Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_09-cv-00213/USCOURTS-almd-2_09-cv-00213-1/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 

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

 NORTHERN DIVISION

 ____________________________

BRIAN SELLERS, #220 070 *

Plaintiff, *

v. * 2:09-CV-213-MEF

 (WO) 

LOUIS BOYD, WARDEN, et al., *

Defendants. *

 ____________________________

ORDER

This case is presently pending before the court on a complaint filed by Brian Sellers,

an inmate incarcerated at the Easterling Correctional Facility. A thorough review of this

complaint reflects that although Plaintiff names four defendants in this cause of action the

complaint consists merely of general conclusions of constitutional violations and fails to

identify factual allegations material to specific counts lodged against the named defendants

with respect to any violations of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. 

“This type of pleading completely disregards Rule 10(b)'s requirement that discrete

claims should be plead in separate counts, see Anderson v. Dist. Bd. of Tr., 77 F.3d 364-366-

67 (11th Cir. 1996), and is the type of complaint that [has been] criticized time and again.”

Magluta v. Samples, 256 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001). Accordingly, the court deems it

appropriate to require Plaintiff to amend his complaint that respects the requirements of Rule

8, F.R.Civ.P., and the heightened pleading requirement for such cases as well as to correct

the deficiencies noted herein. 

Case 2:09-cv-00213-WC Document 9 Filed 03/23/09 Page 1 of 3
Accordingly, it is 

ORDERED that on or before April 7, 2009 Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint

which:

1. Identifies specific claims relative to actions taken against him by those persons

named as defendants and list these claims in separate counts;

2. Describes with clarity those factual allegations that are material to each specific

count against the named defendants; and

3. Describes how the named defendants violated his constitutional rights.

Plaintiff is hereby advised that the amendment to his complaint must set forth short

and plain statements showing why he is entitled to relief and be specific enough to put each

defendant on notice of how their conduct allegedly violated Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights

and should contain only claims relative to actions taken against him by the named

defendants. “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only ‘a short and plain

statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.’ Specific facts are not

necessary, rather the statement need only “‘give the defendant fair notice of what the . . .

claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.

___, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1964 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)).

“Plaintiff's obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more

than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action

will not do.” Id. at 1965 (citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986) (on a motion

to dismiss, courts “are not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual

Case 2:09-cv-00213-WC Document 9 Filed 03/23/09 Page 2 of 3
allegation”)). Plaintiff is further advised that his failure to timely and properly comply with

the directives contained in this order will result in a Recommendation that this action be

dismissed. 

Done, this 23rd day of March 2009.

 /s/ Wallace Capel, Jr. 

WALLACE CAPEL, JR.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:09-cv-00213-WC Document 9 Filed 03/23/09 Page 3 of 3