Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00209/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00209-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

JACOBY ORR PLAINTIFF 

 

V. NO. 3:24-cv-209-DPM-ERE 

DOES DEFENDANTS 

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS

You 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 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. Copies 

of rules can be found in the prison library. 

In particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) explains requirements for plaintiffs, like 

you, who are not represented by a lawyer: 

1. You must promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties in the case of 

any change in address. You must inform the Court if you are transferred 

from one unit to another. Notifying the Court of your change in address 

is especially important if you are released from custody while your 

lawsuit is pending. If you do not keep the Court informed as to your 

current address, your lawsuit can be dismissed. 

2. You must monitor the progress of your case and prosecute the case 

diligently. 

3. You must sign all pleadings and other papers filed with the Court, and 

each paper you file must include your current address. 

4. If you fail to timely respond to a Court Order directing action on your 

part, the case may be dismissed, without prejudice. 

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Second: Pay the Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner requires the 

plaintiff to pay a filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. A $405 filing and administrative fee 

must be paid at the beginning 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). If you are granted IFP status, 

the filing fee is $350, which will be collected in installments from your institutional 

account. Importantly, even if your lawsuit is later dismissed, the Court will continue 

to collect the filing fee until it has received the full amount of $350 from your 

institutional account. Here, you have not filed an IFP application that includes a jail 

account information sheet signed by an authorized official or paid the statutory filing 

fee.

The Clerk of Court is directed to enclose an IFP application, along with a copy 

of this Order. You must return a completed IFP application, including an 

accompanying affidavit and jail account information sheet, or pay a $405.00 

filing fee within 30 days of the date of this Order. Otherwise, the lawsuit will be 

dismissed. 

Third: Service of Defendants. It is your responsibility to identify all 

Defendants, including any “John/Jane Doe” Defendants. If you are allowed to 

proceed IFP, the Court will order service of any claims that survive screening on all 

properly identified Defendants. However, you are responsible for providing 

sufficient identifying information and valid service addresses for each Defendant. 

Any Defendant who is not served within 90 days may be dismissed, without 

prejudice, from the lawsuit. Service is not appropriate at this time. 

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. If your 

case proceeds to a trial, however, a lawyer may be appointed to assist you before 

trial. 

Fifth: Do Not File Your Discovery Requests. Discovery requests, such as 

interrogatories and requests for documents, are not to be filed with the Court. 

Instead, discovery requests should be sent to counsel for the defendant (or directly 

to the defendant if he or she is not represented by a lawyer). See FED. R. CIV. P. 5(d). 

Do not mail discovery requests to Defendants’ counsel (or a pro se Defendant) until 

that Defendant has filed an answer or motion to dismiss. 

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

may send documents or other evidence to the Court only if attached to a motion for 

Case 3:24-cv-00209-DPM Document 2 Filed 11/07/24 Page 2 of 3
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summary judgment or in response to a motion for summary judgment; or if the Court 

orders you to send documents or other evidence. 

Seventh: Provide a Witness List. If your case is set for trial, as your trial 

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

witness list, the Court will subpoena necessary witnesses. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: 

1. The Clerk is directed to enclose, along with a copy of this Order, a new 

IFP application. 

2. Within 30 days of this Order, you must return a completed IFP 

application, including an accompanying affidavit and jail account information sheet, 

or pay the $405.00 filing fee. If you fail to do so, the lawsuit will be dismissed. 

So Ordered 7 November 2024. 

____________________________________ 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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