Leonard v. Wright et al

Filing 2

ORDER denying pltf's request for leave to proceed IFP 1 ; pltf must submit, no later than 3 days after the entry date of this Order, either the $350 filing fee, or a complete and signed IFP application, along with a calculation sheet (enclosed); pltf must file an amended complaint as directed within 30 days; service is not appropriate at this time. Signed by Magistrate Judge H. David Young on 8/2/12. (vjt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
LITTLE ROCK DIVISION
ADAM LEONARD
V.

PLAINTIFF
4:12CV00471 KGB/HDY

SUSAN WEBBER WRIGHT et al.

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
On July 30, 2012, Plaintiff Adam Leonard, who is currently held at the Pulaski County
Detention Facility, filed a pro se1 complaint (docket entry #1), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which
included a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). Plaintiff’s IFP request is
incomplete, in that his declaration includes no information about his employment and income
history, and Plaintiff included no information regarding his financial account at the Pulaski County
Detention Facility. Additionally, Plaintiff’s complaint is too vague to determine if he states a claim
for relief against each of the numerous Defendants. Accordingly, if Plaintiff wishes to pursue this
action, he must submit, no later than 30 days after the entry of this order, either the full $350.00
filing fee, or a properly completed and signed application for leave to proceed IFP, and a calculation
sheet and certificate signed by an authorized official, along with an amended complaint setting forth

Plaintiff is notified of his responsibility to comply with the Local Rules of the Court,
including Rule 5.5(c)(2), which states: "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.”
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the information specified in Section III of this order. Plaintiff’s failure to do so will result in the
recommended dismissal of his complaint.
I. In forma pauperis issues
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, a prisoner who is permitted to file a civil
action IFP still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350.00. 28 U.S.C. §1915(b)(1). The only
question is whether a prisoner will pay the entire filing fee at the initiation of the proceeding or in
installments over a period of time. Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715, 716 (8th Cir. 1998). Even if
a prisoner is without assets and unable to pay an initial filing fee, he will be allowed to proceed with
his claims and the filing fee will be collected by the Court in installments from the prisoner’s inmate
trust account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4).
If the prisoner’s case is subsequently dismissed for any reason, including a
determination that it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary relief
against a defendant who is immune from such relief, the full amount of the $350.00 filing fee
will be collected and no portion of this filing fee will be refunded to the prisoner.
So that the Court can determine how the $350.00 filing fee will be paid, Plaintiff is required
to submit, no later than 30 days after this order’s entry date, either the full statutory filing fee, or a
completed and signed application for leave to proceed IFP, along with a calculation sheet and
certificate, prepared and executed by an authorized official at the incarcerating facility. Based on
this information, the Court will assess an initial partial filing fee if sufficient funds exist, and will
also direct the future collection of monthly installment payments from Plaintiff’s account until the
filing fee is paid in full. Id. 1915(b)(1) and (2). However, no prisoner will be prohibited from
bringing a civil action because he “has no assets and no means by which to pay the initial partial

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filing fee.” Id. 1915(b)(4).
II. Screening
Before docketing the complaint, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Court must review
the complaint to identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint if it: (1) is frivolous or
malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief
against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)
requires only “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.”
In Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (overruling Conley v. Gibson,
355 U.S. 41 (1967), and setting new standard for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be
granted), the Court stated, “a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment]to
relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action will not do....Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the
speculative level,” citing 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235236 (3d ed. 2004). A complaint must contain enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible
on its face, not merely conceivable. Twombly at 570. However, a pro se plaintiff's allegations must
be construed liberally. Burke v. North Dakota Dept. of Corr. & Rehab., 294 F.3d 1043, 1043-1044
(8th Cir.2002) (citations omitted).
III. Plaintiff’s Claims
Plaintiff’s complaint makes vague allegations against judges of this Court and the Pulaski
County District Court, the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney, Pulaski County Detention Facility
officials, and unnamed Does. Plaintiff alleges that he has been subjected to threats, unconstitutional
conditions of confinement at the detention facility, and various other constitutional violations. The

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allegations are broad, and do not include specific factual allegations against the numerous
Defendants. Accordingly, Plaintiff must submit, no later than 30 days after the entry date of this
order, an amended complaint, which contains a short summary of the claims he is making against
each of the Defendants. Plaintiff’s complaint should include specific factual allegations as to the
actions or omissions of each Defendant which Plaintiff believes violated his constitutional rights,
and a statement describing the injuries he sustained as a result. The allegations should relate only
to Plaintiff’s personal claims, and not those of other individuals. Where appropriate, Plaintiff should
include dates of the events. Plaintiff’s failure to file the amended complaint as order will result in
the recommended dismissal of his complaint.
IV. Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.

Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed IFP (docket entry #1) is DENIED.

2.

The Clerk is directed to forward an IFP application, calculation sheet, and

certificate, to Plaintiff.
3.

Plaintiff must submit, no later than 30 days after the entry date of this order, either

the $350.00 statutory filing fee, or a fully completed and signed IFP application, along with a
completed calculation sheet and certificate signed by an authorized official at the incarcerating
facility. Plaintiff’s failure to pay the filing fee, or to file a complete and signed application for leave
to proceed IFP, will result in the recommended dismissal of his complaint.
4.

No later than 30 days after the entry of this order, Plaintiff must file an amended

complaint setting forth the information specified in Section III of this order. Plaintiff’s failure to
do so will result in the recommended dismissal of his complaint.

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5.

Service is not appropriate at this time.

DATED this 2

day of August, 2012.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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