Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-03884/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-03884-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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 Many inmates apparently believe that they will receive an immediate payout from a fund

established in Hart v. Hill, No. CV 77-0479-PHX-EHC (MS) (D. Ariz.). No such fund exists. The

inmates in Hart asked for injunctive relief and not monetary damages. The Court at this time

expresses no opinion on whether Plaintiff’s lawsuit may result in an award of damages. 

TERMPSREF

BL

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Kython K. Shaw, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Joseph Arpaio,

Defendant. 

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No. CV 05-3884-PHX-DGC (LOA)

ORDER

Plaintiff Kython K. Shaw, currently confined in the Maricopa County Durango Jail

in Phoenix, Arizona, filed a pro se Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 1

 This action is

one of more than one thousand lawsuits filed in this district since September 2004 alleging

that the overcrowded conditions in the Maricopa County jail system have resulted in a

variety of constitutional violations. The Court will order Defendant Arpaio to answer the

Complaint.

A. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis & Filing Fee

Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis will be grant ed. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff is required t o pay the statutory filing fee of

$250.00 for this action. An initial partial filing fee of $8.26 will be assessed by this Order.

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28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the Court will direct the appropriate agency to

collect the initial p art ial filing fee from Plaintiff’s trust account and forward it to the Clerk

of Court. Thereafter, Plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments of 20 percent of the

p receding month’s income credited to Plaintiff’s trust account. These payments will be

forwarded by the appropriate agency to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in

Plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

Plaintiff should take notice that if he is released before the filing fee is paid in full,

he must p ay t he remaining unpaid amount of the filing fee within 120 days of the date of

his release. If Plaintiff fails to pay the remainder of the filing fee within 120 day s of the date

of his release, the action will be dismissed, unless Plaintiff shows good cause, in writing,

why he is unable to pay the remainder of the filing fee.

B. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints

The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or port ion thereof if the Plaintiff has raised

claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim up on which relief

may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such

relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). The Court also must dismiss a complaint or portion

thereof if Plaintiff fails to exhaust any administrative remedy available to him. 42 U.S.C.

§ 1997e(a). 

C. Complaint

Plaintiff names as Defendants (1) Joseph Arpaio, Sheriff of Maricopa County,

alleging that as sheriff, Defendant Arpaio is resp onsible for the standard operating

procedures of the jail, and (2) Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Plaintiff argues that his

constitutional rights were violated by (1) an inadequate, non-nutritious, and tainted diet

due to insufficient calories, food served at an improper temperature, and the serving of

spoiled or rotten food, resulting in diarrhea, stomach pains, and nausea, (2) overcrowding,

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resulting in fights, and (3) unsanitary conditions due to sewage back up, airborne

asbestos, the presence of dust and leeches in the shower, mold, and spiders, resulting in

chest congestion, breathing problems, runny nose, itchy eyes, and various viruses.

Plaintiff seeks monetary and other relief.

D. Failure to State a Claim.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is not a proper Defendant. In Ariz ona, t he

responsibility of operating jails and caring for prisoners is p laced by law upon the sheriff.

See A.R.S. § 11-441(A)(5); A.R.S. § 31-101. A sheriff’s office is simply an administrat ive

creation of the county sheriff t o allow him to carry out his statutory duties, and not a

“person” amenable to suit pursuant to § 1983. Accordingly, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s

Office will be dismissed from this action as an improper Defendant. 

E. Claims For Which An Answer Will be Required.

At this early stage, Plaintiff sufficient ly alleges that his constitutional rights were

violated by (1) an inadequate, non-nutritious, and tainted diet, (2) overcrowding, and

(3) unsanitary conditions. Defendant Arpaio will be ordered to answer the Complaint.

F. Warning of Possible Dismissal Pursuant to Rule 41.

Plaintiff should take notice that if he fails to timely comply with every provision of

this Order, or any order entered in this matter, this act ion will be dismissed pursuant to

Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258,

1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (district court may dismiss action for failure to comply with any order

of the Court).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: 

(1) Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. # 1) is granted

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).

(2) Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $250.00 for t his action.

Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee of $8.26. All fees shall be collected and paid

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in accordance with this Court=s Order to the appropriate government agency filed

concurrently herewith.

(3) Defendant Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is dismissed with prejudice.

(4) Defendant Arpaio is ordered to answer the Complaint

(5) The Clerk of Court shall send Plaint iff a service packet including the Complaint

(Doc. #1), this Order, and both summons and request for waiver forms for Defendant

Arpaio.

(6) Plaint iff shall complete and return the service packet to the Clerk of Court within

20 days of the date of filing of this Order. The United States Marshal will not provide

service of process if Plaintiff fails to comply with this Order.

(7) If Plaintiff does not either obtain a waiver of service of the summons or comp let e

service of the Summons and Comp laint on the Defendant within 120 days of the filing of

t he complaint or within 60 days of the filing of this Order, whichever is later, the action may

be dismissed as to each Defendant not served pursuant to Rule 4(m) of t he Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure and Local Rule of Civil Procedure 16.2(b)(2)(B)(i).

(8) The United States Marshal shall retain the Summons, a cop y of the Complaint,

and a copy of this Order for future use.

(9) The United States Marshal shall not ify Defendant of the commencement of this

act ion and request waiver of service of the summons pursuant to Rule 4(d) of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure. The notice to Defendant shall include a copy of this Order. The

Marshal shall file waivers of service of the summons or requests for waivers that were

returned as undeliverable as soon as they are received. If a waiver of service of summons

is not returned by a Defendant within thirty days from the date the request for waiver was

sent by the Marshal, the Marshal shall:

(a) Personally serve copies of the Summons, Complaint, and this Order upon

the Defendant pursuant to Rule 4(e)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;

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(b) Within 10 days after p ersonal service is effected, file the return of service

for t he Defendant, along with evidence of the attempt to secure a waiver of service

of the summons and of the costs subsequent ly incurred in effecting service upon

the Defendant. The costs of service shall be enumerat ed on the return of service

form (USM-285) and shall include the cost s incurred by the Marshal for

photocopying additional copies of the Summons, Complaint, or this Order and for

preparing new process receipt and return forms (USM -285), if required. Costs of

service will be taxed against the personally served defendant pursuant to Rule

4(d)(2) and (5) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, unless otherwise ordered by

the Court.

(10) A Defendant who agrees to waive service of the Summons and Complaint shall

return the signed waiver forms to the United States Marshal, not the Plaintiff.

(11) Defendant shall answer the Complaint or otherwise respond by appropriate

motion within the time provided by the applicable provisions of Rule 12(a) of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure.

(12) Any answer or resp onsive p leading shall state the Defendant by name on

whose behalf it is filed. The Court may st rike any answer, responsive pleading, or other

motion or paper that does not identify the Defendant by name on whose behalf it is filed.

(13) Plaintiff shall serve upon Defendant, or if appearance has been entered by

counsel, upon counsel, a copy of every further pleading or other document submitted for

consideration by the Court . Plaintiff shall include with the original document and copy, to

be filed with the Clerk of t he Court , a certificate stating the date a true and correct copy of

the pleading or document was mailed to Defendant or counsel. Any paper received by a

District Court Judge or Magist rat e Judge which has not been filed with the Clerk of Court

may be disregarded by the Court.

(14) At all times during the pendency of this act ion, Plaintiff shall immediately

advise the Court and the United States Marshal of any change of address and its effective

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date. Such notice shall be cap t ioned “ NOTICE OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS.” The notice

shall contain only information pert aining t o the change of address and its effective date.

Plaintiff shall serve a copy of the notice on all opposing part ies. The notice shall not

include any motions for any other relief. Failure to file a Notice of Change of Address may

result in t he dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

(15) A clear, legible copy of every pleading or other document filed shall

accompany each original pleading or other document filed with the Clerk for use by the

District Judge or Magistrate Judge t o whom the case is assigned. Failure to comply with

this requirement may result in the pleading or document being st ricken without further

notice to Plaintiff. 

(16) This matter is referred to Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson pursuant

to Local Rules of Civil Procedure 72.1 and 72.2 for further proceedings.

DATED this 27th day of December, 2005.

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