Outen v. Harris County Detention Center et al
Filing
9
ORDER directing Clerk not to authorize service and advising plaintiff to notify Clerk in writing of any change of address. Plaintiff has incurred a debt to the U.S.A. in the amount of $350, Motions terminated: denying 3 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Alfred Outen, Jr, granting 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (Restricted Access) filed by Alfred Outen, Jr. Signed by Magistrate Judge Paige J Gossett on 11/28/2011. (jpet, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Alfred Outen, Jr.,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Harris County Detention Center, Houston, Texas;
Unknown Doctor at Harris County Detention Center; PreTrial Detention Center, Atlanta, Georgia;
Unknown Doctor at Pre-Trial Detention Center, Atlanta;
Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia;
Unknown Doctor at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta;
Rice Street Detention Center, Atlanta, Georgia;
Unknown Doctor at Rice Street Detention Center,
Atlanta; DeKalb County Detention Center, Atlanta,
Georgia; Unknown Doctor at DeKalb County Detention
Center, Atlanta; Dr. Berg, Richland County Detention
Center; Dr. Higgins, Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center,
Defendants.
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ORDER
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This civil rights action is filed by a self represented prisoner. Therefore, in the event
that a limitations issue arises, Plaintiff shall have the benefit of the holding in Houston v.
Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988) (prisoner's pleading was filed at the moment of delivery to
prison authorities for forwarding to District Court). Under Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2) of
the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, pretrial proceedings in
this action have been referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge.
MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL:
Plaintiff files a motion for appointment of counsel in this case. (ECF No. 3.) There
is no right to appointed counsel in § 1983 cases. Hardwick v. Ault, 517 F.2d 295 (5th Cir.
1975). As stated in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), the court may use its discretion to appoint
counsel for an indigent in a civil action. Smith v. Blackledge, 451 F.2d 1201 (4th Cir.
1971). However, such appointment “should be allowed only in exceptional cases.” Cook
v. Bounds, 518 F.2d 779, 780 (4th Cir. 1975). Whether exceptional circumstances are
present depends on the type and complexity of the case, and the pro se litigant’s ability to
prosecute it. Whisenant v. Yuam, 739 F.2d 160 (4th Cir. 1984), abrogated on other
grounds by Mallard v. United States Dist. Court for S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296 (1989).
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Upon review of the file, the court has determined that there are no exceptional or
unusual circumstances presented at this time which would justify the appointment of
counsel, nor would the plaintiff be denied due process if an attorney were not appointed.
Id. Accordingly, the plaintiff's request for a discretionary appointment of counsel under 28
U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) is denied.
PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE:
By filing this case, Plaintiff has incurred a debt to the United States of America in
the amount of $350. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914. This debt is not dischargeable in the event
Plaintiff seeks relief under the bankruptcy provisions of the United States Code. See 11
U.S.C. § 523(a)(17). A prisoner is permitted to file a civil action without prepayment of fees
or security therefor under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Plaintiff has submitted a hand written motion
to proceed without prepayment of fees to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1),
which is construed as a Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. A review of the
Motion reveals that Plaintiff does not have the funds to prepay the filing fee. Plaintiff’s
Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis is granted.
TO THE CLERK OF COURT:
This case is subject to summary dismissal based on an initial screening conducted
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915 and/or 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Therefore, the Clerk of Court shall
not issue the summonses or forward this matter to the United States Marshal for service
of process at this time.
The Clerk of Court shall not enter any change of address submitted by Plaintiff
which directs that mail be sent to a person other than Plaintiff unless that person is an
attorney admitted to practice before this Court who has entered a formal appearance.
TO PLAINTIFF:
Plaintiff must place the civil action number (C/A No. 0:11-2547-RMG-PJG) listed
above on any document provided to the Court pursuant to this Order. Any future filings
in this case must be sent to: 901 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.
All documents requiring Plaintiff’s signature shall be signed with Plaintiff’s full legal name
written in Plaintiff’s own handwriting. Pro se litigants shall not use the “s/typed name”
format used in the Electronic Case Filing System. In all future filings with this Court,
Plaintiff is directed to use letter-sized (8½ inches by 11 inches) paper only, to write or type
text on one side of a sheet of paper only and not to write or type on both sides of any sheet
of paper. Plaintiff is further instructed not to write to the edge of the paper, but to maintain
one inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides of each paper submitted.
Plaintiff is a pro se litigant. Plaintiff’s attention is directed to the following important
notice:
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You are ordered to always keep the Clerk of Court advised in writing (901
Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201) if your address
changes for any reason, so as to assure that orders or other matters that
specify deadlines for you to meet will be received by you. If as a result of
your failure to comply with this Order, you fail to meet a deadline set by this
Court, your case may be dismissed for violating this Order. Therefore,
if you have a change of address before this case is ended, you must comply
with this Order by immediately advising the Clerk of Court in writing of such
change of address and providing the Court with the docket number of all
pending cases you have filed with this Court. Your failure to do so will not be
excused by the Court.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Paige J. Gossett
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
November 28, 2011
Columbia, South Carolina
Plaintiff’s attention is directed to the important warning on the next page.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ....PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
WARNING TO PRO SE PARTY OR NONPARTY FILERS
All Documents That You File with the Court Will Be Available to the Public on the
Internet Through Pacer (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) and the Court’s
Electronic Case Filing System. CERTAIN PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN OR SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ALL DOCUMENTS
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTS TO THE COURT FOR FILING.
Rule 5.2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for privacy protection of
electronic or paper filings made with the court. Rule 5.2 applies to ALL documents
submitted for filing, including pleadings, exhibits to pleadings, discovery responses, and
any other document submitted by any party or nonparty for filing. Unless otherwise ordered
by the court, a party or nonparty filer should not put certain types of an individual’s personal
identifying information in documents submitted for filing to any United States District Court.
If it is necessary to file a document that already contains personal identifying information,
the personal identifying information should be “blacked out” or redacted prior to
submitting the document to the Clerk of Court for filing. A person filing any document
containing their own personal identifying information waives the protection of Rule 5.2(a)
by filing the information without redaction and not under seal.
1. Personal information protected by Rule 5.2(a):
(a) Social Security and Taxpayer identification numbers. If an individual’s social
security number or a taxpayer identification number must be included in a document, the
filer may include only the last four digits of that number.
(b) Names of Minor Children. If the involvement of a minor child must be mentioned, the
filer may include only the initials of that child.
(c) Dates of Birth. If an individual’s date of birth must be included in a document, the filer
may include only the year of birth.
(d) Financial Account Numbers. If financial account numbers are relevant, the filer may
include only the last four digits of these numbers.
2. Protection of other sensitive personal information – such as driver’s license numbers
and alien registration numbers – may be sought under Rule 5.2(d)(Filings Made Under
Seal) and (e) (Protective Orders).
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