Case: Johnson v. Woodford

2:04-cv-05995 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: Oct. 27, 2004

Closed Date: 2010

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On October 27, 2004, a prisoner of the Rastafarian faith, proceeding pro se, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against California State Prison Los Angeles County, alleging that by requiring him to shave his beard and cut his hair, the defendant violated 42 USC S. 1983: (1) violation of his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion; (2) violation of the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act; and (3) violation of his Eight Amendmen…

On October 27, 2004, a prisoner of the Rastafarian faith, proceeding pro se, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against California State Prison Los Angeles County, alleging that by requiring him to shave his beard and cut his hair, the defendant violated 42 USC S. 1983: (1) violation of his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion; (2) violation of the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act; and (3) violation of his Eight Amendment rights by withdrawing privileges such as the right to outdoor exercise. The plaintiff sought monetary damages and injunctive relief.

On September 28, 2007, the District Court (Judge George H. King) granted summary judgment to defendants on the basis that they were entitled to qualified immunity with respect to all three claims. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment with respect to the plaintiff's first two claims, but vacated the judgment regarding his eighth amendment claim, holding that the plaintiff did suffer deprivation that rose to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation.

Upon remand to the District Court, the defendants requested leave to file a motion for summary judgment on plaintiff's Eighth Amendment claim. The plaintiff failed to file an opposition to the motion for summary judgment, and instead sought numerous extensions of time. The District Court granted the motion for summary judgment, based on plaintiff's failure to exhaust his claim that the denial of exercise privileges violated his eighth amendment rights. Accordingly, the Court dismissed the Plaintiff's claim without prejudice on April 20, 2010.

Summary Authors

Anjali Biala (10/14/2013)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5798249/parties/george-johnson-v-jeanne-woodford/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Barondess, Mark A. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Bazan, John F. (California)

Coleman, Susan E. (California)

Des Jardins, Michelle A (California)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Johnson, Harold E. (Virginia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:04-cv-05995

Docket [PACER]

Dec. 22, 2010

Dec. 22, 2010

Docket
86

2:04-cv-05995

Order

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Oct. 20, 2006

Oct. 20, 2006

Order/Opinion
166

2:04-cv-05995

Judgment

Oct. 10, 2010

Oct. 10, 2010

Order/Opinion
165

2:04-cv-05995

Order Adopting Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge

Oct. 10, 2010

Oct. 10, 2010

Order/Opinion

2010 WL 2010

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5798249/george-johnson-v-jeanne-woodford/

Last updated March 17, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
165

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS by Judge George H. King, IT IS ORDERED: 1. The Report and Recommendation is accepted. 2. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED and 3. Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint is Dismissed without prejudice. Report and Recommendation (Final), Report and Recommendation (Final) 161 (SEE ORDER FOR FURTHER DETAILS) (lmh)

Oct. 10, 2010

Oct. 10, 2010

RECAP
166

JUDGMENT by Judge George H. King, Pursuant tot he Order Adopting the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, IT IS ADJUDGED that the Second Amended Complaint is Dismissed without prejudice. Related to: Amended Complaint 23 , MOTION for Summary Judgment 99 , MOTION for Summary Judgment 137 , R&R Adopting Report and Recommendations, 165 (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (lmh)

Oct. 10, 2010

Oct. 10, 2010

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 27, 2004

Closing Date: 2010

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Prisoner of the Rastafarian faith

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

California Department of Corrections, State

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Religious Freedom Rest. Act/Religious Land Use and Inst. Persons Act (RFRA/RLUIPA)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Religious programs / policies

Discrimination-basis:

Religion discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run