Washington v. Salinas Valley State Prison
- Beth Freeman
- 5:22-cv-05831
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 4
In Washington v. Salinas Valley State Prison, Judge Freeman substituted J. Ruiz for John Doe No. 3 and set service and dispositive-motion deadlines.
Washington, J. Ruiz, Defendant Guijarro, and the other defendants in the ongoing § 1983 case are affected. Ruiz was substituted for John Doe No. 3 and ordered served; Guijarro and Ruiz received dispositive-motion deadlines; Washington received response and case-management obligations.
What happened
Tracye Benard Washington, a California inmate representing himself, brought a civil-rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against prison and medical officials. The case includes claims alleging excessive force, failure to provide needed medical care, and supervisor responsibility.
Based on information provided by defense counsel, Washington asked to replace John Doe No. 3 with J. Ruiz, identified as a lieutenant. The court granted that request and ordered the case served on Ruiz. It also directed the defendants to file a motion asking for a final ruling or another motion resolving the case.
The court ordered Defendants Guijarro and Ruiz to file a summary-judgment motion or other dispositive motion within 91 days. Washington’s response would be due 28 days later, followed by the defendants’ reply within 14 days. Judge Beth Labson Freeman also set instructions about service, discovery, communications, deadlines, and prosecuting the case.
The detailed version
- Washington v. Salinas Valley State Prison · No. 5:22-cv-05831
- Beth Freeman
- July 26, 2024
Background
Tracye Benard Washington, a California inmate proceeding without a lawyer, filed a civil-rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against prison and medical officials at Salinas Valley State Prison. The case was proceeding on claims that the court had found legally sufficient to continue: excessive-force claims against Guijarro and John Doe No. 3, a lieutenant; deliberate-indifference claims concerning serious medical needs against Serrato and John Does Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8; and a supervisor-liability claim against Sgt. John Doe No. 6.
Washington had been ordered to identify John Doe No. 3 through discovery or face dismissal of the claim against that defendant. Defense counsel provided information identifying that defendant as J. Ruiz.
Rulings and Case Schedule
The court granted the motion to substitute defendant. It ordered that all references to “John Doe No. 3” in the complaint be replaced with “J. Ruiz.” The court ordered service on Ruiz at Salinas Valley State Prison through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s electronic-service program for prisoner civil-rights cases. The order also described procedures for obtaining a waiver of service and, if necessary, having the United States Marshals Service serve Ruiz.
The court ordered Defendants Guijarro and Ruiz, no later than 91 days after the order was filed, to file a motion for summary judgment or another dispositive motion addressing the claims found cognizable. Summary judgment is a procedure for deciding a case without a trial when the required material facts are not genuinely disputed. If the defendants file such a motion, Washington’s opposition is due within 28 days, and the defendants’ reply is due within 14 days after the opposition.
Additional Instructions
The court allowed discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure without requiring another court order. It required Washington to serve his communications on the defendants or their counsel, keep the court informed of address changes, and comply with court orders and deadlines. The court warned that failing to prosecute the case could result in dismissal under Rule 41(b), but this order did not dismiss the action. The order terminated Docket No. 41.
Read the full 4-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.