WILSON v. KERMON et al

Filing 4

ENTRY Directing Further Proceedings - The plaintiff shall have through July 22, 2015, in which to either pay the $400.00 filing fee for this action or demonstrate that he lacks the financial ability to do so. As presented the complaint fails t o state a plausible claim for relief against any defendant. Because the Court has been unable to identify a viable claim for relief against any particular defendant, the complaint is subject to dismissal. The dismissal of the complaint will not in this instance lead to the dismissal of the action at present. Instead, the plaintiff shall have through July 22, 2015, in which to file an amended complaint. The clerk is directed to include a copy of the prisoner civil rights complaint form alon g with the plaintiff's copy of this Entry. If an amended complaint is filed as directed above, it will be screened. If no amended complaint is filed, this action will be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Copy to plaintiff, along with prisoner civil rights packet, via US Mail. Signed by Judge William T. Lawrence on 6/22/2015.(RSF)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
TERRE HAUTE DIVISION

JAMES GENE WILSON,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
MICHAEL R. KERMON, JOHN LAYTON,
JEFF NEEL, DAVID SHIRCLIFF,
KATHERINE GREORY, MICHAEL
PENCE, BALLARD Mayor,
BRUCE LEMON, ROBERT CLOVER,
JERRY ELLIS,
Defendants.

Case No. 2:15-cv-00187-WTL-DKL

Entry Directing Further Proceedings
I.
The plaintiff shall have through July 22, 2015, in which to either pay the $400.00 filing
fee for this action or demonstrate that he lacks the financial ability to do so. If he seeks leave to
proceed in forma pauperis, his request must be accompanied by a copy of the transactions
associated with his institution trust account for the 6-month period preceding the filing of this
action on June 17, 2015.
II.
The complaint is subject to the screening requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). Pursuant
to this statute, “[a] complaint is subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim if the allegations,
taken as true, show that plaintiff is not entitled to relief.” Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199, 215 (2007).
In determining whether the complaint states a claim, the Court applies the same standard as when
addressing a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Lagerstrom v.

Kingston, 463 F.3d 621, 624 (7th Cir. 2006). To survive dismissal under federal pleading
standards,
[the] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face. A claim has facial plausibility when the
plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable
inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Thus, a “plaintiff must do better than putting a few
words on paper that, in the hands of an imaginative reader, might suggest that something has
happened to her that might be redressed by the law.” Swanson v. Citibank, N.A., 614 F.3d 400, 403
(7th Cir. 2010) (emphasis in original).
III.
As presented the complaint fails to state a plausible claim for relief against any defendant.
Much of the complaint is a listing of legal claims and conclusions devoid of the factual basis to
support such claims. The complaint is also subject to dismissal to the extent that it improperly joins
unique claims against different defendants. Because the Court has been unable to identify a viable
claim for relief against any particular defendant, the complaint is subject to dismissal.
IV.
The dismissal of the complaint will not in this instance lead to the dismissal of the action
at present. Instead, the plaintiff shall have through July 22, 2015, in which to file an amended
complaint.
In filing an amended complaint, the plaintiff shall conform to the following guidelines: (a)
the amended complaint shall comply with the requirement of Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure that pleadings contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
pleader is entitled to relief. . . . ,” which is sufficient to provide the defendant with “fair notice” of
the claim and its basis. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (per curiam) (citing Bell Atl.

Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) and quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)); (b) the amended
complaint must include a demand for the relief sought; (c) the amended complaint must identify
what legal injury they claim to have suffered and what persons are responsible for each such legal
injury; and (d) the amended complaint must include the case number referenced in the caption of
this Entry. The plaintiff is further notified that “[u]nrelated claims against different defendants
belong in different suits.” George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007).
In organizing his complaint, the plaintiff may benefit from utilizing the Court’s complaint
form. The clerk is directed to include a copy of the prisoner civil rights complaint form along
with the plaintiff’s copy of this Entry.
If an amended complaint is filed as directed above, it will be screened. If no amended
complaint is filed, this action will be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may
be granted.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Date: 6/22/15
Distribution:

Hon. William T. Lawrence, Judge
United States District Court
Southern District of Indiana

Financial Deputy Clerk
JAMES GENE WILSON
DOC # 139229
WABASH VALLEY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY - Inmate Mail/Parcels
6908 S. Old US Hwy 41
P.O. Box 1111
CARLISLE, IN 47838

Note to Clerk: Processing this document requires actions in addition to docketing and distribution.