Young v. Allison

Opinion

ZURI SANA-KABISA YOUNG, Case No. 21-cv-07173-WHO (PR)

Plaintiff, ORDER OF DISMISSAL v.

KATHLEEN ALLISON, et al., Defendants.

Plaintiff Zuri Sana-Kabisa Young is barred from bringing this action in forma pauperis because he has filed at least three federal actions that were dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or on grounds that they failed to state a claim for relief. He was ordered to show cause why pauper status should not be barred, but he has filed no response of any kind to the order. Accordingly, this federal civil rights action is DISMISSED without prejudice to Young bringing his claims in a new paid complaint. Young, a state prisoner and frequent litigant in federal court, has filed this federal civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. He was ordered to show cause why the action should not be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which provides that a prisoner may not bring a civil action IFP “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a serious physical injury.” (Dkt. No. 10 at 1.) The Order identified six prior federal court actions (“strikes”) that appeared to count under section 1915(g) and allowed plaintiff an opportunity to respond, as required by Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113 (9th Cir. 2005). The Order also informed Young he could avoid dismissal by paying the filing fee by the deadline. The strikes identified were:

1. Young v. State of California (California 1999), No. 2:99-cv-01039-DFL- JFM (E.D. Cal. Oct. 7, 1999) (dismissing complaint for failing to state a claim); 2. Young v. United States Gov’t. (U.S. Government), No. 2:02-cv-02940-RT-E (C.D. Cal. Oct. 15, 2002) (adopting findings and recommendations to dismiss complaint for failure to state a claim and as frivolous);

3. Young v. State of California (California 2002), No. 2:02-cv-09138-FMC-E (C.D. Cal. Feb. 7, 2003) (adopting findings and recommendations to dismiss complaint as barred by Heck v. Humphrey (Heck), 512 U.S. 477 (1994) (an individual bringing a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 must base the pursuit of damages for an unconstitutional conviction on the reversal or invalidation of the conviction and two defendants were entitled to sovereign immunity on the face of the complaint));

4. Young v. Sumptner (Sumptner) No. 2:05-cv-03653-CBM-E (C.D. Cal March 30, 2006) (adopting findings and recommendations to dismiss action for failure to file an amended complaint after dismissal with leave to amend; initial dismissal for failure to state a claim);

5. Young v. Cate (Cate), No. 5:11-cv-02825-EJD (May 30, 2012) (dismissing action for failure to file a second amended complaint after two dismissals with leave to amend; first two dismissals concluded complaint was prolix);

and

6. Young v. Voong (Voong), Case No. 1:17-cv-01671-LJO-SAB (E.D. Cal.) (dismissing complaint for failure to state a claim).

Each of these dismissals counts as a strike. As to Young’s California 1999, U.S Government, and Voong actions, it is well-established that a dismissal for failure to state a claim constitutes a strike. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (an action “dismissed on the grounds that it . . . fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted” is a strike); Moore v. Maricopa Cty. Sheriff’s Office, 657 F.3d 890, 893-94 (9th Cir. 2011) (same). As to Young’s California 2002 action, the Ninth Circuit has concluded that a dismissal counts as a strike where an affirmative defense, such as a Heck bar, is apparent on the face of the complaint. See Washington v. Los Angeles Cty. Sheriff’s Dep’t, 833 F.3d 1048, 1055-57 (9th Cir. 2016); see also Irby v. Gilbert, No. 16-35373, 2016 WL 11618605, at *1 (9th Cir. Nov. 14, 2016) (acknowledging this holding). As to Young’s Sumptner action, where a plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint after an initial complaint was dismissed with leave to amend, this counts as a strike. See Harris v. Mangum, 863 F.3d 1133, 1143 (9th Cir. 2017) (where complaint is dismissed with leave to amend, and prisoner fails to amend, the dismissal counts as a strike). Finally, as to Young’s Cate action, the failure to correct a prolix complaint after having been given leave to do so constitutes a strike, as does the failure to amend a complaint after having been given leave to do so. See Knapp v. Hogan, 738 F.3d 1106, 1108-09 (9th Cir. 2013) (“We hold that repeated and knowing violations of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)’s ‘short and plain statement’ requirement are strikes as ‘fail[ures] to state a claim,’ . . . when the opportunity to correct the pleadings has been afforded and there has been no modification within a reasonable time.”) (citation omitted). Also, the Ninth Circuit has recognized on two occasions that plaintiff has accrued at least three strikes. See Dkt. No. 4, Young v. Godwin, Appeal No. 20-16446 (9th Cir. Sept. 17, 2020); Dkt. No. 6, Young v. Williams, Appeal No. 19-55513 (9th Cir. Oct. 25, 2019). Young has not filed any response to the Order to Show Cause. Young therefore has not shown any reason that the restrictions of section 1915(g) should not be imposed. He has failed to (i) pay the filing fee; (ii) show that any of the strikes do not qualify under section 1915(g); (iii) show that he qualifies for the imminent danger exception; or (iv) otherwise show cause why this action should not be dismissed. 1 Young’s IFP application is DENIED. (Dkt. No. 2.) This federal civil rights action 2 will be dismissed. 4 This federal civil rights action is DISMISSED without prejudice to Young bringing 5 his claims in a new paid complaint. His IFP motion is DENIED. (Dkt. No. 2.) The Clerk 6 shall terminate all pending motions, enter judgment in favor of defendants, and close the 7 file. 9 Dated: April 15, 2022 M.Qe 10 LIAM H. ORRICK 11 United States District Judge qa 12

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