Walcott v. Daigle et al

Filing 6

ORDER AND REASONS: IT IS ORDERED that 5 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), and 3 Motion to Stay is DISMISSED AS MOOT. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Wilkinson, Jr on 2/8/2018. (ajn)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
STEVEN A. WALCOTT JR.

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO. 18-237

LT. NICHOLAS DAIGLE, ET AL.

SECTION “G”(2)

ORDER AND REASONS
Plaintiff, Steven A. Walcott Jr., an inmate currently incarcerated in the Terrebonne
Parish Criminal Justice Complex, has submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis
in connection with the above-captioned 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint. Plaintiff seeks
monetary and injunctive relief against defendants for violations of his constitutional rights
in connection with a prison disciplinary proceeding. Record Doc. No. 1, Complaint. His
pauper application is a non-dispositive pretrial matter which was referred to a United States
Magistrate Judge pursuant to Local Rule 72.1(B)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), Pub. L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321,
signed into law on April 26, 1996, now codified at 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), provides that a
prisoner shall not be allowed to bring a civil action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 if he has,
on three or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an
action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on grounds that it was
frivolous, malicious, or failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted, unless the
prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.

Walcott has been a frequent filer of civil actions while incarcerated. At least three (3)
of his prior civil actions were dismissed as frivolous and/or for failure to state a claim:
Walcott v. Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Gov’t, Civ. Action No. 17-1125“S”(3) (E.D. La.
Dec. 12, 2017) (dismissed as frivolous and for failure to state a claim); Walcott v.
Terrebonne Parish Medical, Civ. Action No. 16-15587“R”(5) (E.D. La. Aug. 22, 2017)
(dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915); Walcott v. Terrebonne Parish Jail
Medical Dept., Civ. Action No. 16-15594 “B”(4) (E.D. La. Jul. 14, 2017) (dismissed as
frivolous). He has therefore accumulated three “strikes” under the PLRA.
Under these circumstances, plaintiff may not proceed as a pauper in this action unless
he fits within the “imminent danger” exception of Section 1915(g). Plaintiff has not alleged,
nor does his complaint demonstrate, anything establishing that he is in imminent danger of
serious physical injury. Consequently, he is not entitled to proceed in forma pauperis
pursuant to the provisions of the PLRA. For the foregoing reasons,
IT IS ORDERED that (1) plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Record
Doc. No. 5, is DENIED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), and (2) his motion to stay, Record
Doc. No. 3, is DISMISSED AS MOOT.
New Orleans, Louisiana, this

8th

day of February, 2018.

JOSEPH C. WILKINSON, JR.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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