Jones v. Clarke et al
Filing
16
DECISION AND ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia J Gorence on 1/30/2012. The plaintiff shall submit a certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint on or before Friday, 2/17/2012. Failure to submit the trust account statement by that date will result in the denial of the plaintiffs motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The plaintiff shall complete and submit the magistrate judge consent form, indic ating either his consent or non-consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction in this matter, on or before Friday, 2/17/2012. The plaintiffs motions to join claims and add parties is denied. (Docket #8). The plaintiffs motion to amend/correct the compla int is denied. (Docket #9). The plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction is denied. (Docket #11). The plaintiffs motion to supplement the pleadings is denied. (Docket #15). The defendants motion to strike the p laintiffs motion to join claims and to amend his complaint is denied as moot. (Docket #10). The defendants motion to strike the plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order is denied as moot. (Docket #14). (cc: all counsel, to plaintiff via USPS) (mlm)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
RICKY JONES,
Plaintiff,
v.
Case No. 11-CV-1020
DAVID A. CLARKE, JR,
DEPUTY INSPECTOR NYKLEWICZ,
C.O. HANNAH, C.O. TRIGGS,
C.O. HERMANN, C.O. TAYLOR,
C.O. KUNDA, CAPTAIN HERNANDEZ,
LT. DOBBS, VILLAGE OF FRANKLIN,
CITY OF GREENFIELD,
and CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
Defendants.
DECISION AND ORDER
The plaintiff has brought a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Docket
# 2), but has not submitted a certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the sixmonth period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint as required by 28 U.S.C. §
1915(a)(2). Without the prison trust account statement, the court is unable to calculate the
required initial partial filing fee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Therefore, the plaintiff
shall submit a certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the six-month period
immediately preceding the filing of his complaint on or before Friday, February 17, 2012.
If the plaintiff fails to submit this trust account statement by that date, his motion for
leave to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied. If the plaintiff is having difficulty
obtaining a certified copy of his six-month prison trust account statement, he shall bring this
order to the attention of the business office of his correctional facility and the correctional
officials shall provide the required certified records in accordance with the Prison Litigation
Reform Act (PLRA), and this order. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).
Once the plaintiff files his trust account statement and the initial partial fling fee has
been properly calculated and paid or waived, the court will screen the plaintiff’s complaint
as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. If the court determines that the plaintiff has stated a
cognizable claim for relief, the court will order service of the complaint and direct the
defendants to file an answer at that time. See Ford v. Johnson, 362 F.3d 395, 398 (7th Cir.
2004) (“Prisoners’ complaints are reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and not filed (nor are
the defendants notified and served with process) until the district judge finds that they pass
the statutory screen.”).
Although this action is not ready to be screened under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A because
the required trust account statements have not been received, the plaintiff and defendants
have filed several motions in this matter. The plaintiff has filed a motion to join claims and
add parties (Docket #8), a motion to amend/correct the complaint (Docket. #9), a motion
for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction (Docket #11) and a motion to
supplement the pleadings. (Docket #15). The defendants have answered the complaint,
objecting that the plaintiff improperly served them prior to screening. They also have filed
a motion to strike the plaintiff’s motion to join claims and amend his complaint and a motion
to strike his motion for a temporary restraining order. (Docket #10 and #14, respectively).
In seeking injunctive relief, the plaintiff maintains that the defendants have arbitrarily
prevented him from obtaining physical and mental health treatment offered by the
Department of Veterans Affairs while he is serving a Huber sentence that permits him to
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go to the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital for treatment. To obtain injunctive relief,
a party “must demonstrate that he is reasonably likely to succeed on the merits, that he is
experiencing irreparable harm that exceeds any harm his opponent will suffer if the
injunction issues, that he lacks an adequate remedy at law, and that the injunction would
not harm the public interest.” Coronado v. Valleyview Pub. Sch. Dist. 365-U, 537 F.3d 791,
794-95 (7th Cir. 2008). At this point, the plaintiff’s complaint has not been screened, nor
has any filing fee been paid or waived. Therefore the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary
injunction and temporary restraining order is premature and will be denied.
The plaintiff’s motions to join claims and add parties, to amend/correct the complaint
and to supplement the pleadings are premature and also will be denied. As stated, until
the preliminary procedural requirements of the PLRA and 28 U.S.C. §1915 have been met,
this case cannot proceed. Moreover, an amended complaint must stand independently,
without incorporating any previous pleadings. See Duda v. Bd. of Educ. of Franklin Park
Pub. Sch. Dist. No. 84, 133 F.3d 1054, 1056-57 (7th Cir. 1998). In Duda, the appellate
court emphasized that the “prior pleading is in effect withdrawn as to all matters not
restated
in
the
amended
pleading.”
Id.
at
1057.
The
proposed
amendments/additions/supplements to the complaint violate this rule.
The defendants’ answer to the complaint is premature as are their motions to strike
the plaintiff’s motions. Therefore, the defendants’ motions to strike will be denied.
The plaintiff and the defendants should not file any additional motions until the
plaintiff has provided a certified copy of his six-month prison trust account statement, the
initial partial filing fee has been calculated and paid or waived and the complaint has been
screened by the court.
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Finally, the plaintiff is directed to complete and submit the magistrate judge consent
form, indicating either his consent or non-consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction in this
matter. (copy enclosed). The plaintiff must file his consent form by Friday, February 17,
2012.
ORDER
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the plaintiff shall submit a certified copy
of his prison trust account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the
filing of his complaint on or before Friday, February 17, 2012. Failure to submit the trust
account statement by that date will result in the denial of the plaintiff’s motion for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff shall complete and submit the
magistrate judge consent form, indicating either his consent or non-consent to magistrate
judge jurisdiction in this matter, on or before Friday, February 17, 2012.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motions to join claims and add parties
be and hereby is denied. (Docket #8).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion to amend/correct the
complaint be and hereby is denied. (Docket #9).
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order
and preliminary injunction be and hereby is denied. (Docket #11).
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion to supplement the pleadings be
and hereby is denied. (Docket #15).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the defendants’ motion to strike the plaintiff’s
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motion to join claims and to amend his complaint be and hereby is denied as moot.
(Docket #10).
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that the defendants’ motion to strike the plaintiff’s motion
for a temporary restraining order be and hereby is denied as moot. (Docket #14).
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 30th day of January, 2012.
BY THE COURT:
s/Patricia J. Gorence
PATRICIA J. GORENCE
United States Magistrate Judge
P:\Transfer\PJG\Jones.11cv1020.(PJG)TrustAccountVariousMotions.wpd - January 18, 2012 (8:56am)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
Plaintiff(s),
v.
Case No.
Defendant(s).
CONSENT TO PROCEED BEFORE A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
In accordance with 28 U.S.C. §636(c) and Rule 73(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, the undersigned counsel of record (or pro se litigant) consents to have
______________________________ conduct all proceedings in this case, including a bench or
jury trial, and order the entry of final judgment.
Signed and dated this __________ day of __________________,____.
Attorney for plaintiff (plaintiff pro se)
Attorney for defendant (defendant pro se)
MAGISTRATE JUDGES DO NOT CONDUCT TRIALS IN FELONY CASES.
ACCORDINGLY, IF THE PARTIES CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF
JURISDICTION BY THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE, MAJOR CRIMINAL CASES WILL
NOT INTERFERE WITH ITS SCHEDULING AND PROCESSING.
REFUSAL TO CONSENT TO PROCEED BEFORE A U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
In the event you are unwilling to consent, sign below.
Signed and dated this __________ day of _______________, ____.
Attorney for plaintiff (plaintiff pro se)
Attorney for defendant (defendant pro se)
PLEASE SEE THE ORDER ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
THIS FORM SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CLERK OF COURT WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21)
DAYS FROM ITS RECEIPT.
ASSIGNMENT OF CIVIL CASES
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
At the time a new civil action is filed, it is assigned by random selection to either a district
judge or a magistrate judge in accordance with the local rules. Pursuant to the provisions of 28
U.S.C. §636(c) and Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a United States Magistrate
Judge may, with the consent of the parties, conduct all proceedings in this civil action, including a
bench or jury trial and order the entry of judgment. The statute provides for direct appeal to the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Once the assigned district or magistrate judge has been selected, the local rules of this district
require that each party to the action receive a copy of the “consent form.” Each party shall complete
the form and return it to the Clerk of Court within 21 days after its receipt.
If this case has been randomly assigned to a district judge and all parties consent to have the
magistrate judge conduct all proceedings in the case, the district judge may enter an order
transferring the case to the magistrate judge.
If this case has been randomly assigned to a magistrate judge and not all parties consent,
then the case will be reassigned by random selection to a district judge. If all parties consent, the
magistrate judge will conduct all proceedings in the action.
While the decision to consent or not to consent to the exercise of juris diction by the
magistrate judge is entirely voluntary, the duty to respond to this order is mandatory. Your response
shall be made to the Clerk of Court only on the form on the reverse side of this notice.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, that you complete this form and file with the Clerk of
Court within twenty-one (21) days from receipt.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
s/Charles N. Clevert
Honorable Charles N. Clevert,
Chief Judge
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