Ide v. Corizon

Filing 5

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 $18 within thirty (30) days of the date of th is 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 plaintiff may file an amended complaint no later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this Memorandum and Order.( Initial Partial Filing Fee due by 10/24/2014., Response to Court due by 10/22/2014.). Signed by District Judge Henry Edward Autrey on 09/24/2014. cc:finance(CLK)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
STEVEN MICHAEL IDE, II,
Plaintiff,
v.
CORIZON,
Defendant.

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No. 4:14CV1316 HEA

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon the motion of Steven Ide, an inmate at the St. Louis
Medium Security Institution (“MSI”), 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 $18. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Additionally, the Court finds that the complaint does not state a claim
upon which relief can be granted, and the Court will give plaintiff an opportunity to file an
amended complaint.
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 $90, and an average monthly balance
of $28. Plaintiff has insufficient funds to pay the entire filing fee. Accordingly, the Court will
assess an initial partial filing fee of $18, 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 against Corizon, a prison healthcare
company. Plaintiff alleges that he has had problems with his left ear, including bleeding and
hearing loss. Plaintiff says he informed Corizon medical staff about the problem on March 30,
2014. He claims that he did not see a doctor until May 19, 2014, despite seeing nursing staff on

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April 20, 2014, and complaining about his ear problems. Plaintiff claims that the delay in
treatment caused permanent damage to his ear.
Discussion
To state a claim for medical mistreatment, plaintiff must plead facts sufficient to indicate
a deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976);
Camberos v. Branstad, 73 F.3d 174, 175 (8th Cir. 1995). Allegations of mere negligence in
giving or failing to supply medical treatment will not suffice. Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106. In order
to show deliberate indifference, plaintiff must allege that he suffered objectively serious medical
needs and that defendants actually knew of but deliberately disregarded those needs. Dulany v.
Carnahan, 132 F.3d 1234, 1239 (8th Cir. 1997). In order to state a claim against Corizon,
plaintiff must allege that there was a policy, custom or official action that caused an actionable
injury. Sanders v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 984 F.2d 972, 95-76 (8th Cir. 1993). Plaintiff has not
alleged that an official policy of Corizon caused his ear injury. As a result, the complaint does
not state a claim for relief under § 1983.
Because plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court will allow plaintiff to file an amended
complaint in order to cure the defects in the original complaint. Plaintiff shall have thirty days
from the date of this Order to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff is warned that the filing of an
amended complaint replaces the original complaint, and claims that are not realleged are deemed
abandoned. E.g., In re Wireless Telephone Federal Cost Recovery Fees Litigation, 396 F.3d
922, 928 (8th Cir. 2005). Plaintiff should name as defendants the individuals who are alleged to
be responsible for his injury, and he should describe how each defendant contributed to the
injury. If plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within thirty days, the Court will dismiss
this action without prejudice.
Accordingly,

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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 $18
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 plaintiff may file an amended complaint no later than
twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 24th day of September, 2014.

HENRY EDWARD AUTREY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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