Jackson v. Cox et al

Filing 13

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Philip M. Frazier. The following defendant is DISMISSED from this action with prejudice: Cox. The following defendants remain in the instant action: Peas and Myers.The Clerk of Court shall prepare for defendants Peas and Myers: (1) Form 5 (Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons), and (2) Form 6 (Waiver of Service of Summons). Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 9/5/2012. (tjk)

Download PDF
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS CARL JACKSON, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 11-cv-1045-JPG WARDEN COX, MRS. PEAS, and MRS. MYERS, Defendants. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Plaintiff, currently incarcerated at Dixon Correctional Center, has brought this pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 concerning an alleged violation of his constitutionally-protected rights while incarcerated at Vienna Correctional Center. Plaintiff claims that after eating lunch on August 13, 2010, he became severely ill. His symptoms included weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, and hot and cold flashes. Plaintiff claims that these symptoms were a result of “improper cleaning or cross contamination that occurs in the kitchen.” After falling ill, plaintiff requested that an officer transport him to healthcare. While at healthcare, he alleges that medical personnel were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs because they made him wait in pain almost an hour before they could see him. Further, plaintiff brings claims against the warden on the theory that he “was the boss officially at Vienna” Correctional Center. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court is required to conduct a prompt threshold review of the complaint. Accepting plaintiff’s allegations as true, the Court finds that plaintiff has articulated colorable federal causes of action as follows: Count 1: A claim against defendants Cox, Peas, and Myers for failing to provide him food prepared under conditions which do not present an immediate danger to his health and well-being in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Count 2: A claim against defendant Cox for deliberate indifference to medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Plaintiff brings his claims against defendant Cox solely as the “boss” of the other-named defendants. The doctrine of respondeat superior, however, is not applicable to § 1983 actions, and there is no allegation the defendant was personally responsible for the alleged wrong. See Sanville v. McCaughtry, 266 F.3d 724, 740 (7th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, defendant Cox is dismissed from Counts One and Two with prejudice. Disposition The following defendant is DISMISSED from this action with prejudice: Cox. The following defendants remain in the instant action: Peas and Myers. The Clerk of Court shall prepare for defendants Peas and Myers: (1) Form 5 (Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons), and (2) Form 6 (Waiver of Service of Summons). The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail these forms, a copy of the complaint, and this Memorandum and Order to each defendant’s place of employment as identified by plaintiff. If a defendant fails to sign and return the Waiver of Service of Summons (Form 6) to the Clerk within 30 days from the date the forms were sent, the Clerk shall take appropriate steps to effect formal service on that defendant, and the Court will require that defendant to pay the full costs of formal service, to the extent authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. With respect to a defendant who no longer can be found at the work address provided by plaintiff, the employer shall furnish the Clerk with the defendant’s current work address, or, if not known, the defendant’s last-known address. This information shall be used only for sending 2 the forms as directed above or for formally effecting service. Any documentation of the address shall be retained only by the Clerk. Address information shall not be maintained in the court file or disclosed by the Clerk. Plaintiff shall serve upon defendants (or upon defense counsel once an appearance is entered), a copy of every pleading or other document submitted for consideration by the Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be filed a certificate stating the date on which a true and correct copy of the document was served on defendants or counsel. If the plaintiff is incarcerated in a correctional facility that participates in the Electronic Filing Program, service may be made in accordance with General Order 2010-1 describing service under that program. Any paper received by a district judge or magistrate judge that has not been filed with the Clerk or that fails to include a certificate of service will be disregarded by the Court. Defendants are ORDERED to timely file an appropriate responsive pleading to the complaint and shall not waive filing a reply pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(g). Pursuant to Local Rule 72.1(a)(2), this action is REFERRED to United States Magistrate Judge Frazier for further pre-trial proceedings. Further, this entire matter is REFERRED to United States Magistrate Judge Frazier for disposition, as contemplated by Local Rule 72.2(b)(2) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), should all the parties consent to such a referral. If judgment is rendered against plaintiff, and the judgment includes the payment of costs under Section 1915, plaintiff will be required to pay the full amount of the costs, notwithstanding that his application to proceed in forma pauperis has been granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A). 3 Plaintiff is ADVISED that at the time application was made under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 for leave to commence this civil action without being required to prepay fees and costs or give security for the same, the applicant and his or her attorney were deemed to have entered into a stipulation that the recovery, if any, secured in the action shall be paid to the Clerk of the Court, who shall pay therefrom all unpaid costs taxed against plaintiff and remit the balance to plaintiff. Local Rule 3.1(c)(1) Finally, plaintiff is ADVISED that he is under a continuing obligation to keep the Clerk of Court and each opposing party informed of any change in his address; the Court will not independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall be done in writing and not later than 7 days after a transfer or other change in address occurs. Failure to comply with this order will cause a delay in the transmission of court documents and may result in dismissal of this action for want of prosecution. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b). IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: September 5, 2012 s/ J. Phil Gilbert J. PHIL GILBERT United States District Judge 4

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?