Alton Brown v. , 541 F. App'x 155 ( 2013 )

BLD-006 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 13-3558
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IN RE: ALTON BROWN,
Petitioner
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On a Petition for Writ of Mandamus from the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(Related to E.D. Pa. Civ. No. 2-10-cv-03458)
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Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
October 10, 2013
Before: AMBRO, CHAGARES and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed: November 12, 2013)
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OPINION
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PER CURIAM
Pro se petitioner, Alton Brown, seeks a writ of mandamus ordering the District
Court to direct that service of process be issued by the United States Marshal’s Service
with respect to his second amended and supplemental complaint and to rule on his
motions for injunctive relief. We conclude that mandamus relief is not warranted in this
case at this time. Accordingly, we will deny the petition.
Mandamus is a “drastic remedy” available in extraordinary circumstances only. In
re: Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 418 F.3d 372, 378 (3d Cir. 2005). A petitioner seeking
the writ “must have no other adequate means to obtain the desired relief, and must show
that the right to issuance is clear and indisputable.” Madden v. Myers, 102 F.3d 74, 79
(3d Cir. 1996), superseded in part on other grounds by 3d Cir. L.A.R. 24.1(c) (1997).
Generally, a court’s management of its docket is discretionary, In re Fine Paper Antitrust
Litig., 685 F.2d 810, 817 (3d Cir. 1982), and there is no “clear and indisputable” right to
have a district court handle a case in a certain manner. See Allied Chem. Corp. v.
Daiflon, Inc., 449 U.S. 33, 36 (1980). However, mandamus may be warranted when a
district court’s delay “is tantamount to a failure to exercise jurisdiction” and rises to the
level of a due process violation. Madden, 102 F.3d at 79.
The delay complained of by Brown is not tantamount to a failure to exercise
jurisdiction. In an order issued on January 2, 2013, we concluded that Brown made a
sufficient showing of imminent danger to overcome the bar erected by 28 U.S.C. §
1915(g). Accordingly, we directed that the District Court grant Brown leave to proceed
with the underlying civil action in forma pauperis. See C.A. No. 11-1707. The District
Court promptly complied with that directive. In its order entered on February 14, 2013,
the District Court extended the 120-day time limit for service of summons and the
amended complaint until further order of the court. Shortly thereafter, the action was
reassigned to the Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno. Brown has filed numerous motions in
the District Court since the reassignment, including motions for injunctive relief and the
recusal of Judge Robreno. The District Court disposed of Brown’s motion for recusal,
but has yet to order service of his second amended complaint or to issue an order on his
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requests for injunctive relief.
When we remanded the matter to the District Court with the direction that Brown
be granted in forma pauperis status, we refrained from expressing any opinion regarding
the merits of his action. The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) provides authority for
the District Court to screen civil actions under § 1915(e)(2) “without regard to whether
the opposing party was served with process.” Grayson v. Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d
103, 111 n.15 (3d Cir. 2002). We stated in Grayson that, “[g]iven the emphasis in the
PLRA’s legislative history on the cost to state and local governments of defending
prisoner litigation,” see 141 Cong. Rec. S14413 (1995) (statement of Senator Dole), the
district courts’ authority to dismiss complaints prior to service of process “was meant to
serve an important purpose.” Id. We thus cannot conclude that the District Court’s
decision to refrain from ordering service of summons in this case is tantamount to a
failure to exercise jurisdiction.
Likewise, given the steady stream of filings that Brown has submitted since his
action was reassigned eight months ago – several of which have been filed in the past
four months and disposed of by the District Court – the court’s delay in ruling on his
motions for injunctive relief does not rise to the level justifying our intervention. See
Madden, 102 F.3d at 79. We are fully confident that the District Court will adjudicate
Brown’s motions and complaint without undue delay.
Accordingly, we will deny the petition for a writ of mandamus.
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