Deshazer v. Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility

Filing 2

INTIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS: Plaintiff must pay the $400 filing fee or apply to proceed IFP within 30 days of this Order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Beth Deere on 3/6/2014. (ks)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
KENDRA KATRISE DESHAVER
ADC #707085
V.

PLAINTIFF

CASE NO. 4:14CV00132 KGB/BD

PULASKI COUNTY REGIONAL
DET. FACILITY, 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:
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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.
You must monitor the progress of your case and prosecute the case
diligently.
You must sign all pleadings and other papers filed with the court,
and each paper you file must include your current address.
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.
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Second: Pay the Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner – including this
one – requires the plaintiff to pay a filing fee. A $400 filing fee must be paid at
the beginning of the lawsuit unless the plaintiff cannot afford to pay the entire fee
at once. If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee in a lump sum, you may file an
application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). If you are granted IFP status,
the filing fee is $350.
Although you have filed a complaint, you have neither paid the filing fee nor
applied to proceed IFP. You must do one or the other within 30 days of this order.
Enclosed you will find an IFP application, along with a calculation sheet that must
be filled out and signed by the custodian of the prison where you are currently
being held. If you are granted IFP status, withdrawals will be made from your
prison account each month until the $350.00 is fully paid, even if the lawsuit is
dismissed before trial.
Third: Provide Addresses for Service. All defendants must be served with the
complaint and a summons within 120 days of the filing of a complaint. This
includes “John/Jane Doe” defendants. Any defendant who is not served within
120 days can be dismissed, without prejudice, from the lawsuit. It is your
responsibility to identify and serve defendants, including “Doe” 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 will 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 trial, as your trial date
approaches, you will be asked to provide a witness list. After reviewing the
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witness list, the Court will subpoena necessary witnesses.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 6th day of March, 2014.

___________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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