Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_15-cv-00180/USCOURTS-ared-3_15-cv-00180-0/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

 JONESBORO DIVISION

TREVOR LUNG PLAINTIFF

V. 3:15CV00180 KGB/JTR

JOEY MARTIN, Administrator; and

POINSETT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER DEFENDANTS

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONERS

You have filed this federal civil rights lawsuit pro se, that is, without the help

of a lawyer. There are rules and procedures that you must follow in order to proceed

with your lawsuit, even though you are not a lawyer.

First: Follow All Court Rules. You must comply with the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure as well as Local Rules for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In

particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) provides that:

It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to promptly

notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change

in his or her address, to monitor the progress of the case, and to

prosecute or defend the action diligently. A party appearing for

himself/herself mustsign his/her pleadings and state his/her address, zip

code, and telephone number. If any communication from the Court to a

pro se plaintiff is not responded to within thirty (30) days, the case may

be dismissed without prejudice. Any party proceeding pro se must be

expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. 

Second: The Three Strikes Rule. The Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28

U.S.C. § 1915(g), provides that:

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In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a

judgment in a civil action or proceeding under thissection if the prisoner

has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any

facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that

was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to

state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is

under imminent danger of serious physical injury.

Third: Service of Defendants. All Defendants must be served within 120

days of the filing of the Complaint. This includes “John/Jane Doe” Defendants. It

is your responsibility to identify all Defendants, including “Doe” Defendants. The

Court will order service on all properly identified Defendants, but you are responsible

for providing valid service addresses for each of them. Any Defendant who is not

served within 120 days will be dismissed, without prejudice, from the lawsuit. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m); Lee v. Armontrout, 991 F.2d 487, 489 (8th Cir. 1993). 

Fourth: No Right to Appointed Counsel. This is a civil case. Unlike

criminal cases, there is no right to have an appointed lawyer in a civil case. Phillips

v. Jasper County Jail, 437 F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006). If your case proceeds to a

jury trial, however, a lawyer will be appointed to assist you.

Fifth: Do Not File Discovery. Discovery requests(such asinterrogatories and

requests for production of documents) and responsesto discovery requests cannot be

filed with the Court. Instead, youmustmail discovery requests and responses directly

to counsel for the Defendant. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d). Do not mail discovery requests

to Defendants' counsel until after he or she hasfiled an Answer or Motion to Dismiss.

Sixth: Do Not Send Documents to the Court, Except in Two Situations.

You may send documents or other evidence to the Court only if: (1) it is attached to

a Motion for Summary Judgment, or a Response thereto; or (2) the Court orders you

to file documents or other evidence.

Seventh: Witnesses. If your case is set for trial, as your trial date approaches,

you will be asked to provide a witness list. After reviewing your witness list, the

Court will subpoena the necessary witnesses.

Eighth: Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner requires the plaintiff

to pay a filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. A $400 filing fee must be paid at the beginning

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of the lawsuit unless the plaintiff cannot afford to pay the entire fee at once. If you

cannot afford to pay the filing fee in a lump sum, you may file a motion to proceed

in forma pauperis (“IFP motion”). If you are granted IFP status, the filing fee is

$350, which will be collected in installments from your prisoner account. 

Importantly, the entire filing fee will be collected, even if your lawsuit is dismissed.

You have filed an IFP motion that does not contain information about the funds

you may have in your institutional trust account. The Clerk is directed to send you a

prisoner calculation sheet. You must have that form completed by an authorized

jail official and return it to the Clerk within 30 days of the entry of this Order. 

If you do not do so, your case will be dismissed without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 30th day of June, 2015.

 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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