(PC) Keel v. Hedgpeth et al, No. 1:2008cv00242 - Document 52 (E.D. Cal. 2009)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Sandra M. Snyder on 10/5/2009 recommending that 36 , 37 MOTION's for preliminary injunctive relief be DENIED. Objections to F&R due by 11/9/2009. (Lundstrom, T)
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(PC) Keel v. Hedgpeth et al Doc. 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 ANTHONY KEEL, 10 11 CASE NO. 1:08-cv-00242-OWW-YNP PC Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF MOTIONS v. (Doc. 36, 37) 12 A. HEDGPETH, et al., RESPONSE DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS 13 Defendants. / 14 15 Plaintiff Anthony Keel(“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis 16 in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the Court is Plaintiff’s May 27, 2009 17 motion for injunctive relief. (Doc. #36.) Plaintiff requests an injunction to prevent prison officials 18 from violating his constitutional rights and intimidating Plaintiff as well as an order from the Court 19 facilitating Plaintiff’s release from the secured housing unit (“SHU”) to the general population. 20 Also before the Court is Plaintiff’s June 3, 2009 motion for summary judgment. (Doc. #37.) 21 Plaintiff styles his motion as one for injunctive relief and for summary judgment under Federal Rule 22 of Civil Procedure 56. However, Plaintiff’s one page motion only requests an injunction to end the 23 retaliation against him and a status report on the U.S. Marshall’s attempts to effect service upon 24 defendants. Plaintiff is apparently confused about what the “summary” in “summary judgment” 25 means. A motion for summary judgment under Rule 56 is not a “summary” of Plaintiff’s docket, 26 or a “summary” of the current status of Plaintiff’s case. “Summary judgment procedure is a method 27 for promptly disposing of actions in which there is no genuine issue as to any material fact.” Fed. 28 R. Civ. P. 56 advisory committee’s note. The Court will construe Plaintiff’s June 3, 2009 motion 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 as one requesting a report on the current status of service as well as a motion for preliminary 2 injunctive relief. 3 The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo if the balance of equities 4 so heavily favors the moving party that justice requires the court to intervene to secure the positions 5 until the merits of the action are ultimately determined. University of Texas v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 6 390, 395 (1981). A preliminary injunction is available to a plaintiff who “demonstrates either (1) 7 a combination of probable success and the possibility of irreparable harm, or (2) that serious 8 questions are raised and the balance of hardship tips in its favor.” Arcamuzi v. Continental Air 9 Lines, Inc., 819 F. 2d 935, 937 (9th Cir. 1987). Under either approach the plaintiff “must 10 demonstrate a significant threat of irreparable injury.” Id. Also, an injunction should not issue if the 11 plaintiff “shows no chance of success on the merits.” Id. At a bare minimum, the plaintiff “must 12 demonstrate a fair chance of success on the merits, or questions serious enough to require litigation.” 13 Id. 14 “[A] preliminary injunction is an extraordinary and drastic remedy, one that should not be 15 granted unless the movant, by a clear showing, carries the burden of persuasion.” Mazurek v. 16 Armstrong, 520 U.S. 968, 972 (1997) (quotations and citations omitted) (emphasis in original). A 17 party seeking a preliminary injunction simply cannot prevail when that motion is unsupported by 18 evidence. Where a party is seeking “mandatory preliminary relief” – an injunction requiring 19 affirmative conduct by another party – the injunction should not be issued unless the facts and law 20 clearly favor the moving party. Dahl v. HEM Pharmaceuticals Corp., 7 F.3d 1399, 1403 (9th Cir. 21 1993) (citing Anderson v. United States, 612 F.2d 1112, 1114 (9th Cir. 1980)). 22 Plaintiff through his two motions is seeking a mandatory injunction requiring prison officials 23 to release him from confinement in the SHU. Plaintiff also vaguely requests the Court to prevent 24 future violations of his constitutional rights and use of intimidation by prison officials. Plaintiff also 25 complains that psychiatrists are making unsolicited visits to Plaintiff’s cell and asking how he is 26 doing. Plaintiff fails to offer any evidence regarding the likelihood of success in this case. Plaintiff 27 does not demonstrate a significant threat of irreparable injury. It is unclear what threat of serious 28 injury, if any, Plaintiff faces from his retention in the SHU or from psychiatrists inquiring about his 2 1 well-being. Further, Plaintiff’s vague allegations of intimidation are not sufficient to justify 2 injunctive relief. Plaintiff has not identified who is intimidating him, how they are intimidating him, 3 or whether Plaintiff faces imminent intimidation in the future. 4 With respect to Plaintiff’s motion for a status report on the U.S. Marshall’s attempts to effect 5 service upon Defendants, a waiver of service was returned executed as to Defendant Chris Chromes. 6 The Court also notes that the two summonses issued for Defendants Burrows and Wash were 7 returned unexecuted, with the indication that the U.S. Marshal was unable to locate Burrows and 8 Wash using the information provided by Plaintiff.1 9 The Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate probable success, the possibility of 10 irreparable harm, or serious questions that tip the balance of hardships in his favor. Plaintiff has 11 been apprised of the current status of the U.S. Marshal’s attempts to serve Defendants. Based on the 12 foregoing, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that plaintiff’s motions for preliminary injunctive 13 relief, filed May 27, 2009 and June 3, 2009, be DENIED. 14 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge 15 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty (30) 16 days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, plaintiff may file written 17 objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 18 Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the 19 specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 20 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 21 IT IS SO ORDERED. 22 Dated: icido3 October 5, 2009 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 23 24 25 26 27 1 28 Plaintiff has also filed a motion inquiring as to why Defendants Burrows and W ash have not been served. Those issues will be addressed in a separate order. 3
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