Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_15-cv-00638/USCOURTS-almd-2_15-cv-00638-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION

MAURICE BULLOCK, )

)

 Plaintiff, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

 v. ) 2:15cv638-MHT

) (WO)

WARDEN STRICKLAND, 

et al.,

)

)

)

 Defendants. )

OPINION AND ORDER

The plaintiff, a pro se state prisoner, filed a 

motion for class certification in this case challenging

forced administration of certain medication. Courts 

have held repeatedly that pro se individuals cannot 

litigate on behalf of others. See, e.g., Johnson v. 

Brown, 581 F. App'x 777, 781 (11th Cir. 2014) (holding 

that a pro se prisoner could not bring an action on 

behalf of his fellow inmates); Bass v. Benton, 408 F.

App'x 298, 299, 2011 WL 118246, *1 (11th Cir. 2011) 

(affirming dismissal of former prisoner's pro se § 1983 

Case 2:15-cv-00638-MHT-SRW Document 226 Filed 03/16/17 Page 1 of 3
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complaint because he “may not represent the plaintiffs 

in a class action suit”); Massimo v. Henderson, 468 

F.2d 1209, 1210 (5th Cir. 1972) (concluding that a pro 

se inmate could not bring a petition for equitable 

relief on behalf of his fellow inmates). “A

prerequisite for class action certification is a 

finding by the Court that the representative party or 

parties can ‘fairly and adequately protect the interest 

of the class.’ Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). It is well 

established, however, that a pro se plaintiff ‘cannot 

be an adequate class representative.’” Andrews v. 

Dep't of Corr., No. 4:13-CV-567-MW/CAS, 2014 WL 28799, 

at *1 (N.D. Fla. Jan. 2, 2014) (Stampelos, M.J.) 

(citation omitted). Moreover, even if pro se 

individuals could litigate on behalf of others, the 

record does not reflect that the plaintiff here would 

be an adequate class representative.

Case 2:15-cv-00638-MHT-SRW Document 226 Filed 03/16/17 Page 2 of 3
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***

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion 

for class certification (doc. no. 222) is denied.

DONE, this the 16th day of March, 2017.

 /s/ Myron H. Thompson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:15-cv-00638-MHT-SRW Document 226 Filed 03/16/17 Page 3 of 3