Williams v. Marshall

Filing 2

ORDER directing the plaintiff to pay the $350 statutory filing fee within 30 days from the entry of this Order, if he wishes to pursue this action. Signed by Judge James M. Moody on 4/11/11. (kpr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
THELMA WILLIAMS, ADC #93197
V.

PLAINTIFF

No. 4:11CV00290 JMM

D.P. MARSHALL, JR.

DEFENDANT
ORDER

Plaintiff Thelma Williams, an inmate confined in the Varner Supermax Unit of the
Arkansas Department of Correction, filed a pro se Complaint (docket entry #1). Mr.
Williams, however, has not paid the $350.00 filing fee. Mr. Williams may not proceed in
forma pauperis because he is considered a “three striker” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
That section provides that a prisoner may not proceed in forma pauperis in a civil action
if:
the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or
detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United
States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner
is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.
Mr. Williams has filed at least ten lawsuits in the Eastern District of Arkansas.1 Of
those, at least three were dismissed for failure to state a claim.2 Further, his appeal of

1

Williams v. Myers, 5:90cv00508; Williams v. Curl, 5:91cv00164; Williams v.
Gibson, 5:07cv00178; Williams v. Bennett, 5:07cv00179; Williams v. Park, 5:07cv00180;
Williams v. Smallwood, 5:07cv00181; Williams v. Hill, 5:07cv00299, Williams v. Cook,
5:07cv00300; Williams v. Johnson, 5:08cv00006; and Williams v. Edward, 2:08cv00188.
2

See Williams v. Gibson, 5:07cv00178 (dismissed August 13, 2007); Williams v.
Bennett, 5:07cv00179 (dismissed August 17, 2007); and Williams v. Smallwood,
5:07cv00181 (dismissed September 13, 2007).

Williams v. Gibson, 5:07cv00178, 8th Cir. Case No. 07-3023, also counts as a strike.3
Barring an exception, Mr. Williams is not eligible to proceed in forma pauperis.
Here, Mr. Williams claims that Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr. retaliated against him and
subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment. Although Mr. Williams claims that he
has been subjected to “torture,” he does not offer any factual allegations to support this
statement. Furthermore, he does not state that he is under imminent danger of serious
physical harm. Accordingly, Mr. Williams cannot proceed in forma pauperis. If he
wishes to pursue this action, he must pay the $350.00 filing fee within thirty (30) days
from the entry of this Order. Failure to pay the filing fee will result in dismissal of this
action.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 11th day of April, 2011.

_______________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

3

Following a complete review of the District Court’s original file under Eighth
Circuit Rule 47A(a), the judgment of the District Court was summarily affirmed on
February 13, 2008. See Henderson v. Norris, 129 F.3d 481, 485 (8th Cir. 1997). Further,
a prisoner can accrue two strikes in one case. See Higgins v. Carpenter, 258 F.3d 797,
801 (8th Cir. 2001) (per curiam) (counting two district court dismissals and two summary
affirmances as four strikes).
2