(PC) Fregia v. Chen

District Court, E.D. California·Decided July 14, 2023·No. 1:20-cv-01024·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MARK A. FREGIA, Case No. 1:20-cv-01024-ADA-EPG (PC) Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING THAT PLAINTIFF’S v. MOTION FOR AN ORDER UNDER THE ALL WRITS ACT BE DENIED; AND THAT YUCHI CHEN, et al., PLAINTIFF’S THIRD MOTION FOR AN ORDER UNDER THE ALL WRITS ACT BE Defendants. DENIED (ECF Nos. 60, 104). OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE IN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST TO STAY THIS CASE (ECF No. 60). ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY DEFENDANTS’ COUNSEL DUE TO CONFLICT OF (ECF No. 67). ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF FINAL EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY (ECF No. 102). Mark A. Fregia (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for an order under the All Writs Act (ECF No. 60), Plaintiff’s motion to disqualify Defendants’ counsel due to conflict of interest (ECF No. 67), and Plaintiff’s third motion for an order under the All Writs Act (ECF No. 104). Plaintiff alleges that his legal mail and documents were destroyed, including all of the documents Plaintiff retained to prosecute this case. Plaintiff also requests that the Court disqualify the State Attorney General’s office from representing Defendants due to an alleged conflict of interest. The matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 302(c)(17). For the following reasons, the Court recommends that Plaintiff’s motions be denied. Additionally, the Court will give Plaintiff one final extension of time to respond to Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which has been pending since November 21, 2022. (See ECF No. 59). If Plaintiff fails to file an opposition by this new deadline, Defendants’ motion may be granted, or this case may be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with a court order. I. BACKGROUND This case proceeds on Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference to a serious medical need claims against Defendants Gosso and Chen. (ECF Nos. 16, 17, 18, 49, 57, 58). Plaintiff’s claims arise from the Plaintiff’s medical treatment at California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (“CSATF”). (See ECF No. 16). Defendants Gosso and Chen filed a motion for summary judgment on November 21, 2022. (ECF No. 59). Due to the pending motion regarding Plaintiff’s legal documents, the Court has granted Plaintiff multiple extensions to respond to Defendants’ motion. (See ECF No. 77, 99). On June 29, 2023, Plaintiff filed a third motion for a sixty-day extension of time to oppose Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 102). A. Plaintiff’s Allegations On November 11, 2022, Plaintiff filed a request for an emergency injunction and stay of this case. (ECF No. 60). Plaintiff’s request alleges that on November 13, 2022, correctional officers destroyed all of Plaintiff’s personal and legal property while Plaintiff was being evaluated in a suicide watch cell. According to Plaintiff, this was done with the intent to sabotage Plaintiff’s ability to prosecute this case as well as another pending case in the Eastern District, Fregia v. P.A. Miranda, et al., 1:21-cv-01068-JLT-BAM (E.D. Cal.). Plaintiff generally requests that the Court direct Mule Creek State Prison staff to produce the property that was seized and destroyed. Plaintiff also seeks a stay of this case until Plaintiff’s legal documents can be found and replaced. In separate notice filed with the Court on November 29, 2022, Plaintiff represents that “[t]he notes and organization of those files alone, even when they are all resubmitted, would take approximately one year to prepare.” (ECF No. 62, p.2). Plaintiff contends that he is prejudiced in his ability to prosecute this case and will continue to be prejudiced unless “the culprits are fully investigated, and when found liable, made to compensate Plaintiff for his losses.” (Id.) B. The Warden’s Response The Court received Plaintiff’s request for an injunction and construed the request as a motion for an order under the All Writs Act. On November 29, 2022, the Court issued an order requiring the Warden of Mule Creek State Prison to respond to Plaintiff’s motion. (ECF No. 61). On December 13, 2022, Defendants filed a declaration by the Warden at Mule Creek State Prison, Patrick Covello. (ECF No. 62-1). Warden Covello’s declaration states that: With the assistance of MCSP Litigation Coordinator, Santos, and as explained in detail below, I have determined that inmate Mark Fregia (CDCR No. G07230) has his property, including his legal documents and tablet, as well as appliances temporarily confiscated as the result of the disposition of a November 13, 2022 Disciplinary Hearing. (Id., p. 2). According to Warden Covello’s declaration, Plaintiff received a Rules Violation Report (RVR) on October 30, 2022 due to his failure to respond to notices and present himself for his evening medication. (Id.) At the disciplinary hearing regarding Plaintiff’s October 30, 2022 RVR, the disciplinary officer “imposed a disposition sanction of Privilege Group C for 30 days starting November 13, 2022, and ending December 13, 2022.” (Id.) As a result, Plaintiff lost certain privileges, including the ability to access appliances, as was moved from Facility “A,” Building 1 to Facility “A,” Building 4. (Id., p. 3). Warden Covello’s declaration further states: 9. After the RVR hearing on November 13, 2020, it is my understanding that Mr. Fregia reported he was suicidal, and went to Mental Health Crisis Bed (MHCB) overnight located in Facility “C”. When an inmate does not return to his cell the same day, his property is collected, inventoried, and stored in Receiving and Release (R&R) by correctional staff. When an inmate is released/returned to his housing unit, his property is returned within a reasonable time. Correctional staff use an Inmate Property Inventory Form 1083 to document inmate property packed, inventoried, and released.

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