the action. He also seeks preliminary injunctive relief in the form of a transfer to a different institution. The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo if the balance of equities so heavily favors the moving party that justice requires the court to intervene to secure the positions until the merits of the action are ultimately determined.University of Texas v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 390, 395 (1981). A preliminary injunction is available to a plaintiff who "demonstrates either (1) a combination of probable success and the possibility of irreparable harm, or (2) that serious questions are raised and the balance of hardship tips in its favor." Arcamuzi v. Continental Air Lines, Inc., 819 F.2d 935, 937 (9th Cir. 1987). Under either approach the plaintiff "must demonstrate a significant threat of irreparable injury." Id. Also, an injunction should not issue if the plaintiff "shows no chance of success on the merits." Id. At a bare minimum, the plaintiff "must demonstrate a fair chance of success of the merits, or questions serious enough to require litigation." Id.
Plaintiff has not shown a chance of success on the merits because he seeks an injunction concerning matters outside the scope of his complaint, which concerns defendant Gertz's alleged failure to protect plaintiff from "a violent criminal/undercover gang member." To the extent that plaintiff is denied the resources necessary to have reasonable access to the courts, or is otherwise being harassed or retaliated against by jail officials, plaintiff must raise those claims in a separate lawsuit. He may not seek relief through a preliminary injunction in this action.
Plaintiff does allege in the complaint that persons not named as defendants in this action refused to give plaintiff administrative grievance documents to support his federal civil rights claims. (Dkt. No. 1 at 5.) However, this court is unable to issue an order against individuals who are not parties to a suit pending before it. See Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 U.S. 100, 112 (1969).
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff's September 23, 2011 motion to stop all court proceedings (Dkt. No. 10) is denied; however, plaintiff may file a motion to voluntarily dismiss this action at any time.
2. Plaintiff's September 27, 2011 motion to stay (Dkt. No. 14) is denied as inapposite; and
3. Plaintiff's motion for ordering the U.S. Marshal to transport prisoner to a safe environment (Dkt. No. 18) is denied.