Champion v. Akin et al

Filing 79

ORDER directing the Clerk to correct name of deft Lakeisha Akins; pltf shall file, within 30 days of the entry of this Order a response to deft's 73 Second MOTION for Summary Judgment, as directed. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 3/16/12. (vjt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EASTERN DIVISION

JERRY CHAMPION,
ADC #91354
V.

PLAINTIFF
2:11CV00051 JMM/JTR

LAKESHIA AKIN,
East Arkansas Regional Unit, ADC

DEFENDANT

ORDER
Defendant Lakeisha Akins has filed a Second Motion for Summary Judgment,
a Brief in Support, and a Statement of Undisputed Facts. See docket entries #73, #74,
and #75. The Court concludes that a Response from Plaintiff is necessary for the
resolution of that Motion.
At the summary judgment stage, a plaintiff cannot rest upon mere allegations
and, instead, must meet proof with proof. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). This means that
Plaintiff’s Response must include his legal arguments, as well as affidavits,1 prison
records, or other evidence establishing that there is a genuine issue of material fact
that must be resolved at a hearing or trial.

1

The affidavit must be based upon the personal knowledge of the person
executing the affidavit and must be either: (1) sworn and subscribed to by a notary
public; or (2) executed under penalty of perjury, as provided for by 28 U.S.C. § 1746.

Furthermore, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1, Plaintiff must also separately file
a Statement of Disputed Facts, which lists: (a) any disagreement he has with the
specifically numbered factual assertions contained in Defendant’s Statement of
Undisputed Facts (docket entry #75); and (b) any other disputed facts that he believes
must be resolved at a hearing or trial.2
Finally, Plaintiff is advised that if he intends to rely upon grievances or records
that have been previously filed with the Court, he must specifically refer to those
documents by docket number, page, date, and heading. The Court will not sift
through the file to find support for Plaintiff’s factual contentions. See Crossley v.
Georgia-Pacific, Corp., 355 F.3d 1112, 1113-14 (8th Cir. 2004) (affirming the grant
of summary judgment because a plaintiff failed to properly refer to specific pages of
the record that supported his position).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.

The Clerk is directed to amend the docket sheet to reflect that the correct

spelling of Defendant’s name is “Lakeisha Akins.”
2.

Plaintiff shall file, within thirty days of the entry of the Order, a

Response to Defendant’s Second Motion for Summary Judgment and a separate
2

If Plaintiff disputes any of the facts set forth in Defendant’s Statement of
Undisputed Facts, he must identify each numbered paragraph that contains the facts
he disputes and, for each paragraph, explain why he disputes those facts.
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Statement of Disputed Facts that comply with the Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, Local Rule 56.1,
and the instructions set forth in this Order.
3.

Plaintiff is advised that the failure to timely and properly comply with

this Order will result in: (a) all of the facts set forth in Defendant’s summary
judgment papers being deemed admitted by Plaintiff, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1(c);
or (b) the dismissal of this action, without prejudice, pursuant to Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).
Dated this 16th day of March, 2012.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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