May v. Maples et al

Filing 3

DOCKET ENTRY FILED IN ERROR - DISREGARD(jak) (Docket text modified on 1/9/2014 to indicate the document was filed in error). (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
BATESVILLE DIVISION
JOSEPH W. MAY
ADC #100355
V.

PLAINTIFF

NO: 1:13CV00113 DPM/HDY

JOHN MAPLES, JR. et al.

DEFENDANTS

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS
You have filed this federal civil rights lawsuit pro se, that is, without the help of a lawyer.
There are rules and procedures that you must follow in order to proceed with your lawsuit, even
though you are not a lawyer.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
First: Follow All Court Rules. You must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as
well as Local Rules for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) provides that:
"It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to promptly notify the Clerk
and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to
monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. A
party appearing for himself/herself shall sign his/her pleadings and state his/her
address, zip code, and telephone number. If any communication from the Court to
a pro se plaintiff is not responded to within thirty (30) days, the case may be
dismissed without prejudice. Any party proceeding pro se shall be expected to be
familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”
Second: Pay the Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner – including this one – requires the
plaintiff to pay a filing fee either at the beginning of the lawsuit or, if he cannot afford to pay the
entire fee in a lump sum, to apply for leave to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). You have filed
an application to proceed IFP and submitted all necessary documents. Your IFP motion (docket
entry #1) is therefore GRANTED. You will still pay the entire $350.00 filing fee. Based on
information you have provided, the Court will not assess an initial partial filing fee. However, the
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filing fee will be withdrawn from your account in monthly installments until the filing fee is paid
in full. Monthly withdrawals will be made until the $350.00 is fully paid, even if the lawsuit is
dismissed before trial.
Third: Provide Addresses for Service. All defendants must be served with the complaint and a
summons within 120 days of the filing of a complaint. This includes "John/Jane Doe" defendants.
Any defendant who is not served within 120 days can be dismissed, without prejudice, from the
lawsuit. It is your responsibility to identify and serve defendants, including "Doe" defendants.
Because you are proceeding IFP, the Court will order service of process on the defendants, but you
are responsible for providing valid service addresses. You may send discovery requests, or use other
means, to find valid service addresses for defendants.
Fourth: No Right to Appointed Counsel. This is a civil case. Unlike criminal cases, there is no
right to have an appointed lawyer in a civil case. If your case proceeds to a jury trial, however, a
lawyer will be appointed to assist you before trial.
Fifth: Do Not File Your Discovery Requests. Discovery requests, such as interrogatories and
requests for documents, are not to be filed with the Court. Instead, discovery requests should be sent
to counsel for the defendant (or directly to the defendant if he or she is not represented by a lawyer).
No discovery should be sent to a defendant until after that defendant has been served with the
complaint.
Sixth: Do Not Send Documents to Court Except in Two Situations. You may send documents
or other evidence to the Court only if attached to a motion for summary judgment or in response to
a motion for summary judgment; or if the court orders you to send documents or other evidence.
Seventh: Provide a Witness List. If your case is set for a hearing or trial, as your hearing or trial

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date approaches, you will be asked to provide a witness list. After reviewing the witness list, the
Court will make efforts to ensure the attendance of all appropriate witnesses.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT:
1.

As Plaintiff’s present custodian, the Director of the Arkansas Department of

Correction (“ADC”), or his designee, or any future custodian, is directed to collect from Plaintiff’s
institutional account the $350.00 filing fee by collecting monthly payments equal to 20% of the
preceding month's income credited to Plaintiff’s account each time the amount in the account
exceeds $10.00. The Director of the ADC, or his designee, or any future custodian, is further
directed to forward the payments to the Clerk of the Court in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §
1915(b)(2), until a total of $350.00 has been collected and forwarded to the Clerk. The payments
also must be clearly identified by the name and number assigned to this action.
2.

The Clerk of the Court is directed to send a copy of this order to: (1) the Warden of

the Grimes Unit, 300 Corrections Drive, Newport, AR 72112; (2) the ADC Trust Fund Centralized
Banking Office, Post Office Box 8908, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 71611; and (3) the ADC Compliance
Office, P.O. Box 20550, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71612-0550.
3.

Liberally construing Plaintiff’s complaint, he has, for screening purposes, stated a

claim for relief. The United States Marshal is directed to serve a copy of the complaint (docket entry
#2), this order, and summons, upon Defendants, without prepayment of fees and costs or security
therefor.
DATED this 9

day of January, 2014.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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