McVay v. Caruthersville Sheriff's Department

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis under 42:1983 (prisoner) filed by Plaintiff Lamar A. McVay motion is GRANTED..IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall pay an initial filing fee of $17.25 within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order( Initial Partial Filing Fee due by 2/23/2015.)IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).. Signed by District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr on 1/23/15. (MRS)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
LAMAR A. MCVAY,
Plaintiff,
v.
CARUTHERSVILLE SHERIFF’S DEPT.,
Defendant.

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No. 1:14CV190 ACL

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon the motion of plaintiff Lamar A. McVay, an inmate
at Pemiscot County Jail, for leave to commence this action without payment of the required
filing fee. For the reasons stated below, the Court finds that plaintiff does not have sufficient
funds to pay the entire filing fee and will assess an initial partial filing fee of $17.25. See 28
U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Furthermore, based upon a review of the complaint, the Court finds that the
complaint should be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis is
required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. If the prisoner has insufficient funds in his or
her prison account to pay the entire fee, the Court must assess and, when funds exist, collect an
initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of (1) the average monthly deposits in the
prisoner's account, or (2) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for the prior sixmonth period. After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner is required to make
monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's
account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The agency having custody of the prisoner will forward these

monthly payments to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds
$10, until the filing fee is fully paid. Id.
Plaintiff has submitted an affidavit and a certified copy of his prison account statement
for the six-month period immediately preceding the submission of his complaint. A review of
plaintiff's account indicates an average monthly deposit of $86.25, and an average monthly
balance of $2.13. Plaintiff has insufficient funds to pay the entire filing fee. Accordingly, the
Court will assess an initial partial filing fee of $17.25, which is 20 percent of plaintiff's average
monthly deposit.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must dismiss a complaint filed in forma
pauperis if the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. An action is
frivolous if it Alacks an arguable basis in either law or fact.@ Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,
328 (1989); Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31 (1992). An action is malicious if it is
undertaken for the purpose of harassing the named defendants and not for the purpose of
vindicating a cognizable right. Spencer v. Rhodes, 656 F. Supp. 458, 461-63 (E.D.N.C. 1987),
aff=d 826 F.2d 1059 (4th Cir. 1987). A complaint fails to state a claim if it does not plead
Aenough 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 Complaint
Plaintiff, an inmate at Pemiscot County Jail, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1983 alleging violations of his civil rights. Named as the sole defendant in this action is the
“Caruthersville Sheriff’s Department.”

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In his “Statement of Claim,” plaintiff alleges broadly that defendant has a “lack of proper
medical treatment,” and he complains that inmates are charged for medical care and for
medications at the Pemiscot County Jail. He also claims in a conclusory manner that inmates are
“not being fed 2000 calories each meal.”
Plaintiff states that he has not been provided “adequate access” to the law library, and he
states he believes this is so because he is being represented by a public defender. He also states
it is “cruel and unusual punishment” that he is charged for medical treatment and toilet
paper/razors.
Plaintiff seeks monetary damages from the Jail and Sheriff’s Department for the alleged
unlawful treatment he has suffered.
Discussion
Plaintiff=s claim against the Caruthersville Sheriff’s Department, and even the Pemiscot
County Jail, are legally frivolous because these entities are not suable entities under § 1983.
Ketchum v. City of West Memphis, Ark., 974 F.2d 81, 82 (8th Cir. 1992) (departments or
subdivisions of local government are “not juridical entities suable as such.”).
Moreover, plaintiff has not stated a violation of his First Amendment right of access to
the courts, as he has not stated that he has suffered an actual injury to pending or contemplated
legal claims. See Myers v. Hundley, 101 F.3d 542, 544 (8th Cir. 1996).
Additionally, plaintiff’s assertions that inmates are charged for such things as medical
care and hygiene items is not, by itself, an unconstitutional practice. It is true that the Eighth
Amendment requires that “humane conditions of confinement” be provided by prison officials,
see Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U .S. 825, 832 (1994), and such requirements “include[s] provision
for basic hygiene.” Whittington v. Ortiz, 307 Fed. Appx. 179, 186 (10th Cir. Jan. 13, 2009)
(unpublished op.) (citing Penrod v. Zavaras, 94 F.3d 1399, 1406 (10th Cir.1996)). However,

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plaintiff cannot state a claim for relief for “having to pay for hygiene items or medical care”
because he has not asserted that he cannot pay for his own care. Plaintiff has not even alleged
that by using his account funds to pay for such care, his access to courts or some other
constitutional requirements have been interfered with.
Last, plaintiff’s conclusory allegations about the “lack of proper medical treatment” at the
Jail and the “lack of a 2000 calorie diet” are simply too broadly worded to state a claim for relief.
See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1950-51 (2009).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc.
#2] is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall pay an initial filing fee of $17.25
within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order. Plaintiff is instructed to make his remittance
payable to “Clerk, United States District Court,” and to include upon it: (1) his name; (2) his
prison registration number; (3) the case number; and (4) that the remittance is for an original
proceeding.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B).
An Order of Dismissal will accompany this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 23rd day of January, 2015.

STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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