Lee v. Folk et al

Filing 11

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 4 Complaint filed by Gregory Kenny Lee, recommending this action be dismissed without prejudice as set out. Objections to R&R due by 3/23/2009. Plaintiffs Motion to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees was previously g ranted. (Doc. 5). In light of the findings contained in the order, the January 9, 2008, Order (Doc. 5)is hereby WITHDRAWN, and Plaintiffs Motion to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees (Doc. 2) is DENIED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Bert W. Milling, Jr on 2/27/09. (copy to plaintiff) (cmj)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION GREGORY KENNY LEE, AIS # 184070,: Plaintiff, vs. WARDEN FOLK, et al., Defendants. : : : : REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This § 1983 action, filed by an Alabama prison inmate proceeding pro se and seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis, was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 72.2(c)(4) for appropriate action.1 After review of Plaintiff's action, it is recommended that this action be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Section 1915(g) provides: In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding under this section [28 U.S.C. § 1915] if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is Plaintiff's Motion to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees was previously granted. (Doc. 5). In light of the findings contained herein, the January 9, 2008, Order (Doc. 5)is hereby WITHDRAWN, and Plaintiff's Motion to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees (Doc. 2) is DENIED.
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CIVIL ACTION 07-0867-KD-M

frivolous, claim upon unless the of serious

malicious, or fails to state a which relief may be granted, prisoner is under imminent danger physical injury.

During the screening of this action under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court discovered that, after reviewing the records of the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Alabama, Plaintiff had more than three actions that were previously dismissed as frivolous or malicious, or for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Lee v. Aycock, CA 97-1806-UWC-TMP (N.D. Ala.

Apr. 10, 1998); Lee v. Haley, et al., CA 00-0985-MHT-VPM (M.D. Ala. Sept. 8, 2000); Lee v. Haley, et al., CA 02-1343-WHA-VPM (M.D. Ala. Jan. 29, 2003); Lee v. Holt, et al., CA 03-1055-ID-VPM (M.D. Ala. Dec. 16, 2003); Lee v. Smith, et al., CA 03-1237-SLBTMP (N.D. Ala. Apr. 20, 2006); and Lee v. Campbell, et al., CA 03-1812-IPJ-TMP (N.D. Ala. May 1, 2006). In addition to these

dismissals, Plaintiff filed at least ten actions that were dismissed pursuant to § 1915(g) because he did not pay the filing fee when he initiated the action.2 The following actions filed by plaintiff were dismissed pursuant to § 1915(g): Lee v. Campbell, CA 04-0773-S-NE (N.D. Ala. Apr. 30, 2004); Lee v. Boyeet, et al., CA 04-2256-TMP (N.D. Ala. Aug. 4, 2004); Lee v. Mrs. Arnold, et al., CA 05-0108-VPMMEF (M.D. Ala. Mar. 14, 2005); Lee v. Hill, et al., CA 05-1042ID-DRB (M.D. Ala. Dec. 1, 2005); Lee v. Thomas, CA 06-0451-WKMVRM (M.D. Ala. June 15, 2006); Lee v. Hope, et al., CA 06-0443MEF-VPM (M.D. Ala. June 16, 2006); Lee v. Hope, et al., CA 070795-WKW-WC (M.D. Ala. Sept. 26, 2007); Lee v. Ferrell, et al., CA 07-0773- MHT-WC (M.D. Ala. Oct. 23, 2007); Lee v. Hope, et 2
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Therefore, in order for Plaintiff to avoid 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)'s application, it is incumbent on him to show that at the time of his action's filing he was "under imminent danger of serious physical injury." Medberry v. Butler, 185 F.3d 1189,

1193 (11th Cir. 1999) (holding that the plaintiff must face imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time the complaint is filed, not at a prior time). The actual filing of

the original Complaint occurred between December 14, 2007, which is the date Plaintiff signed the Complaint, and December 17, 2007 which is the postmark's date on the original Complaint's envelope. See Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 270, 108 S.Ct.

2379, 2382 (1988) (delivery of prisoner's notice of appeal to prison officials for mailing to the court constitutes filing); Garvey v. Vaughn, 993 F.2d 776, 783 (11th Cir. 1993) (applying Houston v. Lack to a prisoner's filing of a § 1983 action). However, Plaintiff's claims in the First Amended Complaint (Doc. 4) and in the Second Amended Complaint (Doc. 6) occurred at times prior to the filing of the original Complaint. (Doc. 1).

In the Court-ordered, superseding First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff complains about sexual harassment that occurred on April 5, 2007. (Doc. 4). Subsequently, the Court received the

Second Amended Complaint on February 22, 2008, wherein Plaintiff

al., CA 07-0996-WHA-WC (M.D. Ala. Dec. 4, 2007); Lee v. Marcus, et al., 08-0568-WHA-WC (M.D. Ala. Aug. 20, 2008). 3

alleges that he was sexually assaulted on November 26, 2007, at "Eastland" Correctional Facility.3 (Doc. 7). The dates of these

claims indicate that they arose well before the filing of the original Complaint in mid-December, 2007. The claims in the Second Amended Complaint may be even further removed in time for the purpose of § 1915(g)'s application because they appear to be unrelated to the claims in the original Complaint and in the First Amended Complaint. An

argument could be made that the Second Amended Complaint's filing date should be used to determine whether at the time of its filing the claims indicate that Plaintiff was "under imminent threat of serious physical injury." The postmark on the Second

Amended Complaint's envelope reflects a date of February 21, 2008, and Plaintiff signed the Amended Complaint on either January 22, 2008 (illegible). (Doc. 7). Therefore, the Second

Amended Complaint's filing date is even further removed from November 26, 2007, when its claims arose. Additionally, the Second Amended Complaint's Defendants appear to be located in the Middle District of Alabama at Easterling Correctional Facility. Thus, venue for the Second See 28 U.S.C.

Amended Complaint is not proper in this District.

This facility's name is construed by the Court as Easterling Correctional Facility, which is a prison operated by the Alabama Department of Corrections in the Middle District of Alabama. 4

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§ 1391(b) (a § 1983 action may be brought in the district where defendants reside or where the events giving rise to the claims occurred). This Court, therefore, would not be able to the

address the Second Amended Complaint's claims. Because Plaintiff cannot avail himself of § 1915(g)'s exception, and on account of his failure to pay the $350.00 filing fee at the time he filed this action, Plaintiff's action is due to be dismissed without prejudice. Dupree v. Palmer, 284

F.3d 1234, 1236 (11th Cir. 2002) (holding that an action must be dismissed without prejudice when an inmate who is subject to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) does not pay the full filing fee at the time he initiates the action); Vanderberg v. Donaldson, 259 F.3d 1321, 1324 (11th Cir.) (holding that the filing fee paid must be paid by an inmate subject to § 1915(g) at the time an action is commenced), cert. denied, 535 U.S. 976 (2002). Accordingly, it

is recommended that this action be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

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MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S EXPLANATION OF PROCEDURAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION AND FINDINGS CONCERNING NEED FOR TRANSCRIPT 1. Objection. Any party who objects to this recommendation or anything in it must, within ten days of the date of service of this document, file specific written objections with the clerk of court. Failure to do so will bar a de novo determination by the district judge of anything in the recommendation and will bar an attack, on appeal, of the factual findings of the magistrate judge. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Lewis v. Smith, 855 F.2d 736, 738 (11th Cir. 1988); Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. Unit B, 1982)(en banc). The procedure for challenging the findings and recommendations of the magistrate judge is set out in more detail in SD ALA LR 72.4 (June 1, 1997), which provides that: A party may object to a recommendation entered by a magistrate judge in a dispositive matter, that is, a matter excepted by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), by filing a "Statement of Objection to Magistrate Judge's Recommendation" within ten days after being served with a copy of the recommendation, unless a different time is established by order. The statement of objection shall specify those portions of the recommendation to which objection is made and the basis for the objection. The objecting party shall submit to the district judge, at the time of filing the objection, a brief setting forth the party's arguments that the magistrate judge's recommendation should be reviewed de novo and a different disposition made. It is insufficient to submit only a copy of the original brief submitted to the magistrate judge, although a copy of the original brief may be submitted or referred to and incorporated into the brief in support of the objection. Failure to submit a brief in support of the objection may be deemed an abandonment of the objection. A magistrate judge's recommendation cannot be appealed to a Court of Appeals; only the district judge's order or judgment can be appealed. 2. Transcript (applicable where proceedings tape recorded). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 and Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b), the magistrate judge finds that the tapes and original records in this action are adequate for purposes of review. Any party planning to object to this recommendation, but unable to pay the 6

fee for a transcript, is advised that a judicial determination that transcription is necessary is required before the United States will pay the cost of the transcript. DONE this 27th day of February, 2009. s/BERT W. MILLING, JR. UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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