Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_16-cv-00212/USCOURTS-ared-3_16-cv-00212-1/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

MARQUES JOHNSON PLAINTIFF

V. NO: 3:16CV00212 KGB/PSH

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY JAIL et al DEFENDANTS

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS

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. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

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. 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 shall sign 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 shall be expected to be

familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”

Second: Pay the Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner – including this one – requires the

plaintiff to pay a filing fee either at the beginning of the lawsuit or, if he cannot afford to pay the

entire fee in a lump sum, to apply for leave to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). You have filed

an application to proceed IFP and submitted all necessary documents. Your IFP motion (Doc. No.

4) is therefore GRANTED. You will still pay the entire $350.00 filing fee. Based on information

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you have provided, the Court will not assess an initial partial filing fee. However, the filing fee will

be withdrawn from your account in monthly installments until the filing fee is paid in full. Monthly

withdrawals will be made until the $350.00 is fully paid, even if the lawsuit is dismissed before trial.

Third: Provide Addresses for Service. All defendants must be served with the complaint and a

summons within 90 days of the filing of a complaint. This includes "John/Jane Doe" defendants.

Any defendant who is not served within 90 days can be dismissed, without prejudice, from the

lawsuit. It is your responsibility to identify and serve defendants, including "Doe" defendants. 

Because you are proceeding IFP, the Court will order service of process on the defendants, but you

are responsible for providing valid service addresses. You may send discovery requests, or use other

means, to find valid service addresses for defendants.

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 jury 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).

No discovery should be sent to a defendant until after that defendant has been served with the

complaint.

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 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 a hearing or trial, as your hearing or trial

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

Court will make efforts to ensure the attendance of all appropriate witnesses.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT:

1. As plaintiff Marques Johnson’s present custodian, the Craighead County Sheriff, or

his designee, or any future custodian, is directed to collect from Johnson’s institutional account the

$350.00 filing fee by collecting monthly payments equal to 20% of the preceding month's income

credited to Johnson’s account each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. The Craighead

County Sheriff, or his designee, or any future custodian, is further directed to forward the payments

to the Clerk of the Court in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), until a total of $350.00 has

been collected and forwarded to the Clerk. The payments also must be clearly identified by the

name and number assigned to this action. 

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send a copy of this order to the Craighead

County Sheriff, 901 Willett Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401.

3. Liberally construing Johnson’s complaint, he has, for screening purposes, stated a

claim for relief against defendant Marty Boyd. The Clerk of the Court is directed to prepare a

summons for Boyd, and the United States Marshal is directed to serve a copy of the complaint (Doc.

No. 1), this order, and summons, upon him, without prepayment of fees and costs or security

therefor. 

DATED this 15th day of September, 2016.

 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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