Johnson v. Minor et al

Filing 4

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [ECF No. 2 ] is GRANTED. FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall pay an initial filing fee of $17 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. FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall issue process or cause process to issue as to defendants Lee Ann Barry and Maxie Schrupf. FURTHER ORDERED that defendant Dean Minor is DISMISSED from this action without prejudice. A Partial Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order. Signed by District Judge Henry Edward Autrey on 06/12/2014. (CLK)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
NORTHERN DIVISION
LUTHER W. JOHNSON, JR.,
Plaintiff,
v.
DEAN MINOR, et al.,
Defendants.

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No. 2:14CV59 HEA

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon the motion of Luther Johnson (registration no.
23533), an inmate at Boonville Correctional Center, 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. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Additionally, the Court will dismiss the portions of the
complaint that fail to state a claim.
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 $84, and an average monthly balance
of $70. Plaintiff has insufficient funds to pay the entire filing fee. Accordingly, the Court will
assess an initial partial filing fee of $17, 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 brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The events in the complaint occurred
when plaintiff was incarcerated at Moberly Correctional Center (“MCC”). Named as defendants
are Dean Minor (Warden, MCC), Lee Ann Barry (Print Shop Supervisor, MCC), and Maxie
Schrupf (Print Shop Supervisor, MCC). Plaintiff sues defendants in their individual capacities.

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Plaintiff alleges that he was the lead porter at the Moberly print shop from December
2012 through June 2013. He claims that in June 2013 defendant Schrupf commanded him to
wash the upper windows in the print shop by stepping into a metal basket attached to a forklift so
that he could be elevated twenty feet into the air. Plaintiff had been washing the windows with
an extension pole, which he says is the normal way to do it. Plaintiff refused to get into the
basket, telling Schrupf he could not do it because of his fear of heights and advanced age.
Plaintiff is sixty-six years old. Plaintiff’s younger partner readily agreed to get into the basket
and then cleaned the upper windows.
Plaintiff complained to Schrupf’s supervisor, defendant Barry. Barry told him to “stop
whining.”
As he left Barry’s office, plaintiff was approached by Schrupf, who yelled at him about
not getting in the basket. Schrupf then “took a drag off his cigarette and thumped the lit cigarette
directly at plaintiff.”
Plaintiff asked Barry to file a complaint and fax it to the administration building because
he “feared reprisal” from Schrupf. Barry gave him a blank complaint and told him to fill it out.
He did, and he returned it to her.
Plaintiff alleges that Barry never filed his complaint but that she gave it to Schrupf
instead. Plaintiff says Schrupf then filed his own complaint and fired plaintiff from his print
room job. Plaintiff made $60 per month in the print room. His new job pays $8.50 per month.
Plaintiff says defendant Minor denied him due process because he did not interview
plaintiff’s witnesses. Plaintiff also asserts that Minor should have disciplined Schrupf and Barry.
Discussion
The complaint states a plausible claim for retaliation against defendants Schrupf and
Barry. As a result, the Court will order the Clerk to issue process on the complaint.

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“Liability under ' 1983 requires a causal link to, and direct responsibility for, the alleged
deprivation of rights.” Madewell v. Roberts, 909 F.2d 1203, 1208 (8th Cir. 1990); see Ashcroft
v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1948 (2009) (“Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to Bivens and
' 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the
official=s own individual actions, has violated the Constitution.”). In the instant action, plaintiff
has not set forth any facts indicating that defendant Minor was directly involved in or personally
responsible for the alleged violations of his constitutional rights. See George v. Smith, 507 F. 3d
605, 609 (7th Cir. 2007) (AOnly persons who cause or participate in the [constitutional]
violations are responsible. Ruling against a prisoner on an administrative complaint does not
cause or contribute to the violation.@). As a result, the complaint fails to state a claim against
Minor.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [ECF
No. 2] is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall pay an initial filing fee of $17
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 the Clerk shall issue process or cause process to
issue as to defendants Lee Ann Barry and Maxie Schrupf.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant Dean Minor is DISMISSED from this
action without prejudice.

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A Partial Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 12th day of June, 2014.

HENRY EDWARD AUTREY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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