Niepert et al v. Brown

Filing 3

ORDER : should they wish to proceed any further with this action, Plaintiffs are ORDERED to file a First Amended Complaint in this case that includes a request for relief on or before May 5, 2017. See attached order for details. (Action due by 5/5/2017, Amended Pleadings due by 5/5/2017). Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 4/12/2017. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
LISA NIEPERT
and MICHELLE WILLIAMS,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
JEFF BROWN,
Defendant.

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Case No. 17-cv-00345-JPG

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
GILBERT, District Judge:
Proceeding pro se, Plaintiffs Lisa Niepert and/or Michelle Williams filed this civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Sheriff of Bond County, Illinois, in order to
challenge the conditions of their confinement at Bond County Jail in Greenville, Illinois.
The Complaint (Doc. 1) presents several immediate concerns. Plaintiffs must address these
problems before the Court can screen this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
This is not the first case that Plaintiffs Niepert and Williams have filed in this District to
complain about the conditions of confinement at Bond County Jail. They were two of eight
detainees at the Jail who filed a similar case earlier this year. Smith v. Brown, No. 17-cv-00006JPG (S.D. Ill. Jan. 6, 2017). Although Plaintiffs Niepert and Williams asked to proceed together
in group litigation, this Court found that their claims were improperly joined and severed each
Plaintiff’s claims into two new cases on March 20, 2017. Niepert v. Brown, No. 17-cv-00288JPG (S.D. Ill. Mar. 20, 2017); Williams v. Brown, No. 17-cv-00289-JPG (S.D. Ill. Mar. 20,
2017). The Court ordered each Plaintiff to file a “First Amended Complaint” in her newly
severed case on or before April 14, 2017. To date, neither Plaintiff has done so.

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Instead, the Court received the instant Complaint. (Doc. 1). Both Plaintiffs are listed as
parties in the case caption. No case number is mentioned, and the document is not identified as a
“First Amended Complaint.” Therefore, a new case was opened. But before this Court can
screen the Complaint, Plaintiffs must respond to the following Orders, all aimed at clarifying
whether they intended to open a new case or not.
First, Plaintiffs are ORDERED to confirm their intention to file a new case on or before
May 5, 2017. Each plaintiff must do so in writing. Timely written confirmation to this effect
will result in the imposition of a filing fee for this action, the screening of this case under
28 U.S.C. § 1915A, and the potential assessment of a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Second, Plaintiffs are alternatively ORDERED to confirm their intention to file the
Complaint (Doc. 1) as the “First Amended Complaint” in each Plaintiff’s respective severed case
on or before May 5, 2017. Timely written notification to this effect will relieve that individual
of any obligation to pay a filing fee for this action, which will be administratively closed.
Third, should they wish to proceed any further with this action, Plaintiffs are ORDERED
to file a “First Amended Complaint” in this case that includes a request for relief on or before
May 5, 2017. See FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(3). In a civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983, the request for relief typically includes a request for monetary damages and/or injunctive
relief. The Complaint includes neither. (Doc. 1, p. 6).
Fourth, Plaintiffs are ORDERED to each sign all group documents that are filed with the
Court, including the “First Amended Complaint.” See Lewis v. Lenc-Smith Mfg. Co., 784 F.2d
829, 831 (7th Cir. 1986); FED. R. CIV. P. 11. Plaintiff Niepert was the only plaintiff to sign the
Complaint. (Doc. 1, p. 6). Williams is listed as a co-plaintiff but did not sign it. As long as

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Plaintiffs appear without counsel in this action, each must sign documents for herself. See id.1 A
non-attorney cannot file or sign papers for another litigant. Plaintiffs are WARNED that future
group motions or pleadings that do not comply with this requirement shall be stricken pursuant
to Rule 11(a), including the Complaint and/or First Amended Complaint.
Finally, Plaintiffs are each ORDERED to prepay the full filing fee of $400.00 for this
action or to file a properly completed Motion and Affidavit to Proceed in District Court Without
Prepaying Fees or Costs (“IFP Motion”) on or before May 5, 2017. If a Plaintiff files an IFP
Motion, the Court must review that individual’s trust fund account statement for the 6-month
period immediately preceding the filing of this action. Thus, she must have the Trust Fund
Officer at her facility complete the attached certification and provide a copy of his trust fund
account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the period 10/1/2016 to 4/5/17. (See Doc. 2).
This information should be mailed to the Clerk of Court at the following address: United States
District Court – Southern District of Illinois, 750 Missouri Avenue, East St. Louis, Illinois
62201. Id. The Clerk has already provided Plaintiffs with a copy of the form IFP Motion, along
with Doc. 2, and will not need to send another form at this time.
Failure to comply with this Order will result in the striking of the Complaint and/or the
dismissal of this action for failure to comply with a court order and/or for failure to prosecute her
claims. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b). To enable Plaintiffs to comply with this Order, the CLERK
is DIRECTED to return a copy of the Complaint (Doc. 1) to both Plaintiffs along with this
Order and a blank civil rights complaint form.
Plaintiffs are further ADVISED that each is under a continuing obligation to keep the
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Rule 11 states, in pertinent part: “Every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed . . . by
a party personally if the party is unrepresented.” FED. R. CIV. P. 11(a). Moreover, a prisoner bringing a
pro se action cannot represent a class of plaintiffs. See Oxendine v. Williams, 509 F.2d 1405, 1407
(4th Cir. 1975) (holding it would be plain error to permit imprisoned pro se litigant to represent his fellow
inmates in a class action).

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Clerk of Court and each opposing party informed of any change in her address; the Court will
not independently investigate a plaintiff’s 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: April 12, 2017
s/ J. Phil Gilbert

District Judge
United States District Court

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