McClurkin v. Baldwin et al

Filing 12

ORDER REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Williams. Signed by Chief Judge Michael J. Reagan on 1/10/2018. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
BRYAN McCLURKIN, #B13440,
Plaintiff,
vs.
JOHN BALDWIN,
S. A. GODINEZ,
JACQUELINE LASHBROOK,
KIMBERLY BUTLER,
GAIL WALLS,
WEXFORD MEDICAL SERVICES, INC.,
JOHN/JANE DOE,
MIKE NELSON,
CHARLOTTE MIGET,
DR. FUENTES,
MARTHA M. OAKLEY,
DR. TINDALL,
DR. HA,
B. RUPPORT, and
M. MOLDENHAUER,
Defendants.

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Case No. 17-cv-01228-MJR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
REAGAN, Chief District Judge:
This matter is now before the Court for consideration of the First Amended Complaint
filed by Plaintiff Bryan McClurkin on November 30, 2017. (Doc. 11). Plaintiff is currently
incarcerated in Stateville Correctional Center (“Stateville”). He brings this action pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 1983 against current and former employees of Menard Correctional Center
(“Menard”) and the Illinois Department of Corrections (“IDOC”) who allegedly denied him
medical care for injuries he sustained when his chair collapsed during a “shakedown” at Menard
on or around April 8, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). Plaintiff seeks declaratory judgment and
monetary damages against the defendants. (Doc. 11, pp. 20-21).
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The First Amended Complaint is now subject to review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A,
which provides:
(a) Screening – The court shall review, before docketing, if feasible or, in
any event, as soon as practicable after docketing, a complaint in a civil action in
which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee
of a governmental entity.
(b) Grounds for Dismissal – On review, the court shall identify
cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the
complaint–
(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim on which relief
may be granted; or
(2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from
such relief.
Id. An action or claim is frivolous if “it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke
v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). Frivolousness is an objective standard that refers to a
claim that any reasonable person would find meritless. Lee v. Clinton, 209 F.3d 1025, 1026-27
(7th Cir. 2000). An action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does not
plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). The claim of entitlement to relief must cross “the line
between possibility and plausibility.” Id. at 557. At this juncture, the factual allegations in the
pro se complaint are to be liberally construed. See Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Serv., 577
F.3d 816, 821 (7th Cir. 2009). Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint survives screening under
this standard.
First Amended Complaint
Plaintiff alleges that he was badly injured during a shakedown that was conducted by
Menard’s Orange Crush Tactical Team on or around April 8, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). At the
time, he was cuffed behind his back and seated in a chair in the prison’s auditorium. (Doc. 11, p.
11). The chair suddenly collapsed, and Plaintiff fell to the floor. Id. As he fell, Plaintiff’s lower

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neck and shoulder hit a metal brace that supported several adjoined chairs. Id. He landed on his
cuffed wrists. Id. Plaintiff immediately felt intense pain in his wrists and neck. Id.
Officer Winters helped Plaintiff up and asked him if he needed medical treatment. (Doc.
11, p. 11). Plaintiff stated that he did. Id. The officer escorted Plaintiff to see Mike Nelson, a
medical technician who was stationed in the area.

Id.

Despite the emergency nature of

Plaintiff’s injuries, Nelson took his blood pressure but explained that there was nothing else he
could do during the ongoing tactical operation. (Doc. 11, p. 12). He told Plaintiff that someone
would “follow up” with him later, but no one ever did. Id.
Plaintiff filed an inmate grievance two days later. (Doc. 11, p. 12). He sent it directly to
the Office of Inmate Issues on April 10, 2014. Id. Hearing nothing, he filed an emergency
grievance with Warden Kimberly Butler on or around April 17, 2014. Id. He complained of
intense pain and numbness.

Id.

Warden Butler agreed that the grievance presented an

emergency. Id. Even so, a grievance officer later determined that the grievance was “moot,” and
Butler concurred with the decision. Id. Plaintiff blames this decision on an unnamed nurse who
incorrectly stated that Plaintiff refused medical attention and “chose to go to yard” on a day that
yard was cancelled. (Doc. 11, p. 13).
Plaintiff saw Doctor Fuentes on April 22, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 13, 25). He was given
naproxen for pain at the appointment, but it was ineffective. Id. On May 11, 2014, Nurse
Martha Oakley noted Plaintiff’s complaints of persistent neck pain and numbness in his fingers
and hand, but she allegedly “sat idly by as ibuprofen was prescribed again [and] again with full
knowledge it didn’t work.” (Doc. 11, pp. 4, 13).
Plaintiff continued to request medical treatment for his injuries, but his appointments
were “constantly being cancelled.” (Doc. 11, p. 13). When he was seen, Plaintiff regularly

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complained that his pain was “constant” and “spreading,” and his treatment with naproxen and
ibuprofen was ineffective. Id. His medical records reflected the onset of additional symptoms,
including a “gait disturbance, limitation of movement[,] and distress and/or pain with
movement.” (Doc. 11, pp. 13-14). However, no changes were made to his treatment plan. Id.
On June 20, 2014, Nurse Practitioner M. Moldenhauer examined Plaintiff after he
complained of “spreading pain.” (Doc. 11, p. 14). Although Moldenhauer charged Plaintiff a
$5.00 copayment for services, “no action” was taken to treat him. Id. An x-ray was taken of
Plaintiff’s back and spine on June 24, 2014, and Nurse Rupport noted that the x-ray was “done.”
(Doc. 11, p. 30). It showed “‘multi-level’ degeneration” that was “most prominent in [his] mid[] to lower[-] thoracic region,” according to Doctor Ha’s interpretation of the test results.
(Doc. 11, p. 14). Despite these results, Doctor Ha and Nurse Rupport made no recommendations
for treatment, and Moldenhauer reduced Plaintiff’s prescription for pain relievers from 400
milligrams of ibuprofen to 325 milligrams of Tylenol on July 3, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 6, 14, 30).
Plaintiff filed another grievance on September 22, 2014.

(Doc. 11, p. 14).

He

complained of “constant neck [and] back pain, a numb finger on his right hand[,] and an entire
left arm that [wa]s numb.” Id. Plaintiff explained that his past treatment with pain relievers was
ineffective, and he requested an MRI to determine the cause of his increasing pain and
numbness. Id. Nursing Supervisor Charlotte Miget noted Plaintiff’s complaints and his request
for an MRI on October 10, 2014, but she took no action on the request. (Doc. 11, p. 15). The
grievance officer declared the issue “moot,” and Warden Butler concurred.

Id.

Plaintiff

appealed, and the Administrative Review Board (“ARB”) and IDOC Director Salvadore Godinez
denied the appeal. Id. In a “desperate attempt to allev[iate] the pain,” Plaintiff purchased
additional ibuprofen from the prison commissary, but the results were the same. (Doc. 11, pp.

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15-16). In the meantime, Doctor Trost continued to prescribe Plaintiff naproxen. (Doc. 11, pp.
16, 40).
As of March 5, 2015, Plaintiff’s medical records indicate that his pain was “chronic,”
“constant,” and “stabbing.” (Doc. 1, p. 16). The records also indicate that the “ibuprofen [was]
not effective.” Id. On that date, Plaintiff rated his pain level as an “8” out of “10,” with “10”
being the worst pain. Id. Even so, he was given ibuprofen. (Doc. 1, pp. 16, 41-42).
Plaintiff received a second x-ray of his spine on March 15, 2015. (Doc. 11, pp. 16, 43).
It revealed “degenerative changes with mild to moderate multilevel hypertrophic spurring” but
“no fracture or acute bony abnormality.” Id. The x-rays resulted in no modification to Plaintiff’s
treatment plan. Id. On June 16, 2015, he was given more naproxen. (Doc. 11, pp. 16, 44).
On July 19, 2015, Plaintiff complained of swelling in his left knee and pain when active
and at rest. (Doc. 11, pp. 16, 45). He was again given ibuprofen. Id. The same month, Plaintiff
lost the ability to walk and had to be carried up a flight of stairs to be seen by medical staff.
(Doc. 11, p. 17). Plaintiff complained of pain in his left hip, leg, and foot. Id. He rated the pain
as a “10” out of “10” and stated that it caused him to lose sleep. Id. Staff noted other signs of
pain, such as facial grimacing and distress. Id.
Plaintiff could no longer stand to urinate. (Doc. 11, p. 17). He was “mocked, teased[,]
and humiliated” by officers and inmates when he urinated into the toilet while crouched on his
knees. Id. During this same time period, Plaintiff also slept on the floor. Id.
On August 2, 2016, he was taken in a wheelchair to the emergency room. (Doc. 11, pp.
17-18). At that point in time, Plaintiff had been unable to walk for two weeks. (Doc. 11, p. 18).
He could not touch his toes or raise his leg. Id. His left leg was noticeably “smaller in size.”
(Doc. 11, pp. 18, 49). For the first time, Plaintiff was given “some relief” when Doctor Tindall

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issued Plaintiff a permit for a medical lay-in and prescribed him Tramadol and Robaxin for pain.
(Doc. 11, pp. 4, 18). However, the two prescriptions expired a week later, and his symptoms
immediately returned. Id. When they did, he was given no additional Tramadol or Robaxin. Id.
A third set of x-rays taken on August 3, 2016, revealed “disc space narrowings” when
compared to the x-rays taken on June 24, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 18, 50). Doctor Ha noted that the
“finding appear[ed] slightly progressed over the interval” but recommended no change in
Plaintiff’s treatment. (Doc. 11, pp. 5, 18).
On October 17, 2016, Plaintiff filed a request for an MRI and a medical transfer. (Doc.
11, pp. 19, 51). He finally received an MRI almost seven months later on May 12, 2017. (Doc.
11, p. 19). He was subsequently advised that the only treatment option was surgery, but it was
not recommended because of a risk that it would actually increase Plaintiff’s pain. Id. Plaintiff
complains of an inability to stand for long periods of time and of “constant discomfort.” Id.
Despite his unresolved medical issues, Acting IDOC Director Baldwin determined that his
grievance dated October 2016 was moot on May 17, 2017. (Doc. 11, pp. 7, 18, 51). Gall Walls,
the health care unit administrator, also reviewed Plaintiff’s grievances for more than three years
and took no action to ensure that he received treatment, despite his well-documented complaints
that naproxen and ibuprofen were ineffective. (Doc. 11, p. 9).
Plaintiff maintains that the defendants denied him adequate medical care at Menard for
the injuries he sustained on April 8, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). They frequently cancelled his
medical appointments, including appointments scheduled for April 2, 2014, May 15, 2014, May
20, 2014, and May 23, 2014, January 27, 2015, October 15, 2016, October 18, 2016, October 25,
2016, November 3, 2016, November 6, 2016, November 8, 2016, and November 10, 2016.
(Doc. 11, pp. 13, 19, 27). Plaintiff was consistently given naproxen and ibuprofen, despite being

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ineffective. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). Although he received numerous x-rays and an MRI, he claims
that the information gleaned from these tests was never used to treat him.

Id.

Plaintiff

eventually transferred from Menard to Stateville, but says that his transfer was based on his good
conduct and not on his request for a medical transfer. (Doc. 11, p. 20).
Discussion
To facilitate the orderly management of future proceedings in this case, and in
accordance with the objectives of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8(e) and 10(b), the Court
deems it appropriate to organize the claims in the First Amended Complaint into the following
enumerated counts:
Count 1 -

Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claim against
Defendants for denying Plaintiff adequate medical treatment at
Menard for the injuries he sustained when he fell from his chair
during the Orange Crush Tactical Team’s shakedown at the prison
on April 8, 2014.

Count 2 -

First and/or Fourteenth Amendment claim against Defendants for
mishandling Plaintiff’s grievances.

The parties and the Court will use these designations in all future pleadings and orders, unless
otherwise directed by a judicial officer of this Court. The designation of these claims does not
constitute an opinion regarding their merits.

Any other claims in the First Amended

Complaint that are not identified above are inadequately pled under Twombly and are
considered dismissed without prejudice from this action.
As a preliminary matter, the Court has considered whether the claims against the
defendants are properly joined in a single action. See FED. R. CIV. P. 18-20. The allegations
focus on an Eighth Amendment claim against all of the defendants for their failure to treat the
injuries Plaintiff suffered when he fell from a chair at Menard on April 8, 2014, as well as a
claim under the First and/or Fourteenth Amendment for mishandling his grievances regarding the
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same. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). Because the claims against each defendant involve questions of law
and/or fact that are common to the defendants and the right to relief arises out of the same
transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences, the Court finds that the
defendants and claims are properly joined in this action. FED. R. CIV. P. 18, 20. However, this
issue is subject to reconsideration as the case proceeds. Plaintiff is warned that the Court may
exercise its discretion and dismiss or sever improperly joined parties or claims at any time the
Court deems it appropriate to do so. FED. R. CIV. P. 21.
Count 1
To state a claim for the denial of medical care under the Eighth Amendment, a plaintiff
must satisfy two requirements. Plaintiff must show that: (1) he suffered from a sufficiently
serious medical condition (i.e., an objective standard); and (2) the defendants responded with
deliberate indifference to his medical condition (i.e., a subjective standard). Hotchkiss v. David,
-- F. App’x --, 2017 WL 4964714 (7th Cir. Nov. 1, 2017) (citing Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S.
825, 837 (1994); Perez v. Fenoglio, 792 F.3d 768, 774 (7th Cir. 2015)). The allegations in the
First Amended Complaint satisfy both of these requirements.
Chronic pain is often deemed to be sufficiently serious to support an Eighth Amendment
claim. See Wheeler v. Wexford Health Sources, Inc., 689 F.3d 680, 681-82 (7th Cir. 2012)
(prisoner stated Eighth Amendment claim when he alleged that the defendants ignored “severe
ongoing pain from a medical condition”). In the First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff describes
more than three years of pain in his wrists, neck, back, and legs, following his fall from a chair in
the prison’s auditorium on April 8, 2014. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). The pain spread and became
worse over time. Id. Plaintiff eventually suffered from gait disturbances and pain with activity
and at rest.

Id.

For screening purposes, the objective component of Plaintiff’s Eighth

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Amendment claim is satisfied.
To satisfy the subjective component of this claim, the allegations must suggest that each
defendant responded to Plaintiff’s serious medical condition with deliberate indifference. When
analyzing claims of deliberate indifference against medical providers, a plaintiff is not required
to show that he was totally ignored; a medical provider who “chooses easier and less efficacious
treatment without exercising professional judgment” may be found deliberately indifferent to a
prisoner’s medical needs. McGowan v. Hulick, 612 F.3d 636, 641 (7th Cir. 2010) (quoting
Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 n. 10 (1976) (internal quotation marks omitted). In other
words, prison officials cannot avoid liability by “shuttling sick or injured inmates to perfunctory
medical appointments wherein no meaningful treatment is dispensed,” even when they do
provide some “‘immediate and ongoing attention.’” Perez, 792 F.3d at 777 (citation omitted).
The allegations suggest that the following medical providers may have been deliberately
indifferent under this standard: Gail Walls, Mike Nelson, Charlotte Miget, Martha Oakley,
Doctor Tindall, Doctor Fuentes, Doctor Ha, Nurse Rupport, and M. Moldenhauer. 1
When analyzing claims of deliberate indifference against non-medical, supervisory
officials, such as IDOC Director Baldwin, former IDOC Director Godinez, Warden Lashbrook,
and former Warden Butler, Plaintiff cannot rely on a theory of respondeat superior liability.
Perez, 792 F.3d at 781. It is well established that “a government official is only liable for his or
her own misconduct.” Id. (quotation and citation omitted). In order to recover monetary relief
against a prison official who is acting in a supervisory role, a § 1983 plaintiff must allege that the

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The First Amended Complaint supports no claim against Moldenhauer for charging Plaintiff a
copayment for medical services. Such a claim is a matter of state law and is not cognizable in a § 1983
action. Poole v. Isaacs, 703 F.3d 1024, 1027 (7th Cir. 2012) (“the imposition of a modest fee for medical
services, standing alone, does not violate the Constitution”). Therefore, should Plaintiff wish to pursue
this claim, he must do so in state court.

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official, “through his or her own conduct, . . . violated the Constitution.” Id. (citing Ashcroft v.
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 666 (2009)). Deliberate indifference is shown when a prison official
realizes that a prisoner faces a substantial risk of serious harm but disregards the risk. Perez, 792
F.3d at 781 (citing Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837). An official may also be found deliberately
indifferent where the official “knows about unconstitutional conduct and facilitates, approves,
condones, or ‘turn[s] a blind eye’ to it.” Vance v. Peters, 97 F.3d 987, 992-93 (7th Cir. 1996)
(quoting Gentry v. Duckworth, 65 F.3d 555, 561 (7th Cir. 1995)). The Court will allow Count 1
to proceed against the following high-ranking grievance officers under this standard: John
Baldwin, S.A. Godinez, and Kimberly Butler. Each of these defendants reviewed and considered
grievances and appeals from Plaintiff, in which he allegedly made it clear that treatment with
naproxen and ibuprofen was ineffective but did not intervene to ensure that appropriate treatment
was provided.
Count 1 shall be dismissed against all other defendants without prejudice at this time,
including Jacqueline Lashbrook, Wexford Medical Services, Inc. and John/Jane Doe. To begin
with, Warden Lashbrook is named as a defendant simply because she is the “Warden at
Menard.” (Doc. 11, p. 8). Plaintiff cannot proceed against the warden based only on her
supervisory role at the prison. Respondeat superior liability is not recognized in § 1983 actions.
Perez, 792 F.3d at 781. No other allegations in the statement of claim or exhibits clarify this
warden’s role in the matter. Therefore, Count 1 shall be dismissed without prejudice against
Warden Lashbrook at this time.
Count 1 cannot proceed against Wexford either. Plaintiff names this defendant because
Wexford is the “sole provider of medical services for inmates in Illinois, including Menard.”
(Doc. 11, p. 9). But in this circuit, “a private corporation cannot be held liable under § 1983

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unless it maintained an unconstitutional policy or custom” that resulted in the deprivation of
Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Perez, 792 F.3d at 780 (citing Woodward v. Corr. Med. Servs. of
Ill., Inc., 368 F.3d 917, 927 (7th Cir. 2004)). Plaintiff points to no policy or custom espoused by
Wexford that resulted in the denial of medical care in this case. Count 1 shall be dismissed
against Wexford without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
Count 1 shall also be dismissed against the unknown defendants who are identified in the
case caption as “John/Jane Does.” (Doc. 11, p. 1). Plaintiff does not mention “John/Jane Does”
in the statement of his claim. (Doc. 11, pp. 11-20). It is not the Court’s place to decide who, if
anyone, alluded to in the statement of claim should be considered a “John/Jane Doe” defendant
in this action. Plaintiff refers to numerous known and unknown individuals who are not named
as defendants in the case caption (e.g., grievance officers (Doc. 11, pp. 12, 15), Officer Winters
(Doc. 11, p. 11), Doctor Trost (Doc. 11, pp. 16, 40), unnamed nurse (Doc. 11, p. 13), unnamed
doctor (Id.), and officers (Doc. 11, p. 17)). Absent a clear indication that he intended to bring
this lawsuit against these individuals, the Court will not allow Count 1 to proceed against them.
Count 1 shall be dismissed without prejudice against “John/Jane Does” at this time. Likewise,
any claims against non-parties shall be considered dismissed without prejudice. See Myles v.
United States, 416 F.3d 551, 551–52 (7th Cir. 2005) (defendants must be “specif[ied] in the
caption”).
Count 2
Plaintiff refers to claims under the First and/or Fourteenth Amendment without
explaining why. (Doc. 11, p. 20). The Court construes this reference as a claim for mishandling
Plaintiff’s grievances, by routinely declaring them moot or denying them.

However, the

mishandling of grievances gives rise to no claim under the First and/or Fourteenth Amendment.

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Although prison officials may not retaliate against an inmate for exercising his First Amendment
rights by filing grievances, Plaintiff does not claim that anyone retaliated against him for doing
so. See Zimmerman v. Tribble, 226 F.3d 568, 573 (7th Cir. 2000); DeWalt v. Carter, 224 F.3d
607, 618 (7th Cir. 2000) (“a prison official may not retaliate against a prisoner because that
prisoner filed a grievance”).

Further, prison grievance procedures are not constitutionally

mandated and thus do not implicate the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause per se. As
such, the alleged mishandling of grievances “by persons who otherwise did not cause or
participate in the underlying conduct states no claim.” Owens v. Hinsley, 635 F.3d 950, 953 (7th
Cir. 2011). See also Grieveson v. Anderson, 538 F.3d 763, 772 n.3 (7th Cir. 2008); George v.
Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 609 (7th Cir. 2007); Antonelli v. Sheahan, 81 F.3d 1422, 1430 (7th Cir.
1996). Count 2 shall therefore be dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted.
Disposition
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that COUNT 1 is DISMISSED without prejudice for
failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted against Defendants JACQUELINE
LASHBROOK, WEXFORD MEDICAL SERVICES, INC., and JOHN/JANE DOES.
IT IS ORDERED that COUNT 2 is DISMISSED with prejudice for failure to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted against any of the defendants.
IT IS ORDERED that COUNT 1 in Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint (Doc. 11)
survives screening and is subject to further review against Defendants JOHN BALDWIN, S.A.
GODINEZ, KIMBERLY BUTLER, GAIL WALLS, MIKE NELSON, CHARLOTTE
MIGET, MARTHA M. OAKLEY, DR. TINDALL, DR. FUENTES, DR. HA, B.
RUPPORT, and M. MOLDENHAUER.

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With regard to COUNT 1, the Clerk of Court shall prepare for Defendants JOHN
BALDWIN, S.A. GODINEZ, KIMBERLY BUTLER, GAIL WALLS, MIKE NELSON,
CHARLOTTE MIGET, MARTHA M. OAKLEY, DR. FUENTES, DR. TINDALL, DR.
HA, B. RUPPORT, and M. MOLDENHAUER: (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 First Amended Complaint (Doc. 11), and this
Memorandum and Order to each Defendant’s place of employment as identified by Plaintiff. If
any 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 the Defendant to pay the full costs
of formal service, to the extent authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
With respect to any 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 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.
Defendants are ORDERED to timely file an appropriate responsive pleading to the First
Amended 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 Stephen C. Williams for further pre-trial proceedings.
Further, this entire matter shall be REFERRED to United States Magistrate Judge
Stephen C. Williams for disposition, pursuant to Local Rule 72.2(b)(2) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(c),

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if all parties consent to such a referral.
If judgment is rendered against Plaintiff, and the judgment includes the payment of costs
under § 1915, Plaintiff will be required to pay the full amount of the costs, even though his
application to proceed in forma pauperis was granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A).
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: January 10, 2018
s/ MICHAEL J. REAGAN
Chief Judge
United States District Court

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