Scott v. Nwaobasi et al

Filing 19

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff James M. Scotts motion for physical access to law library (Docket No. 18 ) is DENIED without prejudice. Signed by District Judge John A. Ross on 12/9/16. (JAB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
JAMES M. SCOTT,
Plaintiff,
v.
DR. UNKNOWN NWAOBASI, et al.,
Defendants.

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No. 4:16CV966 JAR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Presently before the Court is the motion of plaintiff James M. Scott to compel the
Missouri Department of Corrections to allow him “physical access” to the prison law library.
(Docket No. 18). The motion will be denied without prejudice.
In the motion, plaintiff states that he needs an order compelling physical access to the law
library because the “delay between filling out a law library request and actually receiving the
material will greatly hinder this pro se plaintiff’s ability to litigate, especially when there is a
deadline involved.” (Id.) The Court interprets the instant motion as alleging a denial of access
to the courts. To sustain such a claim, plaintiff must demonstrate an actual injury. Lewis v.
Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349-55 (1996). The instant motion makes no allegations of an actual
injury; instead, plaintiff merely speculates that the current procedure by which he accesses law
library materials “will greatly hinder” his “ability to litigate.” (Docket No. 18). Also, plaintiff
does not allege that he is completely denied access to law library materials; only that he must
complete a request and then wait to receive them. These allegations, standing alone, do not
support a claim of denial of meaningful access to the courts. Lewis, 518 U.S. at 349-55 (right of

access to courts requires showing that inmate had non-frivolous legal claim actually impeded or
frustrated). The motion will therefore be denied, without prejudice.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff James M. Scott’s motion for physical access
to law library (Docket No. 18) is DENIED without prejudice.
Dated this 9th day of December, 2016.

JOHN A. ROSS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE