Hicks v. Mid-South Health Systems et al

Filing 7

ORDER denying as moot Plaintiff's 6 motion to appoint counsel; and dismissing this case without prejudice. Signed by Judge Billy Roy Wilson on 8/18/2016. (ljb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
LORENZO D. HICKS
VS.

PLAINTIFF
4:16CV00396-BRW

MID-SOUTH HEALTH SYSTEMS, et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Pending is Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Doc. No. 6).
In his Amended Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Crystal Taskey, who was also a
patient at Mid-South Health Systems, lied to authorities when she told them that he sexually assaulted
her. Based on a probable cause affidavit, Plaintiff was arrested and placed in jail for eight days.
Because of the arrest, Plaintiff’s probation was revoked. Plaintiff alleges that “they violated my
constitutional rights by taking one side of the story and revoking me without a charge.”1 He requests
that the his probation officer be “prosecute[d]” for having his probation revoked.
A district court has the authority to dismiss a case sua sponte for failure to state a claim.2
Plaintiff’s complaint fails to state a federal cause of action. Additionally, Plaintiff’s probation officer
is entitled to qualified immunity.3 To that extent that Plaintiff is making state law claims against
Defendant Crystal Taskey, I am declining jurisdiction. Accordingly, this case is DISMISSED
without prejudice. Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel is DENIED as MOOT.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 18th day of August, 2016.
/s/ Billy Roy Wilson
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

1

Doc. No. 5.

2

See Smith v. Boyd, 945 F.2d 1041 (8th Cir. 1991).

3

Story v. Foote, 782 F.3d 968, 969-70 (8th Cir. 2015) (sua sponte upholding, based on
qualified immunity, a district court’s preservice dismissal of an inmate’s complaint).
1