Williams v. Budnik

Filing 5

ORDER that if Plaintiff wishes to amend his complaint, he may complete the new complaint form in its entirety in accordance with this order, mark it as "Amended Complaint," and file it within 30 days of the date of this order. Plaintiff's complaint, as it now stands, is deficient and may be dismissed after 30 days of the date of this order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on 3/24/2016. (lej)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION
MARK ANTONIO WILLIAMS, ADC # 141529
v.

PLAINTIFF

5:16CV00086-BRW-JJV

C. BUDNIK, Warden,
Varner Supermax; et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Mark Antonio Williams (“Plaintiff”) brings this action pro se and pursuant to section 1983.
(Doc. No. 2.) He alleges Defendants C. Budnik and F. Washington1, a warden and classification
officer at the Varner Supermax Unit respectively, have violated his constitutional rights by declining
to transfer him to another unit. (Id. at 4; Doc. No. 2 in case number 5:16cv87.) He claims inmates
at the Varner Unit are aware he is incarcerated for a rape offense and this puts him in danger. After
review of Plaintiff’s allegations, I conclude he has failed to state any claim upon which relief may
be granted. Rather than recommending immediate dismissal of this action, I will afford Plaintiff an
opportunity to amend his Complaint.
It is settled law that prisoners have no right to incarceration in any particular prison. See Olim
v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 245 (1983). Moreover, Plaintiff has failed to sufficiently allege either
Defendant has ignored a specific or actionable threat to his safety. He vaguely alleges that other,
unspecified inmates are aware he was convicted of rape and some have threatened him on this
account. (Doc. No. 2 at 4.) Plaintiff does not allege he has actually been injured, however. While
it is true that a claimant may bring an Eighth Amendment claim for injunctive relief in order to

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Plaintiff originally brought his claims against these Defendants in separate suits. Given that
his allegations against both stem from the same underlying claims, the Court elected to consolidate
his allegation in this suit.
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prevent future harm, Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 845 (1994), Plaintiff has failed to allege that
Defendants have ignored any specific threat which is likely to befall him in the future. If such a
threat exists, Plaintiff may explain as much in his amended complaint - if he elects to file one.
As it stands, Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
Plaintiff, if he chooses, may submit to the Court, within thirty (30) days of the entry date of this
Order, a superseding Amended Complaint which contains all of his claims against all defendants he
is suing in a single document. Plaintiff is cautioned that an Amended Complaint renders his original
Complaint without legal effect. Only claims properly set out in the Amended Complaint will be
allowed to proceed. Therefore, Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint should 1) name all the parties he
believes deprived him of his constitutional rights and whom he wishes to sue in this action; 2)
provide specific facts against each named defendant in a simple, concise, and direct manner,
including dates, times, and places, if applicable; 3) indicate whether he is suing each defendant in
his/her individual or official capacity, or in both capacities; 4) how Plaintiff was harmed; and 5) state
whether he was incarcerated at the time as a pretrial detainee.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1.

The Clerk shall mail the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint form to Plaintiff with this

Order. If Plaintiff wishes to amend his Complaint, he may complete the new complaint form in its
entirety in accordance with this Order, mark it as “Amended Complaint,” and file it within thirty
days of the date of this Order.
2.

Plaintiff's Complaint, as it now stands, is deficient and may be dismissed after thirty

days of the date of this Order.
DATED this 24th day of March, 2016.

____________________________________
JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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