Opinion
1:22-cv-00123-GSA-PC
10-14-2022
RODERICK LYNN WADE, Plaintiff, v. CATES, et al., Defendants.
ORDER FOR CLERK TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN A UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE TO THIS CASE
AND
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDING THAT PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF BE DENIED AS MOOT
(ECF NO. 10.)
OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS
GARY S. AUSTIN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
I. BACKGROUND
Roderick Lynn Wade (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on January 31, 2022. (ECF No. 1.)
On October 13, 2022, Plaintiff filed a motion titled “Motion for Order to Show Cause for a Preliminary Injunction & Temporary Restraining Order,” which the Court construes as a motion for preliminary injunctive relief. (ECF No. 10.)
II. PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
“A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Id. at 374 (citations omitted). An injunction may only be awarded upon a clear showing that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. Id. at 376 (citation omitted) (emphasis added).
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and in considering a request for preliminary injunctive relief, the court is bound by the requirement that as a preliminary matter, it have before it an actual case or controversy. City of Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 U.S. 95, 102, 103 S.Ct. 1660, 1665 (1983); Valley Forge Christian Coll. v. Ams. United for Separation of Church and State, Inc., 454 U.S. 464, 471, 102 S.Ct. 752, 757-58 (1982). If the court does not have an actual case or controversy before it, it has no power to hear the matter in question. Id.
II. PLAINTIFF'S MOTION
Plaintiff requests a court order enjoining officials at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe, California, where he is presently incarcerated, from pursuing any surgical procedures dealing with any parts of his cervical spinal column without first having another MRI done to determine whether surgery is now the proper medical procedure necessary to meet Plaintiff's medical needs, and after Plaintiff is able to consult with the medical doctor to determine the right prognosis.
Analysis
The court lacks jurisdiction to issue the order sought by Plaintiff as such an order would neither remedy any of the claims upon which this case proceeds, nor are the persons from whom Plaintiff now seeks injunctive relief defendants in this complaint. Plaintiff's complaint concerns events that allegedly occurred at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, California, from 2017-2021. Plaintiff now requests a court order enjoining officials at Chuckawalla State Prison in Blythe, California, where Plaintiff is now incarcerated, from pursuing any surgical procedures dealing with any parts of his cervical spinal column. Because such an order would not remedy any of the claims in this case, and the persons from whom Plaintiff seeks relief are not defendants in this case, the court lacks jurisdiction to issue the order sought by Plaintiff, and Plaintiff's motion must be denied.
III. CONCLUSION, ORDER, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall randomly assign a United States District Judge to this case.
and
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunctive relief, filed on October 13, 2022, be DENIED for lack of jurisdiction.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14) days after the date of service of these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
IT IS SO ORDERED.