Bonilla v. Santa Clara County Superior Court, it's judges and clerks

Background

Steven Wayne Bonilla, identified as a state prisoner, filed multiple civil-rights complaints under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 while representing himself. The complaints were nearly identical. They named various state courts and municipalities as defendants and sought relief concerning Bonilla’s underlying conviction or the handling of his other cases by state and federal courts.

The order notes that Bonilla had a pending federal petition challenging his custody in the same court with appointed counsel, and that he was represented by counsel in state-court proceedings concerning his custody.

Proceeding Without Paying Filing Fees

To the extent Bonilla sought permission to proceed without paying the filing fees, the court applied 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). That provision disqualifies a prisoner from proceeding without paying after qualifying prior cases, unless the prisoner was in immediate danger of serious physical injury when the complaint was filed. The court concluded that Bonilla’s allegations did not show such danger. The order therefore stated that he could not proceed without paying the filing fees.

Other Bars Identified by the Court

The court further stated that, even if an application to proceed without paying were granted, the lawsuits would be barred under Heck v. Humphrey, Younger v. Harris, Demos v. U.S. District Court, or Mullis v. U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The order did not separately explain how each cited doctrine applied to each complaint.

Disposition

The court dismissed the cases with prejudice. It directed the clerk to terminate all pending motions and close the cases. It also directed the clerk to return, without filing, any further documents Bonilla submitted in the closed cases. The order was signed by Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton.