Williams v. Craighead County Detention Center et al
Filing
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INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 3/8/2018. (jak)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
KENTRALL DEWAYNE WILLIAMS
v.
PLAINTIFF
Case No. 3:17-cv-00339-KGB
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY DETENTION
CENTER, 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.
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. Copies of rules can be
found in the prison library.
In particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) explains requirements for plaintiffs, like you, who are
not represented by a lawyer:
1.
You must promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties in the case of any change
in address. You must inform the Court if you are transferred from one unit to
another. Notifying the Court of your change in address is especially important if
you are released from custody while your lawsuit is pending. If you do not keep
the Court informed as to your current address, your lawsuit can be dismissed.
2.
You must monitor the progress of your case and prosecute the case diligently.
3.
You must sign all pleadings and other papers filed with the Court, and each paper
you file must include your current address.
4.
If you fail to timely respond to a Court Order directing action on your part, the case
may be dismissed, without prejudice.
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 to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”).
Third: 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.
Fourth:
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.
Fifth: 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.
Sixth: Provide a Witness List. If your case is set for trial, as your trial date approaches,
you will be asked to provide a witness list. After reviewing the witness list, the Court will
subpoena necessary witnesses.
So ordered this the 8th day of March, 2018.
_____________________________
Kristine G. Baker
United States District Judge
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