Opinion
1:12-cv-00732-GBC (PC)
07-12-2012
MIGUEL ENRIQUE DIAZ, Plaintiff, v. CAPT. VASQUEZ, et al., Defendants.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE REGARDING
EXHAUSTION
(Doc. 1)
I. Factual and Procedural Background
Miguel Enrique Diaz ("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. On May 4, 2012, Plaintiff filed his original complaint. Doc. 1. On page two of the form complaint, Plaintiff states that he has not completed exhaustion of administrative remedies due to the fact that he wishes to seek an emergency injunction before the Court. Doc. 1 at 2.
II. Exhaustion Requirement
Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, "[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under [42 U.S.C. § 1983], or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). Prisoners are required to exhaust the available administrative remedies prior to filing suit. Jones v. Bock, 127 S.Ct. 910, 918-19 (2007); McKinney v. Carey, 311 F.3d 1198, 1199-1201 (9th Cir. 2002). The Court must dismiss a case without prejudice even when there is exhaustion while the suit is pending. Lira v. Herrera, 427 F.3d 1164, 1170 (9th Cir. 2005).
Exhaustion is required regardless of the relief sought by the prisoner. Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741, 121 S.Ct. 1819 (2001). A prisoner must "must use all steps the prison holds out, enabling the prison to reach the merits of the issue." Griffin v. Arpaio, 557 F.3d 1117, 1119 (9th Cir. 2009); see also Brown v. Valoff, 422 F.3d 926, 935 (9th Cir. 2005). A prisoner's concession to non-exhaustion is valid grounds for dismissal so long as no exception to exhaustion applies. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a); Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1120 (9th Cir. 2003).
The Court takes judicial notice of the fact that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has an administrative grievance system for prisoner complaints. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15 § 3084.1 (2011). The process is initiated by submitting a CDC Form 602. Id. at § 3084.2. Three levels of appeal are involved, including the first formal level, second formal level, and third formal level, also known as the "Director's Level." Id. at § 3084.7. Appeals must be submitted within thirty calendar days of the event being appealed, and the process is initiated by submission of the appeal to the informal level, or in some circumstances, the first formal level. Id. at §§ 3084.8.
In order to satisfy section 1997e(a), California state prisoners are required to use the available process to exhaust their claims prior to filing suit. Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 126 S.Ct. 2378, 2383 (2006); McKinney, 311 F.3d at 1199-1201. "[E]xhaustion is mandatory under the PLRA and . . . unexhausted claims cannot be brought in court." Jones, 127 S.Ct. at 918-19 (citing Porter, 435 U.S. at 524). "All 'available' remedies must now be exhausted; those remedies need not meet federal standards, nor must they be 'plain, speedy, and effective.'" Porter, 534 U.S. at 524 (quoting Booth, 532 U.S. at 739 n.5).
There is no exception to the exhaustion requirement for imminent harm. Jones v. Sandy, 2006 WL 355136 at *11 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2006). Because it is clear from the face of Plaintiff's complaint that he has not yet exhausted, this action should be dismissed. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a); Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1120 (9th Cir. 2003) ("A prisoner's concession to nonexhaustion is a valid grounds for dismissal . . . .").
III. Conclusion and Order
Because it appears that Plaintiff has not completed the grievance process, the Court HEREBY ORDERS: Within thirty (30) days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff SHALL SHOW CAUSE why the action should not be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. IT IS SO ORDERED.
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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE