Leflore v. West Memphis Arkansas, City of

Filing 5

ORDER: The Court seals the 2 Complaint because it contains personal confidential information. Leflore's 1 Motion to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. Leflore must file an amended complaint by 7/21/2017 or the Court will dismiss his case without prejudice. The 3 Motion for appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 6/27/2017. (jak)

IN THE UNITED ST ATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
PLAINTIFF

JAMES A. LEFLORE

v.

No. 3:17-cv-124-DPM

CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS

DEFENDANT

ORDER

1. The Court seals the complaint, Ng 2, because it contains personal

confidential information.
2. Leflore' s motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Ng 1, as supplemented

by Ng 2 at 4, is granted. Though he has some assets, considering his income,
expenses, and debts, Leflore can't afford the filing fee.
3. The Court must screen Leflore's complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).

He alleges he was fired in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act,

Ng 2 at 2, so this Court has subject matter jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
Leflore says that, after he started taking prescribed pain medication, he
tested positive on a work drug test. Leflore' s termination letter from the City
of West Memphis, attached to his complaint, says he was fired because he
tested positive for drugs and never adequately explained the positive result.
This letter creates some murkiness about what actually prompted Leflore' s

firing. But construing his pro se complaint liberally, the case should go
forward.

The ADA protects qualified individuals who are mistakenly

regarded as having engaged in the illegal use of drugs.

42 U.S.C.

§ 12210(b)(3); Nielsen v. Moroni Feed Company, 162 F.3d 604, 610 (10th Cir.

1998).
Leflore must file an amended complaint. This time around he must
redact personal confidential information. FED. R. CIV. P. 5.2(a). Leflore must
also attach his right-to-sue letter from the EEOC, Ng 2 at, 7, to any amended
complaint. Jones v. American State Bank, 857 F.2d 494, 499-500 (8th Cir. 1988).
If Leflore doesn't file an amended complaint by 21 July 2017, the Court will

dismiss his case without prejudice.
4.

The motion for appointment of counsel, Ng 3, is denied without

prejudice. Appointed counsel isn't warranted at this early point.
So Ordered.
I'

D .P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
;. 7

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