finding that appellate court’s denial 25 of prisoner’s request for IFP status on appeal on grounds of frivolousness constituted a “strike” 26 under § 1915(g) “even though [it] did not dismiss the appeal until later when the [appellant] did 27 not pay the filing fee.”
How later courts described this case
- finding that appellate court’s denial 25 of prisoner’s request for IFP status on appeal on grounds of frivolousness constituted a “strike” 26 under § 1915(g) “even though [it] did not dismiss the appeal until later when the [appellant] did 27 not pay the filing fee.”
- finding 10 court’s dismissal without leave to amend for inability to overcome statute of limitations bar as 11 well as its finding that said dismissal constituted a strike was proper
- holding 27 that the exception turns on the “conditions a prisoner faced at the time the complaint was filed, 28 not at some earlier or later time”
- stating central question 14 when considering strike status is whether dismissal “rang the PLRA bells of frivolous, malicious, 15 or failure to state a claim”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 ISAIAH J. PETILLO, 1:18-cv-00217-NONE-GSA-PC
12 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
RECOMMENDING THAT DEFENDANTS’
13 vs. MOTION TO REVOKE PLAINTIFF’S IN
FORMA PAUPERIS STATUS BE DENIED
14 GALLIGER, et al., (ECF NO. 31.)
15 Defendants. OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN
FOURTEEN DAYS
16
17
18 I. BACKGROUND
19 Isaiah J. Petillo (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis
20 with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On February 12, 2018, Plaintiff filed
21 the Complaint commencing this action. (ECF No. 1.) On March 26, 2018, Plaintiff filed a motion
22 to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, which was granted on March 27, 2018.
23 (ECF Nos. 6, 7.)
24 This case now proceeds with Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint filed on November 19,
25 2018, against defendant C/O J. Fugate for use of excessive force in violation of the Eighth
26 Amendment; against defendants C/O J. Fugate and Captain J. Galliger for failing to protect
27 Plaintiff in violation of the Eighth Amendment; and against defendant Captain J. Galliger for
28 retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. (ECF No. 18.)
1 On December 23, 2019, defendants Fugate and Galliger (“Defendants”) filed a motion to
2 revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). (ECF No. 31.) On January
3 8, 2020, Plaintiff filed an opposition to the motion. (ECF No. 33, 34.) On January 15, 2020,
4 Defendants filed a reply to the opposition. (ECF No. 35.)
5 Defendants’ motion to revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status is now before the court.
6 Local Rule 230(l).
7 II. MOTION TO REVOKE IN FORMA PAUPERIS STATUS
8 Section 1915 of Title 28 of the United States Code governs proceedings in forma
9 pauperis. Section 1915(g) provides, “In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a
10 judgment in a civil action or proceeding under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior
11 occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court
12 of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to
13 state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of
14 serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
15 Section 1915(g) is commonly known as the “three strikes” provision. Andrews v. King
16 (“Andrews I”), 398 F.3d 1113, 1116 n. 1 (9th Cir. 2005). “Strikes” are prior cases or appeals,
17 brought while the Plaintiff was a prisoner, which were dismissed on the ground that they were
18 frivolous, malicious, or failed to state a claim. Id. Pursuant to Section 1915(g), a prisoner with
19 three strikes or more generally cannot proceed in forma pauperis. Id.; see also Andrews v.
20 Cervantes (“Andrews II”), 493 F.3d 1047, 1052 (9th Cir. 2007) (Under the PLRA, “[p]risoners
21 who have repeatedly brought unsuccessful suits may entirely be barred from IFP [in forma
22 pauperis] status under the three strikes rule[.]”).
23 “It is well-settled that, in determining a § 1915(g) ‘strike,’ the reviewing court looks to
24 the dismissing court’s action and the reasons underlying it.” Knapp v. Hogan, 738 F.3d 1106,
25 1109 (9th Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). Section “1915(g) should be used to deny a prisoner’s
26 IFP status only when, after careful evaluation of the order dismissing an action, and other relevant
27 information, the district court determines that the action was dismissed because it was frivolous,
28 malicious or failed to state a claim.” Andrews I, 398 F.3d at 1121; see also Moore v. Maricopa
1 County Sheriff’s Office, 657 F.3d 890, 895 (9th Cir. 2011) (whether dismissal order counts as a
2 strike depends on “reasonable interpretation” of order); O’Neal v. Price, 531 F.3d 1146, 1153-
3 55 (9th Cir. 2008) (disposition of complaint, either with or without prejudice, constitutes a
4 “dismissal” for purposes of section 1915(g)); accord Lomax v. Ortiz-Marquez, 140 S.Ct. 1721
5 (June 8, 2020).
6 According to Andrews I, “a case is frivolous if it is ‘of little weight or importance: having
7 no basis in law or fact.’ Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 913 (1993);” see also
8 Goland v. United States, 903 F.2d 1247, 1258 (9th Cir. 1990) (adopting a definition of
9 “frivolous”), [and] “[a] case is malicious if it was filed with the ‘intention or desire to harm
10 another.’ Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 1367 (1993).” Andrews I, 398 F.3d at
11 1121. As for Section 1915(g)’s language regarding an action which “fails to state a claim on
12 which relief may be granted,” the Andrews I court noted that it had previously held that such
13 phrase, as used elsewhere in § 1915, parallels the language of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
14 12(b)(6). Id. (citing Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 525
15 U.S. 1154, 119 S.Ct. 1058, 143 L.Ed.2d 63 (1999)). The court thereby suggested that such
16 language in Section 1915(g) should have the same meaning as it does under Rule 12(b)(6).
17 A “three-strikes litigant” under this provision is precluded from proceeding in forma
18 pauperis in a new action unless he was “under imminent danger of serious physical injury” at the
19 time he commenced the new action. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g); Andrews II, 493 F.3d at 1053.
20 The danger must be real, proximate, Ciarpaglini v. Saini, 352 F.3d 328, 330 (7th Cir. 2003), and
21 ongoing, e.g., prison officials continuing with a practice that has injured him or others similarly
22 situated in the past – at the time the initial complaint is filed, see Andrews II, 493 F.3d at 1056-
23 57. Allegations that are overly speculative or fanciful may be rejected. Id. at 1057 n.11. Courts
24 need “not make an overly detailed inquiry into whether the allegations qualify for the exception
25 . . . Instead, the exception applies if the complaint makes a plausible allegation that the prisoner
26 faced ‘imminent danger of serious physical injury’ at the time of filing.” Id. at 1055 (holding
27 that the exception turns on the “conditions a prisoner faced at the time the complaint was filed,
28 not at some earlier or later time”); United States v. Jackson, 480 F.3d 1014, 1018-19 (9th Cir.
1 2007); Williams v. Paramo, 775 F.3d 1182, 1187, 1189 (9th Cir. 2015) (“We concluded in
2 Andrews [II] that § 1915(g) required a showing of imminent danger ‘at the time the prisoner filed
3 the complaint’ because of the section’s use of the present tense and its concern with the initial
4 act of ‘bring[ing] the action.’”).
5 When a defendant challenges a prisoner-plaintiff’s right to proceed in forma pauperis,
6 the defendant bears the burden of producing sufficient evidence to establish that § 1915(g) bars
7 the plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status. Andrews I, 398 F.3d at 1116, 1120. The defendant must
8 produce court records or other documentation that will allow the district court to determine that
9 three prior cases were dismissed as “frivolous, malicious or [for] failure to state a claim.” Id.
10 (quoting § 1915(g)). Once the defendant has made out a prima facie case, the burden shifts to
11 the plaintiff to persuade the court that § 1915(g) does not apply. Id.
12 A. Defendants’ Motion
13 Defendants argue that Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)
14 should be revoked on the grounds that (1) Plaintiff has previously filed at least three actions or
15 appeals that were dismissed for failure to state a claim, or as frivolous before he initiated this
16 lawsuit; and (2) Plaintiff was not in imminent danger of serious physical injury when he filed
17 suit. Defendants request the court to revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status and dismiss this
18 case, without prejudice to Plaintiff refiling the case with prepayment of the full filing fee.
19 1. Plaintiff Accumulated at Least Three Strikes Before Filing This
20 Action
21 In support of their motion, Defendants assert that Plaintiff filed the following four actions
22 or appeals that were dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or as
23 frivolous.1
24
25 1 Defendants request the court to take judicial notice under Federal Rules of Evidence 201 of their
exhibits in support of their motion to revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status. (ECF No. 32-1.) “A court shall
26 take judicial notice if requested by a party and supplied with the necessary information.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(d). “A
judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within
27 the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources
whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)(1)-(2). A court “may take notice of
28 proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct
relation to matters at issue.” Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1215 (9th Cir. 2007) (quoting Bennett v. Medtronic,
1 (1) Petillo v. Bolan et al., No. 2:16-cv-02513-CJC-JPR (C.D. Cal.)
2 Plaintiff filed a lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against four police
3 officers and a deputy district attorney, alleging that they violated his due process
4 rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments by falsifying and tampering
5 with evidence while investigating the murder of which Plaintiff was later
6 convicted. (RJN Ex. A, at 5-6.)
7 The magistrate judge issued a report finding that the complaint “fail[ed]
8 to state a claim upon which relief might be granted.” (Id. at 6.) The magistrate
9 found that Plaintiff’s claims were barred by Heck v. Humphrey2 because
10 Plaintiff’s claims implied that his conviction was invalid.3 The magistrate judge
11 recommended that the complaint be dismissed without leave to amend because its
12 deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. (Id. at 10.)
13 The Court accepted the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations
14 and dismissed the action without prejudice on January 5, 2017. (Id. at 14-15.)
15 Accordingly, the lawsuit was dismissed for a qualifying reason under § 1915(g),
16 constituting Plaintiff’s first strike.
17 (2) Petillo v. Bolan et al., No. 17-55193 (9th Cir.)
18 In Petillo v. Bolan et al., No. 17-55193 (9th Cir.), Plaintiff appealed the
19 dismissal of Petillo v. Bolan et al., C.D. Cal. No. 2:16-cv-02513-CJC-JPR (C.D.
20 Cal.). The Ninth Circuit referred the case back to the district court to determine
21 whether Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status should continue on appeal, or if the
22
23 Inc., 285 F.3d 801, 803 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002)). Facts that may be judicially noticed include a court’s own records in
other cases. United States v. Wilson, 631 F.2d 118, 119-20 (9th Cir. 1980). Defendants’ exhibits consist of records
24 evidencing Plaintiff’s litigation history, which is relevant to whether he may proceed in forma pauperis. The
documents appear to be the type of documents readily capable of judicial notice. Therefore, Defendants’ request for
25 judicial notice is granted.
26 2 512 U.S. 477 (1994).
27 3 Defendants assert that Plaintiff’s conviction was upheld on direct appeal, see People v. Petillo,
No. B215246, 2009 WL 4756355, at *1 (Cal. Ct. App. Dec. 14, 2009), that the Court denied his petition for habeas
28 corpus, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial, see Petillo v. Worldand, No. CV 11-5005-CJC-JPR, 2012 WL
1425136, at *1 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2012); People v. Petillo, 570 F. App’x at 697 (9th Cir. 2014).
1 appeal was frivolous or taken in bad faith. (RJN Ex. B, at 21.) The district court
2 certified that Plaintiff’s appeal was frivolous. (RJN Ex. A, at 17.)
3 On April 17, 2017, upon review of the district court’s record, the Ninth
4 Circuit found that Plaintiff’s appeal was frivolous and revoked his in forma
5 pauperis status. (RJN Ex. B, at 23.) The Ninth Circuit ordered Plaintiff to either
6 explain why the appeal should go forward or dismiss the appeal. (Id.) The appeal
7 was later dismissed when Plaintiff failed to comply with the court’s order. (Id. at
8 37.) Because this appeal was determined to be frivolous, it counts as Plaintiff’s
9 second strike.
10 (3) Petillo v. Kearnan et al., No. 3:16-cv-01950-MMA-JMA (S.D. Cal.).
11 Plaintiff alleged that prison officials at five separate prisons violated his
12 constitutional rights when they classified him with an “R” suffix.4 (RJN Ex. C,
13 at 46-47.) The district court dismissed Plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a
14 claim and granted Plaintiff leave to amend. (Id. at 60.)
15 Plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which was also dismissed for failure
16 to state a claim. (Id. at 70.) The district court provided Plaintiff an opportunity to
17 file a second amended complaint curing the deficiencies described in the dismissal
18 order. (Id. at 70-71.) Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint; however, he did
19 not cure the deficiencies.
20 On April 27, 2017, the district court dismissed the second amended
21 complaint for failure to state a claim and explicitly denied leave to amend, finding
22 that “amendment under the circumstances would be futile.” (Id. at 79.) Therefore,
23 the lawsuit was dismissed for a qualifying reason under §1915(g), constituting
24 Plaintiff’s third strike.
25 ///
26
27
4 Pursuant to Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15 § 3377.1(b), “[a]n ‘R’ suffix shall be affixed to an inmate’s
28 custody designation to ensure the safety of inmates, correctional personnel, and the general public by identifying
inmates who have a history of specific sex offenses as outlined in Penal Code (PC) section 290.”
1
2 (4) Petillo v. Castro, et al., No. 3:16-cv-02457-WQH-BLM (S.D. Cal.).
3 On September 28, 2016, Plaintiff filed a § 1983 lawsuit alleging that
4 Calipatria State Prison officials violated his Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment
5 rights during events that took place in 2011. (RJN Ex. D, at 98.)
6 The Court dismissed the complaint, finding that the “running of the statute
7 of limitations [was] apparent on the face of Plaintiff’s Complaint,” and Plaintiff
8 therefore failed to state a claim upon which § 1983 relief may be granted. (Id. at
9 95.) The Court granted Plaintiff leave to amend his complaint; however, the Court
10 found that, “Plaintiff has failed to plead any facts which, if proved, would support
11 any plausible claim for equitable tolling.” (Id.) Plaintiff filed an amended
12 complaint.
13 On July 14, 2017, the Court dismissed the amended complaint, finding
14 that Plaintiff’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations, and the action was
15 subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim. (Id. at 109.) The Court denied
16 Plaintiff further leave to amend as futile. (Id. at 110.) Accordingly, this lawsuit
17 was expressly dismissed for a qualifying reason under §1915(g), constituting
18 Plaintiff’s fourth strike.
19 2. Plaintiff is Not Excepted from the PLRA’s Imminent Danger
20 Provision
21 Defendants contend that Plaintiff does not qualify for the imminent danger exception
22 because the First Amended Complaint does not allege any ongoing serious physical injury, or a
23 pattern of misconduct evidencing the likelihood of imminent physical injury. Defendants assert
24 that instead, Plaintiff claims that Defendants used excessive force against him and failed to
25 protect him, in violation of the Eighth Amendment, and that defendant Galliger retaliated against
26 him, in violation of the First Amendment. Defendants assert that Plaintiff states in the First
27 Amended Complaint that he sustained physical injuries and damage to his property in connection
28 with the alleged use of force, and that he “continues to suffer irrepairably [sic] unless this court
1 find[s] relief in favor[] of Plaintiff.” (First ACP, ECF No. 18 at 11.) Defendants argue that even
2 assuming Plaintiff’s allegations are true they do not show he was in imminent danger from
3 conduct fairly traceable to the Defendants at the time he filed the lawsuit.
4 B. Plaintiff’s Opposition
5 In opposition, Plaintiff requests the court to examine Defendants’ exhibits, specifically
6 the report and recommendations order issued on April 12, 2016 in Petillo v. Bolan et al., C.D.
7 Cal. No. 2:16-cv-02513-CJC-JPR to determine whether the dismissal of this case is a strike
8 against him. Plaintiff contends that the report and recommendations order, which was adopted
9 by the presiding district judge, recommended dismissal of the case based on the Heck standard
10 but did not find that the complaint failed to state a claim. Plaintiff argues that the order was
11 informative, not dispositive, and he therefore claims he only has two “strikes.”
12 In reply, Defendants note that Plaintiff admits that the second and third lawsuits5 were
13 dismissed for failure to state a claim. As for the dismissal of Petillo v. Bolan at the district court
14 level, Defendants argue that it was obvious on the face of the Complaint that Plaintiff’s claims
15 for relief were barred because the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. In addition,
16 Defendants contend that the dismissal of Plaintiff’s appeal in Petillo v. Bolan by the Ninth Circuit
17 constitutes a fourth strike because the district court determined that the appeal was frivolous,
18 even though the Ninth Circuit dismissed it for failure to prosecute.
19 III. DISCUSSION
20 As an initial matter, the court has carefully reviewed Plaintiff’s original Complaint and
21 finds that there is no “plausible allegation” to suggest Plaintiff “faced ‘imminent danger of
22 serious physical injury’ at the time of filing.” Andrews II, 493 F.3d at 1055 (quoting 28 U.S.C.
23 § 1915(g)). In the original Complaint, Plaintiff brought five unrelated claims: (1) In August or
24 September 2016, the Property Officer threw Plaintiff’s property away without proper notice and
25 without allowing him appropriate options; (2) Sometime between July and September 2016,
26 Sergeant Hernandez offered Plaintiff some books, which Plaintiff did not refuse, and Plaintiff’s
27
28 5 Petillo v. Kearnan et al., S.D. Cal. No. 1:19-cv-01950-MMA-JMA; and Petillo v. Castro, et al.,
S.D. Cal. No. 3:16-cv-02457-WQH-BLM.
1 other books and the books presented to him were thrown away; (3) In August 2016, C/O Wilson
2 told Plaintiff that he was conducting a random cell search and took some of Plaintiff’s outgoing
3 mail, which was never delivered; (4) In August 2016, the Mail Room Staff tampered with
4 Plaintiff’s incoming and outgoing mail; and (5) In November 2017, Captain Galliger searched
5 Plaintiff’s and his cellmate’s cell, causing the two inmates to fight, and C/O Fugate pepper
6 sprayed them.
7 Nothing in Plaintiff’s Complaint suggests he faced an “ongoing danger” of serious
8 physical injury sufficient to “meet the imminent danger prong of the three-strikes exception” at
9 the time he filed his Complaint. Andrews II, 493 F.3d at 1057. Therefore, Plaintiff may be
10 barred from proceeding in forma pauperis in this action if he has on three or more prior occasions
11 had civil actions or appeals dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failure to state a claim. See
12 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
13 The court shall address the dismissals of each of the four lawsuits/appeals previously filed
14 by Plaintiff which Defendants characterize as “strikes” in their pending motion to revoke
15 Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status.
16 (1) Petillo v. Bolan et al., No. 2:16-cv-02513-CJC-JPR (C.D. Cal.)
17 In support of their pending motion, Defendants have submitted copies of the docket sheet
18 for this case, (Request for Judicial Notice (RJN), ECF No. 31-2 at 6 (Exh. A)); the Magistrate
19 Judge’s report and recommendation issued on June 3, 2016, recommending dismissal of this case
20 because all of Plaintiff’s claims are barred by Heck, (id. at 9-17); the District Judge’s order of
21 January 15, 2017, accepting the findings and recommendations, (id. at 18-19); the Judgment, (id.
22 at 20); and, the district court’s certification that Plaintiff’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit is not taken
23 in good faith and is frivolous, (id. at 21).
24 A dismissal under Heck, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), may constitute a strike under § 1915(g)
25 for failure to state a claim when Heck’s bar to relief is obvious from the face of the complaint,
26 [the case seeks only damages as opposed to injunctive relief], and the entirety of the complaint
27 is dismissed for a qualifying reason under § 1915(g). Debose v. Wildman, No. 17-CV-03705-
28 SI, 2018 WL 422343, at *3–4 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 16, 2018) (citing Washington v. Los Angeles Cnty.
1 Sheriff’s Dep’t, 833 F.3d 1048, 1055 (9th Cir. 2016)). Only a complete dismissal of an action
2 under Heck—rather than the dismissal of a particular claim within that action—can constitute a
3 strike under § 1915(g). Debose, 2018 WL 422343, at *3–4 (citing see Washington, 833 F.3d at
4 1057-58 (declining to impose strike with respect to action where plaintiff’s Heck-barred damages
5 claims were intertwined with his habeas challenge to the underlying sentence)). The Washington
6 court clarified its holding in that case by explaining that this standard would apply to count as a
7 strike only where the entire action was dismissed for a qualifying reason under the PLRA.
8 Washington, 833 F.3d at 1055, 1057 (citing Andrews II, 493 F.3d at 1054).
9 Here, Defendants submitted evidence that the entirety of the complaint was dismissed for
10 a qualifying reason under § 1915(g). (Magistrate Judge’s findings and recommendations to
11 dismiss for failure to state a claim, ECF No. 31-2 at 10:8-10, adopted by District Judge, id. at
12 19:9-10.) However, Defendants have not provided evidence that Plaintiff request was only for
13 damages as opposed to injunctive relief, or that Heck’s bar to relief is obvious from the face of
14 the complaint. Therefore, the court finds that the dismissal of case Petillo v. Bolan et al., No.
15 2:16-cv-02513-CJC-JPR (C.D. Cal.) may possibly not be counted as a strike under § 1915(g).
16 (2) Petillo v. Bolan et al., No. 17-55193 (9th Cir.)
17 In support of their pending motion, Defendants have submitted copies of the Ninth
18 Circuit’s docket sheet from this case, (RJN, ECF No. 31-2 at 23-24 (Exh. B)); the Referral Notice
19 referring the matter to the district court to determine if the appeal is frivolous or taken in bad
20 faith, (id. at 25-26); the Ninth Circuit’s order for Plaintiff to either file a motion to dismiss the
21 appeal or file a statement explaining why the appeal is not frivolous and should go forward, id.
22 at 27-40); and the Order dismissing the appeal for failure to prosecute, (id. at 41).
23 When the Ninth Circuit relies on the district court’s certification that an appeal was not
24 taken in good faith, the dismissed appeal “clearly count[s] as a strike” because “lack of ‘good
25 faith’ in this context has been held to be equivalent to a finding of frivolity.” Knapp, 738 F.3d
26 at 1110 (citing Gardner v. Pogue, 558 F.2d 548, 551 (9th Cir. 1977)).
27 ///
28 ///
1 In this case the district court revoked Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status on the ground
2 that the appeal was not taken in good faith. (ECF No. 31-2 at 24.) On April 17, 2017, the Ninth
3 Circuit issued an order stating in part:
4 “This court may dismiss a case at any time, if the court determines the case is
5 frivolous. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Within 35 days after the date of this order,
6 appellant must: (1) file a motion to dismiss this appeal, see Fed. R. App. P. 42(b),
7 or (2) file a statement explaining why the appeal is not frivolous and should go
8 forward. If appellant files a statement that the appeal should go forward, appellant
9 also must: (1) file in this court a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, OR (2) pay
10 to the district court $505.00 for the filing and docketing fees for this appeal AND
11 file in this court proof that the $505.00 was paid. If appellant does not respond to
12 this order, the Clerk will dismiss this appeal for failure to prosecute, without
13 further notice. See 9th Cir. R. 42-1. If appellant files a motion to dismiss the
14 appeal, the Clerk will dismiss this appeal, pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate
15 Procedure 42(b). If appellant submits any response to this order other than a
16 motion to dismiss the appeal, the court may dismiss this appeal as frivolous,
17 without further notice. If the court dismisses the appeal as frivolous, this appeal
18 may be counted as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).”
19 (ECF No. 31-2 at 24.) On June 17, 2017, the Ninth Circuit dismissed the appeal for Plaintiff’s
20 “failure to respond to [the] order.” (ECF No. 31-2 at 41.)
21 Defendants argue that the dismissal of the appeal is a strike because the Ninth Circuit
22 found that Plaintiff’s appeal was frivolous and revoked his in forma pauperis status. If this were
23 the case and Plaintiff failed to pay the filing fee, then dismissal of the case is arguably a “strike.”
24 See Richey v. Dahne, 807 F.3d 1202, 1208 (9th Cir. 2015) (finding that appellate court’s denial
25 of prisoner’s request for IFP status on appeal on grounds of frivolousness constituted a “strike”
26 under § 1915(g) “even though [it] did not dismiss the appeal until later when the [appellant] did
27 not pay the filing fee.”). However, this is not what happened here. Here, the Ninth Circuit did
28 not find the appeal frivolous, but rather gave Plaintiff options and informed him of the
1 consequences of his actions or inaction. Plaintiff was advised that if he submitted any response
2 to the order other than a motion to dismiss the appeal, “the court may dismiss this appeal as
3 frivolous, without further notice [, and] if the court dismisses the appeal as frivolous, [it] may be
4 counted as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).” (RJN, ECF No. 31-2 at 28.) However, Plaintiff
5 was also advised that if he “does not respond to this order, the Clerk will dismiss this appeal for
6 failure to prosecute, without further notice.” (Id.) Here, Plaintiff failed to respond to the order
7 and his appeal was dismissed on the terms expressed in the Ninth Circuit’s order -- without
8 further notice “for failure to prosecute.” (Id. at 41.) It is clear from a plain reading of the Ninth
9 Circuit’s order that because Plaintiff failed to respond to the order his appeal was dismissed for
10 failure to prosecute, not as frivolous. (Id.)
11 Therefore, the court finds that the dismissal of this appeal may not be counted as a strike.
12 (3) Petillo v. Kearnan et al., No. 3:16-cv-01950-MMA-JMA (S.D. Cal.).
13 In support of their pending motion, Defendants have submitted copies of the docket sheet
14 for this case, (RJN, ECF No. 31-2 at 43-49 (Exh. C)), the assigned District Judge’s order
15 dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim, with leave to amend, (id. at 50-65); the
16 assigned District Judge’s order dismissing the first amended complaint for failure to state a claim,
17 with leave to amend, (id. at 66-75), the assigned District Judge’s order dismissing the second
18 amended complaint for failure to state a claim, denying leave to amend as futile (id. at 76-83);
19 and the Judgment (id. at 84-85).
20 Here, Defendants submitted evidence that the second amended complaint was dismissed
21 for a qualifying reason under § 1915(g). (Id. at 83:9-12.) (“Good cause appearing, the court
22 DISMISSES Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint for failing to state a claim upon which §
23 1983 relief can be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and 1915A(b)(1) and
24 DENIES leave to amend as futile.”) Therefore, the court finds that the dismissal of case Petillo
25 v. Kearnan et al., No. 3:16-cv-01950-MMA-JMA (S.D. Cal.) may be counted as a strike under §
26 1915(g).
27 ///
28 ///
1 (4) Petillo v. Castro, et al., No. 3:16-cv-02457-WQH-BLM (S.D. Cal.).
2 In support of their pending motion, Defendants have submitted copies of the docket for
3 this case, (RJN, ECF No. 31-2 at 87-90 (Exh. D)), the assigned District Judge’s order dismissing
4 the complaint for failure to state a claim with leave to amend, (id. at 91-101); the assigned District
5 Judge’s order dismissing the first amended complaint for failure to state a claim and denying
6 leave to amend as futile, (id. at 102-114); and the Judgment, (id. at 115).
7 Defendants have submitted evidence that this case was dismissed as barred by the statute
8 of limitations, without leave to amend. Dismissal for this reason effectively constitutes dismissal
9 for failure to state a claim. See Belanus v. Clark, 796 F.3d 1021, 1027-29 (9th Cir. 2015) (finding
10 court’s dismissal without leave to amend for inability to overcome statute of limitations bar as
11 well as its finding that said dismissal constituted a strike was proper). Because the style of the
12 dismissal and/or its procedural posture is immaterial, the dismissal is also a strike under §
13 1915(g). See El-Shaddai v. Zamora, 833 F.3d 1036, 1042 (9th Cir. 2016) (stating central question
14 when considering strike status is whether dismissal “rang the PLRA bells of frivolous, malicious,
15 or failure to state a claim”).
16 Accordingly, the court finds that the dismissal of this case may count as a strike.
17 III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
18 In light of the foregoing analysis, the court finds that under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g),
19 Defendants have not presented sufficient evidence to date that Plaintiff brought a civil action or
20 appealed a judgment in a civil action under § 1915, on three or more occasions, while incarcerated
21 or detained in any facility, that were dismissed on the grounds that they were frivolous, malicious,
22 or failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Therefore, Defendants’ motion to
23 revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status should be denied.
24 Therefore, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
25 1. Defendants’ motion to revoke Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status, filed on
26 December 23, 2019, be DENIED; and
27 2. Plaintiff be allowed to proceed in forma pauperis with this case.
28
1 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District
2 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within
3 fourteen (14) days of the date of service of these Findings and Recommendations, any party
4 may file written objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to
5 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections shall be served
6 and filed within ten (10) days after the objections are filed. The parties are advised that failure
7 to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson
8 v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394
9 (9th Cir. 1991)).
10
IT IS SO ORDERED.
11
12 Dated: July 8, 2020 /s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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