Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04085/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04085-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

TEXARKANA DIVISION

QUARTAUIS DEMONTEZ MULDREW PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 4:24-CV-04085-BAB

CAPTAIN JAMES WISE; 

OFFICER KAREN GHORMLEY; 

SHERIFF STEVEN OTTWELL; 

and DEPUTY TURNER REED DEFENDANTS

ORDER TO SEVER 

Plaintiff, Quartauis Demontez Muldrew, currently an inmate of the Hempstead County 

Detention Center in Hope, Arkansas, originally submitted his pro se civil rights Complaint under 

42 U.S.C. 1983 on August 8, 2024. (ECF No. 1). The Court granted Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis

(IFP) status on the same day. (ECF No. 3). 

In his Complaint Plaintiff alleges four claims. First, he alleges Defendant Deputy Turner 

Reed from the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office improperly searched and seized him and 

evidence during his arrest. (ECF No. 1, p. 4). Second, Plaintiff claims Defendant Captain Wise, 

from Hempstead County Detention Center (“HCDC”), denied him mental health care on an 

undisclosed date. (ECF No. 1, p. 6). Third, Plaintiff claims Karen Ghormley, of the Nevada 

County Detention Center (“NCDC”) violated his constitutional rights on July 14, 2014 through the 

conditions of his confinement in the NCDC. (ECF No. 1, p. 9). Finally, in Plaintiff’s last claim 

he sates Defendant Steven Ottwell, also from the NCDC, violated his constitutional rights on July 

14, 2024 through the conditions of his confinement. (ECF No. 1, p. 10). 

“Although plaintiff generally has the prerogative of joining multiple defendants or bringing 

separate actions, there are limitations on this right.” 7 Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & 

Mary Kay Kane, Fed. Prac. & Proc. Civ. § 1657 (3d ed. 1998 & Supp. 2021). Rule 20(a)(2) of the 

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Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: 

Persons ... may be joined in one action as defendants if: 

(A) any right to relief is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative

with respect to or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of

transactions or occurrences; and

(B) any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). 

In this case, there is no logical relationship between Plaintiff’s claims against the 

Hempstead County Defendants and the Nevada County Defendants. The claims arise out of 

different occurrences in different locations. Rule 21 provides that “[m]isjoinder of parties is not a 

ground for dismissing an action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. However, the Court may at any time drop 

parties or sever any claim against a party. Id. “‘[S]everance under Rule 21 creates two separate 

actions where previously there was but one.’” Reinholdson v. Minnesota, 346 F.3d 847, 850 (8th 

Cir. 2003) (quoting United States v. O’Neil, 709 F.2d 361, 368 (5th Cir. 1983)). 

Accordingly, the Clerk is directed to: 

(1) sever the Plaintiff’s claim against the Nevada County Defendants and open a separate

lawsuit in Plaintiff’s name listing Officer Karen Ghormley and Deputy Steven Otwell as 

the Defendants; 

(2) file a copy of the Complaint in the severed case;

(3) file a copy of this Order in the severed case;

Plaintiff is also directed to file an Amended Complaint in both cases. The Clerk is 

directed to mail Plaintiff two court-approved 1983 complaint and one in forma pauperis (“IFP”) 

forms. Plaintiff must file a new IFP application in the new case but not the instant case. Plaintiff 

is directed to file the Amended Complaints and IFP by no later than September 27, 2024. 

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Plaintiff is advised that failure to comply with this Order shall result in the dismissal of both 

cases.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of September 2024. 

/s/ Barry A. Bryant

HON. BARRY A. BRYANT

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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