(PC) Corral v. Melgarejo ( 2019 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DYLAN SCOTT CORRAL, No. 2:18-CV-3019-JAM-DMC-P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 MELGAREJO, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 18 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s motion for injunctive relief (ECF No. 19 26) in which plaintiff requests the court order the California Department of Corrections and 20 Rehabilitation (CDCR) to return his legal property.1 21 The legal principles applicable to requests for injunctive relief, such as a 22 temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, are well established. To prevail, the 23 moving party must show that irreparable injury is likely in the absence of an injunction. See 24 Stormans, Inc. v. Selecky, 586 F.3d 1109, 1127 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Winter v. Natural Res. 25 Def. Council, Inc., 129 S.Ct. 365 (2008)). To the extent prior Ninth Circuit cases suggest a lesser 26 standard by focusing solely on the possibility of irreparable harm, such cases are “no longer 27 1 Plaintiff’s motion also seeks an extension of time to file a second amended complaint. By separate 28 order issued on September 24, 2019, that motion has been granted. See ECF No. 27. 1 | controlling, or even viable.” Am. Trucking Ass’ns, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles, 559 F.3d 1046, 2 | 1052 (9th Cir. 2009). Under Winter, the proper test requires a party to demonstrate: (1) he is 3 | likely to succeed on the merits; (2) he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of an 4 | injunction; (3) the balance of hardships tips in his favor; and (4) an injunction is in the public 5 | interest. See Stormans, 586 F.3d at 1127 (citing Winter, 129 S.Ct. at 374). The court cannot, 6 | however, issue an order against individuals who are not parties to the action. See Zenith Radio 7 | Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395 U.S. 100, 112 (1969). 8 In this case, plaintiff seeks an order directing CDCR to return his legal property. 9 | The court finds issuance of such an order is not appropriate for two reasons. First, plaintiff has 10 | not demonstrated the likelihood of irreparable injury absent an order for return of his legal 11 | property. In this regard, the court notes plaintiff does not describe the nature of the legal property 12 | atissue or why he cannot proceed at this stage of the litigation without it. Second, CDCR is not a 13 || party to this action. 14 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that plaintiffs motion for 15 || injunctive relief (ECCF No. 26) be denied. 16 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 17 | Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within 14 days 18 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections 19 | with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of objections. 20 | Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See Martinez v. 21 | Yist, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 22 23 || Dated: October 3, 2019 Sx