Moss v. DAVIS et al

Filing 4

ORDER denying Plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissing action without prejudice. Ordered by Judge Hugh Lawson on 5/10/2012. (nbp)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
:
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
VS.
:
:
VSP Sergeant KEONA DAVIS and
:
Officer DWAYNE CORPREW,
:
:
Defendants.
:
____________________________________:
HENRY MARVIN MOSS,

NO. 7:12-CV-63 (HL)

ORDER

Plaintiff HENRY MARVIN MOSS, currently an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and
Classification Prison, has filed a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 relating to
his prior confinement at Valdosta State Prison (“VSP”) (Doc. 1). Parties instituting non-habeas civil
actions are required to pay a filing fee of $350.00. 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). Because Plaintiff has failed
to pay the required filing fee, the Court assumes that he wishes to proceed in forma pauperis in this
action.
Plaintiff names as his Defendants, VSP Sergeant Keona Davis and Officer Dwayne Corprew.
According to Plaintiff, each of the Defendants issued a false disciplinary report against him.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), the “three strikes rule” of the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a
prisoner may not bring an in forma pauperis civil action or appeal:
if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or
detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United
States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner

is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.
The prisoner must allege a present danger, as opposed to a past danger, to proceed under the
imminent danger exception to section1915(g). Medberry v. Butler, 185 F.3d 1189, 1193 (11th Cir.
1999).
The Eleventh Circuit has upheld the constitutionality of section 1915(g) in concluding the
provision does not violate an inmate’s right of access to the courts, the doctrine of separation of
powers, an inmate’s right to due process of law, or an inmate’s right to equal protection. Rivera,
144 F.3d at 721-27.
Plaintiff has filed numerous lawsuits in the United States District Courts, at least six of
which, or resulting appeals, were dismissed under circumstances that constitute “strikes” for
purposes of section 1915(g).1 As Plaintiff has more than three strikes, he cannot proceed in forma
pauperis in the instant case unless he can show that he qualifies for the “imminent danger of serious
physical injury” exception to section 1915(g). Plaintiff’s allegations patently do not satisfy this
standard. Moreover, Plaintiff has been transferred to another prison and is not longer in “imminent
danger” at VSP.
Because Plaintiff has three prior strikes and is not under imminent danger of serious injury,
his request to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED and the instant action is DISMISSED without
prejudice. If Plaintiff wishes to bring a new civil rights action, he may do so by submitting new

1

Moss v. Miller, 1:98-cv-66 (WLS) (M.D. Ga.) (appeal); Moss v. Superior Ct. of Dougherty
Co., 1:95-cv-222 (WLS) (M.D. Ga. Dec. 8, 1995) (complaint); Moss v. Kelley, 1:95-cv-197 (WLS) (M.D.
Ga. Oct 31, 1995) (complaint); Moss v. State of Georgia, 1:94-cv-3360-FMH (N.D. Ga. Feb. 16, 1995)
(complaint); Moss v. Priddy, 1:94-cv-9 (WLS) (M.D. Ga. Jan. 28, 1994) (complaint); and Moss v.
William s, 1:94-cv-8 (WLS) (M.D. Ga. Jan. 31, 1994) (complaint).

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complaint forms and the entire $350.00 filing fee at the time of filing the complaint. As the
Eleventh Circuit stated in Dupree v. Palmer, 284 F.3d 1234, 1236 (11th Cir. 2002), a prisoner
cannot simply pay the filing fee after being denied in forma pauperis status; he must pay the filing
fee at the time he initiates the suit.
SO ORDERED, this 10th day of May, 2012.

s/ Hugh Lawson
HUGH LAWSON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
cr

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