Smith v. Harrington et al

Filing 4

ORDER denying 1 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Jimmie Smith. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 35 days of the date of this order Plaintiff shall file a complaint, thereby properly initiating an action. If Plaintiff still seeks in junctive relief, he must file a new motion. Failure to file a proper complaint by the prescribed deadline will result in the dismissal of this action for lack of subject matterjurisdiction; such a dismissal shall count as one of his allotted "strikes" under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). (Action due by 9/30/2013., Amended Pleadings due by 10/16/2013). Signed by Judge Michael J. Reagan on 9/11/2013. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JIMMIE SMITH, # N-30985,
Plaintiff,
vs.
RICK HARRINGTON,
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS,
BETSY SPILLER, COWAN,
INTERNAL AFFAIRS,
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BOARD,
and S.A. GODINEZ,
Defendants.

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Case No. 13-cv-900-MJR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
REAGAN, District Judge:
Plaintiff, currently incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center (“Menard”), has
filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 1), seeking a transfer to another institution.
Plaintiff is serving a life sentence for murder. He claims that Defendants have denied his request
to be placed in protective custody, thus placing him in danger of attack by fellow inmates. He is
presently in segregation after being issued a disciplinary report for “refusing housing” (Doc. 1, p.
2; Doc. 1-1, p. 8).
Because Plaintiff is a prisoner, the Court must conduct a preliminary review of the
complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. However, Plaintiff has not filed a complaint – the
only document he has filed is the three-page Motion for Preliminary Injunction at Doc. 1,
accompanied by eight pages of exhibits (Doc. 1-1). The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
provide that “[a] civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.” FED. R. CIV. P.
3. In other words, “the first step in the action is the filing of the complaint.” Id., Advisory
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Committee Notes, 1937 Adoption.

Although Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction

generally describes a potential claim, it cannot suffice as a complaint.

Indeed, Plaintiff

specifically states that he “is not seeking to file a 1983 complaint unless the above parties violate
said order of protection [which he requests this Court to enter]” (Doc. 1, p. 3). Although pro se
litigants are not held to the same standards applied to licensed attorneys, Kyle v. Patterson, 196
F.3d 695, 697 (7th Cir. 1999), they are not entitled to general dispensation from the rules of
procedure. Jones v. Phipps, 39 F.3d 158, 163 (7th Cir. 1994).
Without a complaint, the Court cannot ascertain the basis for jurisdiction. See
Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 681-82 (1946); Greater Chicago Combine & Ctr., Inc. v. City of
Chicago, 431 F.3d 1065, 1069-70 (7th Cir. 2005). Nor can the Court determine what causes of
action Plaintiff intends to assert against which Defendant. More to the point, the Court cannot
consider an application for injunctive relief in the absence of a complaint.
The Court will allow Plaintiff an opportunity to cure the defects in his pleading by
filing a complaint within 35 days of the entry of this order. The complaint must contain “a short
and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV. P.
8(a)(2). Plaintiff is encouraged to use the Court’s form complaint as he prepares his pleading.
Without expressing any opinion on the ultimate merits of Plaintiff’s claim for
relief, the Court concludes that a preliminary injunction should not be issued in this matter at this
time.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motion for Preliminary Injunction
(Doc. 1) is DENIED without prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 35 days of the date of this order (on or
before October 16, 2013), Plaintiff shall file a complaint, thereby properly initiating an action. If

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Plaintiff still seeks injunctive relief, he must file a new motion. Failure to file a proper complaint
by the prescribed deadline will result in the dismissal of this action for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction; such a dismissal shall count as one of his allotted “strikes” under the provisions of
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Furthermore, as directed by the Clerk of Court (Doc. 2), by September 30, 2013,
Plaintiff must either pre-pay the $400.00 filing fee for this action or submit a motion for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), which has been mailed to him. 1 A prisoner incurs the
obligation to pay the filing fee for a lawsuit when the suit is filed, and the obligation continues
regardless of later developments in the suit, such as dismissal of the suit or denial of leave to
proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1); Lucien v. Jockisch, 133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998).
The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail to Plaintiff a Civil Rights Complaint form and
instructions for a person in custody.
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 seven
(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 11, 2013
_s/ MICHAEL J. REAGAN
United States District Judge
If Plaintiff applies for and is granted IFP status, the filing fee shall be $350.00. See Judical Conference
Schedule of Fees - District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, 28 U.S.C. § 1914, No. 14.
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