Coons

Filing 1

ORDER: Please access entire text by document number hyperlink. Signed on 06/26/2020 by Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke. (rsm)

Case 1:20-mc-00628

Document 1

Filed 06/26/20

Page 1 of 3

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON

1:20-mc-00628
In re DONALD COONS
ORDER

CLARKE, Magistrate Judge:
Donald Alan Coons was a pro se litigant in several cases filed in this Court. See Coons v.

Oregon Department of Environment, No. 1: 11-cv-03138-CL; Coons v. Medford Oregon
Municipal Court, No. 1: 19-cv-00293-GL; Coons v. Medford Oregon Building Safety Exterior
Inspection Directive, No. 1:19-cv-00614-AA; Coons v. Thee Artist Current at Kids Unltd, No.
I

!
I

1: 19-cv-01544-CL. All of the cases that Mr. Coons is party to have been dismissed and he is not
party to any cases in this Court.
Despite the fact the Mr. Coons does not have any pending cases in this Court, he has
engaged in a pattern of behavior disruptive to the Court's operations. Mr. Coons regularly visits
'

.

the United States Courthouse in Medford, Oregon. He often delivers documents to the Clerk at
the intake counter and in the drop box at the entrance of the courthouse unrelated to any cases
pending in this Court. As a result, on February 25, 2020, Judge Michael J. McShane issued an
order that all filings from Mr. Coons are subject to review by the Court and only to be filed
where such filings are deemed not frivolous or repetitive. Since Judge McShane entered the
order, Mr. Coons has continued to deliver documents that are unrelated to any cases pending
before this Court.
Most recently, Mr. Coons attempted to deliver an envelope addressed to him from the
State of Oregon and currency that he referred to as a "birth coin" to the Clerk's Office intake

Case 1:20-mc-00628

Document 1

Filed 06/26/20

Page 2 of 3

.r

counter. When the deputy clerk explained that Mr. Coons should only deliver documents related
to cases before this Court and that the Court cannot accept currency pursuant to Standing Order
2020-12, Mr. Coons became insistent arid a deputy United States Marshal had to supervise Mr.
Coons while he remained in the Clerk's Office. The previous week, Mr. Coons attempted to
deliver bank deposit slips in the Court's drop box at the entrance of the courthouse. The deputy
clerk explained to Mr. Coons that he should only deliver documents to the Clerk's Office that are
related to cases pending before the Court.
In addition to Mr. Coons' regular presence in the courthouse, he often calls the Clerk's
Office during non-business hours and leaves lengthy voice messages, often calling back to leave
additional voice messages when the voicemail system cuts off the call. This results in the Clerk's
Office voicemail box being filled to capacity and unable to receive messages from other
customers, including jurors, parties, and the general public. Mr. Coons' messages generally
consist of long statements about topics that do not relate to business before the Court and often
are not understandable to Court staff.
The behaviors noted above have resulted in a significant disruption of the operation of the
Court. Mr.-Coons is therefore advised of the following:
1. Mr. Coons should only enter and remain in the United States Courthouse in Medford,
Oregon to file documents or attend proceedings in which he is a party or witness in cases
before the Court, or for other legitimate court-related business.
2. Mr. Coons should only submit documents and make payments that are related to business
before the Court and conform to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of
Civil Procedure, and the Standing Orders of this Court.

.I

I

I

l

Case 1:20-mc-00628

Document 1

Filed 06/26/20

Page 3 of 3

3. Mr. Coons should call the Court and leave voice messages concerning only business
'
I.
I

before the Court.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in an Order to Show Cause why Mr. Coons
should not be declared a vexatious litigant. As a vexatious litigant, Mr. Coons may face the
following restrictions:
1. Denial of entry to the United States Courthouse in Medford, Oregon without prior
authorization by a United States Judge;
2. Return of any documents delivered to the Court without prior authorization by a United
StatesJudge; and
3. Rejection of all telephone calls from Mr. Coons' telephone number.
IT IS ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall serve this Or
by United States Mail to his last known address.
DATED this

26

day of June 2020.