Rusher v. Hitt et al

Filing 2

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enclose an IFP application along with a copy of this order. Plaintiff must returned a completed IFP application, including an accompanying calculation sheet and certificate signed by an authorized official, or pay the $400.00 filing fee within 30 days of the date of this order. Otherwise, the lawsuit will be dismissed. Signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia S. Harris on 6/5/2017. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
CHRIS RUSHER
ADC #655889
V.

PLAINTIFF

NO: 3:17CV00139 JM/PSH

BECKY HITT, 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”). If
you are granted IFP status, the filing fee is $350, which will be collected in installments from your

prisoner account. Importantly, the entire filing fee will be collected, even if your lawsuit is
dismissed.
You have not paid the $400 filing fee or filed an IFP application. The Clerk of Court is
directed to enclose an IFP application along with a copy of this order. You must return a
completed IFP application, including an accompanying calculation sheet and certificate
signed by an authorized official, or pay the $400.00 filing fee within 30 days of the date of
this order. Otherwise, the lawsuit will be dismissed.
Third: Provide Addresses for Service. All defendants must be served with the complaint
and a summons within 90 days of the filing of a complaint. This includes “John/Jane Doe”
defendants. Any defendant who is not served within 90 days can be dismissed, without prejudice,
from the lawsuit. If you are proceeding IFP, the Court will order service of process on the
defendants if it determines that service is appropriate after screening your complaint as required
by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and/or 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). However, it is your responsibility to identify
defendants, including “Doe” defendants, and to provide valid service addresses for defendants.
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 may 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 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 SO ORDERED this 5th day of June, 2017.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE