Afiz v. Logan et al

Filing 8

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION that 1 Complaint, 6 Amended Complaint filed by Abdul Al-Hakeem Afiz be dismissed, without prejudice, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(g); 2 MOTION for summary judgment, MOTION for preliminary injunction filed by Abdul Al-Hakeem Afiz be denied as moot. Objections to R&R due by 4/30/2009. Signed by Magistrate Judge William A. Knox on 4/10/2009. (skb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI CENTRAL DIVISION

ABDUL AL-HAKEEM AFIZ, a/k/a MIRON TAYLOR, Register No. 350138, Plaintiff, v. MORRIS D. LOGAN, et al., Defendants.

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No. 09-4038-CV-C-NKL

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Plaintiff Abdul Hakeem Afiz, an inmate confined in a Missouri penal institution, brought this case under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and its corresponding jurisdictional statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1343.1 Named as defendants are Morris D. Logan, Tammy Reed and David Figueroa. Plaintiff claims defendants denied him baby oil and baby lotion and the right to correspond with a female guard. Plaintiff failed to include the $350.00 filing fee with his complaint, and on March 5, 2009, was ordered to either tender the $350.00 filing fee or submit an affidavit in support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis. The Clerk of Court forwarded to plaintiff in forma pauperis forms. In response, plaintiff filed a document entitled, "Negotiable Instrument." Plaintiff's filing asserts he is a private secured party and that the piece of paper is to be accepted by the court in lieu of the $350.00 filing fee or in forma pauperis forms. Plaintiff is advised his filing is not an acceptable alternative to payment of the filing fee or an affidavit in support of leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

This case was referred to the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge for processing in accord with the Magistrate Act, 28 U.S.C. § 636, and L.R. 72.1.

1

It appears that plaintiff, who is a frequent litigator and whose claims may be subject to dismissal, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), may be attempting to avoid the requirements of section 1915(g) with his filings. Therefore, upon consideration, plaintiff's filing entitled "Negotiable Instrument" will be treated as a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Under section 1915, the in forma pauperis statute, the court must dismiss the case if it finds the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Additionally, if a prisoner, while incarcerated, has had three cases dismissed on any of these grounds, the court must deny leave to proceed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). The only exception to the successive petition clause is when the prisoner faces "imminent danger of serious physical injury." Id. Upon review, plaintiff's claims should be dismissed, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Plaintiff is a frequent filer of prisoner complaints and has had three or more complaints and/or portions of his complaint dismissed as frivolous, malicious or for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted and, therefore, must either pay the filing fee in full or show that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury in order to proceed with his claims. See Afiz v. Carter, No. 04-0326 (W.D. Va. 2004); Afiz v. Federal Bureau of Prisons - Washington, D.C., No. 97-1681 (E.D. Mo. 1997); Afiz v. Federal Bureau of Prisons - USP - Leavenworth, No. 97-1661 (E.D. Mo. 1997); Afiz v. Toelke, No. 97-0053 (E.D. Mo. 1997); Afiz v. St. Louis Police Dep't, No. 93-2147 (E.D. Mo. 1993); Afiz v. Department of Corrections, No. 93-0561 (E.D. Mo. 1993). Plaintiff's instant claims fail to allege that he faces "imminent danger of serious physical injury"; thus, his claims should be dismissed, without prejudice, subject to refiling upon payment of the filing fee in full. In light of the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED that plaintiff's motions for injunctive relief and summary judgment be denied as moot. [2] It is further RECOMMENDED that plaintiff be denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis and his claims be dismissed, without prejudice, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

2

Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l), the parties may make specific written exceptions to this recommendation within twenty days. The District Judge will consider only exceptions to the specific proposed findings and recommendations of this report. Exceptions should not include matters outside of the report and recommendation. Other matters should be addressed in a separate pleading for consideration by the Magistrate Judge. The statute provides for exceptions to be filed within ten days of the service of the report and recommendation. The court has extended that time to twenty days, and thus, additional time to file exceptions will not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Failure to make specific written exceptions to this report and recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to appeal. See L.R. 74.1(a)(2). Dated this 10th day of April, 2009, at Jefferson City, Missouri.

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William A. Knox

WILLIAM A. KNOX United States Magistrate Judge

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