Allen v. Unidentified Person et al

Filing 6

ORDER DISMISSING CASE, denying 3 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Roderick T Allen, 2 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Roderick T Allen, 4 MOTION for Recruitment of Counsel filed by Roderick T Allen. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the filing restriction imposed in Allen v. Engelage, No. 15-cv-00175-MJR (S.D. Ill.) (Doc. 15), and extended by Order (Doc. 21) dated September 11, 2017, covers the Complaint (Doc. 1) in this case. The Complaint and this action are hereby DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to the filing restriction. Signed by Chief Judge Michael J. Reagan on 9/14/2017. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
RODERICK T. ALLEN,
#N94327,

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Plaintiff,
vs.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON,
DR. BUTALID,
SHARON McGLORN,
DR. SIDDIQUI, and
WARDEN J. LASHBROOKE,
Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-00968-MJR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
REAGAN, Chief District Judge:
Plaintiff Roderick Allen, an inmate who is incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center
(“Menard”), is currently subject to a filing restriction imposed pursuant to Support Sys. Int’l, Inc.
v. Mack, 45 F.3d 185 (7th Cir. 1995). See Allen v. Engelage, No. 15-cv-00175-MJR (S.D. Ill.)
(Doc. 15). On September 7, 2017, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking leave to bring a new case in
this District, in order to address his claim of excessive weight loss. Id. (Doc. 20). The Court
granted his motion out of an abundance of caution and allowed him to file the instant civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, in order to address a Motion for Temporary Restraining
Order (“TRO”) and Preliminary Injunction (“Motion for TRO”) (Doc. 2). Because Plaintiff
seeks a TRO, the Court will immediately review this matter. See Wheeler v. Wexford Health
Sources, Inc., 689 F.3d 680 (7th Cir. 2012).

1

Motion for TRO
In the Motion for TRO (Doc. 2) and Complaint (Doc. 1), Plaintiff alleges that he has
suffered from significant weight loss since he received a tuberculosis (TB) skin test on February
26, 2010. (Doc. 1, p. 5; Doc. 2, pp. 1, 5, 10). Plaintiff believes that he was exposed to some
unidentified noxious substance or “destructive . . . chemical [re]action” during the test that
caused him to become ill. Id. His body weight “immediately began to drop, and his physical
appearance began to deteriorate.” Id. Plaintiff estimates that his weight was around 165 pounds
in 2010 and has since decreased to approximately 120 pounds. Id. He assures the Court that he
has not been on a hunger strike in recent years 1 and eats all food that is served to him. (Doc. 1,
pp. 6, 29; Doc. 2, p. 2). Menard officials refuse to acknowledge any problem with Plaintiff’s
weight or health, so he now asks the Court to intervene. (Doc. 1, pp. 6, 9; Doc. 2, pp. 2, 6).
Plaintiff specifically seeks a medical evaluation and treatment that includes a urine test.
(Doc. 1, pp. 7, 13-14; Doc. 2, pp. 3, 6). Plaintiff also requests thermal underwear, toothpaste,
and toothbrushes, for no stated reason. (Doc. 1, pp. 13-14; Doc. 2, p. 3). Most importantly, he
seeks the following diet tailored to his perceived need for increased nourishment:
(a) In addition to one full-portion regular food tray at each meal provide on a
separate Styrofoam tray: four servings of the protein component of the meal at
lunch and dinner; one serving of vegetable or lettuce, one serving of can/fresh
fruit, and, four pieces of bread. When baked/fried chicken is served provide three
servings. However, no pork is to be provided, and no deep-fried meats [chicken
nuggets, chicken patty, or fish patty]. Instead provide four servings of some other
protein [tuna fish, hot dogs, turkey (patty or ground), etc];
(b) Beverage served at each meal: Two milks at breakfast (one milk is eight
ounces), three milks at lunch, and two juices at dinner (one juice of four ounces).

1

He admits going on a hunger strike for two or three weeks in 2014. (Doc. 1, pp. 6, 29; Doc. 2, p. 2).

2

(Doc. 1, pp. 13-14; Doc. 2, p. 2). Finally, because he is concerned that his physical appearance
makes him more susceptible to an assault, 2 he would like to work on strength training and, to this
end, requests a pair of running shoes and isolated outdoor exercise for “intense outdoor running,”
which allegedly had a “very positive effect on [his] physical appearance” following the 2010 TB
skin test. (Doc. 1, pp. 11, 13-14; Doc. 2, pp. 3, 7). In the Complaint, Plaintiff seeks the same
relief, as well as money damages. (Doc. 1, pp. 13-14).
A TRO is an order issued without notice to the party to be enjoined, and it may last no
more than fourteen days. See FED. R. CIV. P. 65(b)(2). A TRO may issue only if “specific facts
in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly show that immediate or irreparable injury, loss, or
damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be heard in opposition.”
FED. R. CIV. P. 65(b)(1)(A). Such injunctive relief is also warranted “to prevent a substantial
risk of serious injury from ripening into actual harm.” Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 845
(1994).
A preliminary injunction is issued only after the adverse party is given notice and an
opportunity to oppose the motion. See FED. R. CIV. P. 65(a)(1). To obtain preliminary injunctive
relief, Plaintiff must demonstrate that (1) he will suffer irreparable harm without the relief; (2)
his underlying case has some likelihood of success on the merits; and (3) no adequate remedy at
law exists. Merritte v. Kessel, 561 F. App’x 546, 548 (7th Cir. 2014) (citing Woods v. Buss, 496
F.3d 620, 622 (7th Cir. 2007)). If those three factors are shown, the court then must balance the

2

In a Declaration offered in support of his Motion for TRO, Plaintiff refers to three incidents in support
of his claim that his physical deterioration makes him more susceptible to assault: (1) he describes being
“held by the neck” while he was escorted without cuffs to another cell on April 17, 2017; (2) he was
forced to lie on the cell floor with his hands behind his back uncuffed while an officer used his foot to
“appl[y] pressure to [Plaintiff’s] right-side rib cage” on July 26, 2017; and (3) he was “removed from the
same cell shared with Prisoner Spivey” after “numerous incidents of threats and intimidation” between
the inmates. (Doc. 1, pp. 8, 11-12, 37-42; Doc. 2, pp. 7-8). Plaintiff does not explain how his size or
appearance played any role in these incidents or assert any claims based on these incidents.

3

harm to each party and to the public interest from granting or denying the injunction. Id.
(citations omitted). Plaintiff’s request for injunctive relief is not supported by the allegations in
his Motion for TRO, Complaint, or exhibits.
First, no specific facts suggest that Plaintiff will suffer immediate or irreparable injury,
loss, or damage without immediate relief. He describes weight loss that has occurred over the
course of seven years and was most dramatic in 2010. (Docs. 1-2). He describes no sudden
change in his weight since 2014 and instead alleges that it has gradually decreased by an
estimated thirteen- to twenty- pounds in three years. (Doc. 1, p. 30; Doc. 2, p. 1).
Certainly, Plaintiff’s low weight is concerning. At the same time, Plaintiff admits that he
has always been thin. (Doc. 1, p. 6; Doc. 2, p. 5). He does not indicate how tall he is. (Docs. 12). He also does not describe a sudden decline in his weight in recent months. Id.
Furthermore, his weight loss is unverified. Plaintiff admits that he does not actually
know how much he weighs. This is because he will not allow prison officials to weigh him, take
his vital signs, or treat him. (Doc. 1, pp. 8, 20-22). Plaintiff believes that they will only falsify
his medical records. (Doc. 1, pp. 7, 30; Doc. 2, p. 7). Exhibits accompanying the Complaint
document numerous instances since 2014 when Plaintiff has refused offers by medical staff to
weigh him, take his vital signs, or treat him. (Doc. 1, pp. 20-22, 25-26).

In a Declaration,

Plaintiff confirms this. (Doc. 1, p. 30). Further, he offers no other information, such as detailed
descriptions of his deteriorating appearance, loose clothing, etc., to support his claim of
excessive weight loss since 2014.
Plaintiff identifies no specific medical problems or symptoms that have coincided with
his weight loss. (Docs. 1-2). He refers to “serious short and long term health problems” in the
Motion for TRO. (Doc. 2, p. 3). However, he describes none in his pleadings. (Docs. 1-2). His

4

request for a urine test might suggest that he has some quantifiable health problem, but he
includes the results of two urine tests from 2014 and 2016 that were both normal. (Doc. 1, pp.
24, 33). Similarly, he suggests that intense, isolated outdoor running will help with strength
training, but he makes no claim that he has been denied exercise opportunities. (Docs. 1-2). The
pleadings simply contain no indication--other than his own unverified, bare assertion of weight
loss--that Plaintiff faces any immediate or irreparable harm.
This finding extends to his fear of assault. Plaintiff alludes to two instances in which
prison guards made physical contact with him while he was not cuffed and applied “pressure” to
restrain him or move him. (Doc. 1, pp. 8, 11-12, 37-42; Doc. 2, pp. 7-8). He also refers to
threats exchanged with another inmate that led to their separation. However, he refers to these
instances in support of his request for strength training and does not bring separate claims based
on these encounters, beyond speculating that prison officials may be attempting to instigate an
assault on him. Id.
Second, Plaintiff is unlikely to succeed on the merits of his claim, which is rooted in the
Eighth Amendment proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. U.S. CONST., amend.
VIII; see also Berry v. Peterman, 604 F.3d 435 (7th Cir. 2010). Prison conditions that deprive
inmates of basic human needs, such as inadequate nutrition, health, or safety, may constitute
cruel and unusual punishment. Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 346 (1981); see also James v.
Milwaukee Cnty., 956 F.2d 696, 699 (7th Cir. 1992). Prison officials also violate the Eighth
Amendment’s proscription against cruel and unusual punishment when their conduct
demonstrates “deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of prisoners.” Estelle v. Gamble,
429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). To succeed on this claim, Plaintiff must establish that he suffered from
an objectively serious medical condition and that prison officials responded with deliberate

5

indifference. Plaintiff’s allegations satisfy neither requirement, particularly the first. Other than
his unverified claim of weight loss, Plaintiff offers virtually no allegations which suggest that he
has an objectively serious medical condition. He also offers no details in the Motion for TRO
and insufficient allegations in the Complaint regarding each defendant’s response to his
perceived medical condition, falling short of satisfying the subjective component of this claim as
well.
Finally, remedies appear to be available in the prison. According to the pleadings,
Plaintiff has been offered medical care and refused the offers. His mistrust of the medical staff,
without more, provides no support for a finding that immediate injunctive relief is warranted.
Moreover, his dietary requests would be unduly burdensome on the prison under the
circumstances presented. Plaintiff does not simply ask for double or triple portions. He includes
a lengthy list of dietary demands. These demands seem to have less to do with increasing his
general level of nourishment for health reasons than they do with increasing his access to
desirable foods. He offers no reason for requesting certain foods, at defined times, in the
portions sizes he demands. The balance of equities tips in favor of the defendants. Accordingly,
Plaintiff’s Motion for TRO shall be DENIED.
Pauper Status
Plaintiff also does not qualify to proceed any further in this action without his
prepayment of the full filing fee. (Doc. 3). According to his trust fund statement, Plaintiff lacks
sufficient funds to prepay this $400.00 fee. Although payment of the fee may be made in
installments if Plaintiff’s request for IFP status is granted, § 1915(g) limits the ability of Plaintiff
to proceed IFP, as follows:
In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil
action or proceeding under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior
occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or
6

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.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (emphasis added).
Plaintiff is barred from proceeding IFP under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), unless he faces
imminent danger of serious physical injury. Between 2011 and 2015, he filed nineteen lawsuits,
and most were dismissed as being frivolous or meritless. In the process, Plaintiff accumulated
more than three “strikes.” 3 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). He continued filing so many frivolous,
meritless, and even redundant claims after doing so that he racked up more than $6,000.00 in
unpaid filing fees 4 and earned a filing restriction, which prohibited him, with certain narrow
exceptions, from filing any new civil action in this Court until such time as he has paid the
$6,625.00 in outstanding filing fees in full. (Doc. 15).

3

Allen v. Chapman, et al., Case No. 11-cv-1130-MJR (S.D. Ill., dismissed Aug. 29, 2012);
Allen v. Godinez, et al., Case No. 12-cv-936-GPM (S.D. Ill., dismissed Oct. 18, 2012);
Allen v. Harrington, Case No. 13-cv-725-GPM (S.D. Ill., dismissed Aug. 22, 2013); and Allen v. Bower,
et al., Case No. 13-cv-931-MJR (S.D. Ill., dismissed March 17, 2014); Allen v. Chapman, Case No. 14cv-348-JPG (S.D. Ill., dismissed Jun. 24, 2014).
4
The unpaid fees that Plaintiff owes in each of the cases that he has filed in this District are as follows:
Allen v. Chapman, Case No. 11-cv-1130-MJR (S.D. Ill., dismissed Aug. 29, 2012) ($350.00);
Allen v. Godinez, Case No. 12-cv-936-GPM (S.D. Ill., dismissed Oct. 18, 2012) ($350.00);
Allen v. Harrington, Case No. 13-cv-725-GPM (S.D. Ill., dismissed Aug. 23, 2013) ($350.00);
Allen v. Bower, Case No. 13-cv-931-MJR (S.D. Ill., dismissed Mar. 17, 2014) ($400.00);
Allen v. Cartwright, Case No. 14-cv-98-MJR-SJW (S.D. Ill. 2014) ($350.00); Allen v. Chapman,
Case No. 14-cv-348-JPG (S.D. Ill., dismissed Jun. 24, 2014) ($400.00); Allen v. Mennenrich, Case No.
14-cv-380-JPG (S.D. Ill., dismissed July 7, 2014) ($400.00); Allen v. Hanks, Case No. 14-cv-883-JPG
(S.D. Ill., dismissed Nov. 3, 2014) ($400.00); Allen v. Engelage, Case No. 15-cv-175-MJR (S.D. Ill.,
IFP denied and subject to dismissal) ($400.00); Allen v. Dunbar, Case No. 15-cv-587-MJR (S.D. Ill.,
dismissed pursuant to this order) ($400.00). The unpaid fees that Plaintiff owes in each of his related
appeals are as follows: Allen v. Chapman, App. No. 12-3162 (7th Cir., dismissed Jan. 17, 2013)
($455.00); Allen v. Godinez, App. No. 12-3543 (7th Cir. Jan. 16, 2013) ($455.00); Allen v. Bower, App.
No. 14-2249 (7th Cir., dismissed Jan. 23, 2015) ($505.00); Allen v. Cartwright, App. No. 15-1236 (7th
Cir., dismissed July 15, 2015) ($505.00); Allen v. Cartwright, App. No. 15-1259 (7th Cir., dismissed July
15, 2015) ($505.00). Excluded from this total are the filing fees that Plaintiff currently owes in the
following four pending cases: Allen v. Hanks, Case No. 14-cv-591-JPG-PMF (S.D. Ill., filed May 22,
2014); Allen v. Asselmeier, Case No. 15-cv-334-NJR-DGW (S.D. Ill., filed Mar. 27, 2015); Allen v.
Hanks, App. No. 15-1491 (7th Cir., filed May 1, 2015); Allen v. Hanks, Case No. 15-cv-863-SMY (S.D.
Ill., filed Aug. 5, 2015).

7

Given his litigation history, Plaintiff is only eligible to proceed IFP in this case, if he
faces imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). The United States Court
of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has explained that “imminent danger” within the meaning of
§ 1915(g) requires a “real and proximate” threat of serious physical injury to a prisoner.
Ciarpaglini v. Saini, 352 F.3d 328, 330 (7th Cir. 2003) (citing Lewis v. Sullivan, 279 F.3d 526,
529 (7th Cir. 2002)). Courts generally “deny leave to proceed [as a pauper] when a prisoner’s
claims of imminent danger are conclusory or ridiculous.” Id. at 331 (citing Heimermann v.
Litscher, 337 F.3d 781, 782 (7th Cir. 2003)). Additionally, “[a]llegations of past harm do not
suffice” to show imminent danger; rather, “the harm must be imminent or occurring at the time
the complaint is filed,” and when prisoners “allege only a past injury that has not recurred, courts
deny them leave to proceed [as a pauper].” Id. at 330 (citing Abdul-Wadood v. Nathan, 91 F.3d
1023 (7th Cir. 1996)).
The allegations support no finding that Plaintiff faces imminent danger of serious
physical injury at this time, for the same reasons that he did not qualify for a TRO. Plaintiff’s
claim of weight loss is based on his own estimates and unsupported by any suggestion that he
faces a related health problem. Plaintiff will not allow prison medical staff to weigh or treat him,
and he includes exhibits which reveal that he has repeatedly refused such offers since January
2016, shortly after the filing restriction took effect in August 2015. Plaintiff has ignored the
urine test results from 2014 and 2016, both of which were normal. He otherwise offers no
reason why IFP status should be granted and he should be allowed to proceed any further without
the prepayment of the full filing fee for this action.

The Court discerns no basis in the

Complaint, let alone the other pleadings, for a finding of imminent danger. The IFP Motion shall
therefore be DENIED.

8

Finally, although the Court has considered Plaintiff’s Motion for TRO, it declines to
entertain this matter any further. Plaintiff is the subject of a filing restriction that he earned in a
case involving virtually identical claims in Allen v. Engelage, No. 15-cv-00175-MJR (S.D. Ill.)
(Doc. 15). The claims in this case are similar to claims that twice resulted in the revocation of
Plaintiff’s IFP status by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. See Allen v. Chapman, App. No.
12-3162 (7th Cir. 2012) (Doc. 17); Allen v. Grooves, App. No. 12-2543 (7th Cir. 2012) (Doc. 5)
(revoking IFP status in two cases involving claims against prison officials for allegedly
attempting to kill Plaintiff by administering a contaminated TB skin test after finding that “no
reasonable person would suppose that Allen’s appeal has merit”). The filing restriction was
extended by Order of this Court until August 18, 2018, and shall now include the Complaint in
this case as well. Allen v. Engelage, No. 15-cv-00175-MJR (S.D. Ill.) (Doc. 21).
Disposition
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order
and Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 2) and Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 3)
is DENIED. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the full filing fee of $400.00 for this action.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the filing restriction imposed in Allen v. Engelage,
No. 15-cv-00175-MJR (S.D. Ill.) (Doc. 15), and extended by Order (Doc. 21) dated September
11, 2017, covers the Complaint (Doc. 1) in this case. The Complaint and this action are hereby
DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to the filing restriction.
IT IS ORDERED that the pending Motion for Recruitment of Counsel (Doc. 4) is
DENIED as MOOT, given the Court’s decision that the filing restriction applies to the
Complaint.

9

If Plaintiff wishes to appeal this dismissal, his notice of appeal must be filed with this
Court within thirty days of the entry of judgment. FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(1)(A). If Plaintiff does
choose to appeal, he will be liable for the $505.00 appellate filing fee irrespective of the outcome
of the appeal. See FED. R. APP. P. 3(e); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Ammons v. Gerlinger, 547 F.3d
724, 725-26 (7th Cir. 2008); Sloan v. Lesza, 181 F.3d 857, 858-59 (7th Cir. 1999); Lucien v.
Jockisch, 133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998). Moreover, because Plaintiff has “struck out” and
has not shown that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury, this Court will not grant
him permission to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. Finally, if the appeal is found to be
nonmeritorious, Plaintiff may also incur another “strike.” A proper and timely motion filed
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) may toll the 30-day appeal deadline. FED. R.
APP. P. 4(a)(4). A Rule 59(e) motion must be filed no more than twenty-eight (28) days after the
entry of the judgment, and this 28-day deadline cannot be extended.
Finally, Plaintiff is FURTHER ADVISED that he is under a continuing obligation to
keep the Clerk and each opposing party informed of any change in his address, and that the Court
will not independently investigate his whereabouts. This shall be done in writing and not later
than seven (7) days after a change in address occurs. Failure to comply with this Order will
cause a delay in the transmission of court documents.
The Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment and close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: September 14, 2017
s/ MICHAEL J. REAGAN
Chief Judge
United States District Court

10