Sherman v. Scrimshire et al
Filing
12
ORDER ADOPTING 9 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS in toto case is dismissed without prejudice as set forth. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on August 16, 2016. (rw)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION
PATRICK SHERMAN
v.
PLAINTIFF
Case No. 6:15-cv-6122
COUNTY JUDGE BILL SCRIMSHIRE,
et al.
DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation filed May 5, 2016, by the Honorable
Mark E. Ford, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. ECF No. 9.
Judge Ford recommends that Plaintiff Patrick Sherman’s application to proceed in forma
pauperis (IFP) be denied. Sherman has responded with objections. ECF No. 10. The Court
finds the matter ripe for consideration.
Sherman is currently incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Correction, Varner
Supermax Unit. He files this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and requests that
he be granted IFP status. The magistrate judge recommends that Sherman’s IFP application be
denied pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Section 1915(g) limits the ability of a prisoner to obtain IFP status when he has filed at
least three claims that have been dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failure to state a claim.
28 U.S.C § 1915(g). However, a prisoner who would otherwise be prohibited under this section
from obtaining IFP status may proceed IFP if he is “under imminent danger of serious physical
injury.” 1 28 U.S.C. §1915(g). This provision is commonly referred to as the “three strikes rule.”
In the Report and Recommendation, the magistrate judge identifies three cases in which
Sherman’s complaint has been dismissed. The magistrate judge concludes that each of these
1
In this case, Sherman has not alleged any facts to indicate that he is under imminent danger of physical injury.
cases qualifies as a strike against Sherman under § 1915(g). One such case is Farver v. Evans,
2:01-cv-00224 (E.D. Ark. 2002), in which Sherman was identified as one of four plaintiffs.
Sherman argues that the Farver case should not be considered a strike against him because he
“never knew or had any idea that he was a [p]laintiff” in the Farver case. ECF No. 10, p. 5. The
Court has reviewed the Farver case and is not convinced that it should be considered a strike as
to Sherman.
Nevertheless, Sherman has filed numerous cases in the Eastern and Western
Districts of Arkansas, several of which have been dismissed as frivolous or for failure to state a
claim. The Court has identified at least four cases in which Sherman’s IFP status was denied
because of the three strikes rule: Sherman v. Clark Cnty., 4:12-cv-00728 (E.D. Ark. 2012); 2
Sherman v., Abernathy, et al., 5:10-cv-353 (E.D. Ark. 2011); Sherman v. Wyatt, 5:10-cv-00026
(E.D. Ark. 2010); Sherman v. Ark. Dep’t of Corr., 5:02-cv-00339 (E.D. Ark. 2002). Each of the
orders denying IFP status to Sherman identifies at least three cases that are considered strikes
pursuant to §1915(g). 3 Because Sherman has had at least three complaints in cases other than
Farver dismissed as frivolous or for failure to state a claim, the Court agrees with the magistrate
judge that Sherman is not eligible for IFP status.
Accordingly, based on its own de novo review, the Court overrules Sherman’s objections
and adopts the Report and Recommendation in toto. ECF No. 9. Sherman’s IFP application
(ECF No. 2) is DENIED, and this case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to
Sherman’s right to re-open the case upon payment of the filing fee. Plaintiff is instructed to file
a motion to reopen the action upon payment of the proper filing fee to the Clerk of Court.
2
The order denying IFP status to Sherman states that he has filed at least thirty-five lawsuits in the Eastern District
of Arkansas.
3
Some of these cases are as follows: Sherman v. Rhode, et al., 5:96-cv-00365 (E.D. Ark. dismissed May 19, 1997);
Sherman v. Norris, et al., 5:97-cv-00405 (E.D. Ark. dismissed Aug. 3, 1998); Sherman v. Corr, Medical Services, et
al., 5:01-cv-00161 (E.D. Ark. dismissed Sep. 18, 2001). In addition, the Court has identified at least two cases in
this district that have been dismissed as frivolous or for failure to state a claim: Sherman v. Clark Cnty., et al. 6:13cv-06017 (W.D. Ark. dismissed June 27, 2013) and Sherman v. Clark Cnty. Circuit Court, et al., 6:02-cv-06180
(W.D. Ark. dismissed November 5, 2002).
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Further, the Clerk is directed to provisionally file any new action in which Patrick
Sherman seeks to proceed IFP. The magistrate judge shall then review the action. If it is a civil
action, rather than a criminal or habeas action, and if Sherman has not asserted a valid claim that
he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury, the magistrate judge shall recommend
that IFP status be denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of August, 2016.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge
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