Kennedy v. Pipeline Properties, LLC et al

Filing 46

ORDER denying without prejudice #39 Defendant Milton Townsend's Motion to Dismiss. On or before August 8, 2016, Defendant Milton Townsend must file an amended motion to dismiss in accordance with this Order, file an answer, or otherwise respond to this action on or before August 10, 2016. Failure to do so could result in a default being entered. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 7/20/2016. (LMF)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
PATRICIA KENNEDY, individually
Defendant,
v.

Case No: 2:16-cv-192-FtM-38CM

KHULNA INC., TORRE DEONTRAY
FULCHER, LE GOURMET INDIA,
LLC, CHINA TASTE INC. OF FORT
MYERS, MILTON TOWNSEND and
JACKIE’S EYEBROW THREADING
NAILS SALON INC.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER1
This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Milton Townsend's Motion to
Dismiss (Doc. #39) filed on July 6, 2016. Pursuant to Middle District of Florida Local Rule
3.01(a), each motion must include “a concise statement of the precise relief requested, a
statement of the basis for request, and a memorandum of the legal authority in support
of the request.” Here, Defendant Milton Townsend, who is proceeding pro se, submitted
a letter to the Court asking for the case against him to be dismissed. Because the letter
does not meet this District’s Local Rules, it must be denied. However, the Court will allow
Defendant Milton Townsend time to refile his motion in accordance with the Instructions
for Proceeding Pro Se included below.

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hyperlinks are provided only for users’ convenience. Users are cautioned that hyperlinked documents in
CM/ECF are subject to PACER fees. By allowing hyperlinks to other websites, this Court does not endorse,
recommend, approve, or guarantee any third parties or the services or products they provide on their
websites. Likewise, the Court has no agreements with any of these third parties or their websites. The
Court accepts no responsibility for the availability or functionality of any hyperlink. Thus, the fact that a
hyperlink ceases to work or directs the user to some other site does not affect the opinion of the Court.

Instructions for Proceeding Pro Se
The Court will provide Defendant with some information about proceeding pro se.
The Court will inform Defendant of some, but not all, procedural rules with which he must
comply with in this legal proceeding. The Court reminds Defendant of these obligations
because pro se litigants are subject to the same law and rules as litigants who are
represented by counsel, including the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (‟Rule(s)”), and
the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (“Local
Rule(s)”).2 Moon v. Newsome, 863 F.2d 835, 837 (11th Cir. 1989).
All pleadings and other papers tendered to the Court must be typewritten, doublespaced, in at least twelve-point type, on unglazed white 8 ½ x 11 paper, and with 1 ¼
inch margins. See M.D. Fla. Local Rule 1.05(a). Pursuant to Rules 8(a)(2) and 10(b),
the Amended Complaint shall set forth separate causes of action in numbered counts
against specific defendants and contain “a short and plain statement” of Defendant's
claims demonstrating that Defendant is entitled to relief. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2),
10(b). In particular, Defendant should describe in sufficient detail the factual basis for
each of his claims and how each defendant is responsible.
Defendant shall not correspond with the Court or any Judge in letter form. In
keeping with their sworn duty to maintain complete impartiality in the exercise of their
judicial duties, Judges will only deliver decisions and opinions in response to documents

2 All filings with the Court must be made in accordance with the Rules and Local Rules. The Local
Rules are available for review on the Court’s website at www.flmd.uscourts.gov and a copy may be obtained
by visiting the Clerk’s Office. The Rules are available for review in law libraries of the state and federal
courthouses.

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filed with the Clerk’s Office in accordance with the governing rules of procedure. Any
correspondence sent to judicial officers will not be responded to, will be stricken from the
case file, and will be returned to the sending party.
All documents filed with the Court must be in the form of a pleading or motion. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(a)-(b). Each pleading, motion, notice, or other paper shall be presented
in a separate document. In addition, all documents filed with the Court must include a
caption (the same as set forth in the operative complaint); a brief title that describes the
nature of the document; the filing party’s name and signature; and a Certificate of Service.
These last two items are explained below.
All pleadings, motions, or other papers filed with the Court by Defendant must bear
an original signature of Defendant, or they will be rejected by the Court. Among other
things, the signature serves as the party’s certification that the document is not submitted
for any improper purpose; that the claims or defenses presented in it are warranted by
existing law; and that there exists reasonable factual support for the allegations or
assertions made. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b). Defendant is advised to review and become
familiar with Rule 11, as the failure to comply with its provisions can result in the imposition
of sanctions, including monetary fines. See generally Fed. R. Civ. P. 11.
All pleadings, motions, or other papers filed with the Court must include a signed
Certificate of Service. The Certificate of Service is confirmation that the filing party has
complied with the requirement of Rule 5 by serving on every other party to the action (or
its attorney) a copy of the particular pleading, motion, or other paper filed with the Court.
At a minimum, a Certificate of Service must state the date upon which a copy of the
particular document was served on the other parties to the action (or their attorneys) and

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the means by which such service was made (e.g., U.S. Mail or hand delivery). Fed. R.
Civ. P. 5.
All requests for relief from, or action by, the Court must be in the form of a motion.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b). If Defendant seeks any relief from, or action by, the Court, or
seeks the entry of an order of any kind, he must file a proper motion requesting that relief.
The motion must meet the requirements of all applicable rules, including the Rules and
the Local Rules. All motions must be accompanied by a legal memorandum with citation
of authorities in support of the relief requested. See M.D. Fla. Local Rule 3.01(a). Motions
and memoranda cannot exceed 25 pages without permission from the Court. See id.
Further, Defendant is advised that prior to filing most motions, Local Rule 3.01(g)
requires that the filing party confer with opposing counsel in a good faith attempt to resolve
the issue. Defendant must include a certification in the motion that he has complied with
this requirement and shall also notify the Court whether the parties agree on the relief
requested. Local Rule 3.01 sets forth several other important requirements and rules
governing motions filed with the Court. Failure to comply with these requirements or any
other rule may result in the denial of the motion.
Defendant must abide by and comply with all orders of this Court. Failure to do so
may result in sanctions, including the striking of pleadings.
Local Rule 3.01(b) requires briefs and legal memoranda in opposition to motions
to be filed within 14-days after being served with such motion. Defendant must timely
respond to the motions filed by other parties in this case, otherwise, the Court may
assume he does not oppose that motion and the relief requested therein. If Defendant

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has missed a filing deadline, Defendant must file a motion seeking leave of Court to file
the document out of time.
Defendant is advised that he must comply with many requirements and failure to
do so can have significant consequences. For example, failure to respond to discovery
requests as described in the rules may result in sanctions. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37.
While the Court has set forth some of the more prominent procedural obligations
and requirements of litigants in this Court, this Order does not purport to set forth all
requirements and should not be relied upon as limiting Defendant’s duties and
obligations. Defendant is directed to the Court’s website at http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov.
There is a section titled Proceeding without a Lawyer with additional helpful information.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
1. Defendant Milton Townsend's Motion to Dismiss (Doc. #39) is DENIED without
prejudice.
2. On or before August 8, 2016, Defendant Milton Townsend must file an amended
motion to dismiss in accordance with this Order, file an answer, or otherwise
respond to this action on or before August 10, 2016. Failure to do so could result
in a default being entered.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida, this 20th day of July, 2016.

Copies: All Parties of Record

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