Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00324/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00324-0/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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28 JDDL

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Jerry Smith,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Dora Schriro, et. al.,

Defendants.

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No. CV 07-0324-PHX-MHM (DKD)

ORDER

Plaintiff Jerry Smith, a state prisoner incarcerated at the Arizona State Prison Complex

in Safford, Arizona, has filed a pro se civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

The Court will dismiss the action with leave to amend.

I. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis & Filing Fee.

Plaintiff filed an Application To Proceed In Forma Pauperis with his Complaint. By

order filed on March 1, 2007 (Doc. #3), Plaintiff was directed to file an Inmate Trust Account

statement. On March 14, 2007, Plaintiff submitted an inmate trust account statement attached

to a second Motion To Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. #4). The Court notes that Plaintiff's

Motion is not on the court-approved form and is not in accordance with the local rules of

practice. Accordingly, the Court will grant Plaintiff's Motion To Proceed In Forma Pauperis

attached to the Complaint. The Motion To Proceed In Forma Pauperis filed on March 14,

2007 (Doc. #4) will be denied as moot.

Case 2:07-cv-00324-MHM--DKD Document 5 Filed 03/23/07 Page 1 of 10
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 Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee

of $350.00 for this action. An initial partial filing fee of $6.80 will be assessed by this Order.

28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the Court will direct that Plaintiff will be

obligated for monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income credited to

Plaintiff’s trust account. These payments will be forwarded by the appropriate agency to the

Clerk of Court each time the amount in Plaintiff’s account exceeds $10.00, until the filing

fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

Plaintiff should take notice that if he is released before the filing fee is paid in full, he

must pay the remaining unpaid amount of the filing fee within 120 days of the date of her

release. If Plaintiff fails to pay the remainder of the filing fee within 120 days of the date of

his release, the action will be dismissed, unless Plaintiff shows good cause, in writing, why

he is unable to pay the remainder of the filing fee.

II. Statutory Screening of Prisoner Complaints

The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against

a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof

if the Plaintiff has raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who

is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2); 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(2). 

If the Court determines that a pleading could be cured by the allegation of other facts,

a pro se litigant is entitled to an opportunity to amend the complaint before dismissal of the

action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-29 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The Court

is required to grant leave to amend “if a complaint can possibly be saved,” but not if the

Complaint “lacks merit entirely.” Id. at 1129. A court therefore should grant leave to amend

if the pleading could be cured by the allegation of other facts, or if it appears at all possible

that the defect can be corrected. Id. at 1130. The Court should not, however, advise the

litigant how to cure the defects. This type of advice “would undermine the district judges’

role as impartial decisionmakers.” Pliler v. Ford, 124 S. Ct. 2441, 2446 (2004); see also

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Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1131 n.13 (declining to decide whether court was required to inform

litigant of deficiencies). Plaintiff’s Complaint will be dismissed with leave to amend because

the Complaint may possibly be saved by amendment.

III. Complaint

Plaintiff sets forth the following Counts in his Complaint: Count I: Threat To Safety;

Denial of Medical Care; Access to the Court's and Retaliation; Count II: Threat To Safety;

Denial of Medical Care; Access to the Court's and Retaliation; Count III: Threat To Safety;

Denial of Medical Care; Access to the Court's and Retaliation. Named as Defendants are:

Dora Schriro; Co Baldwin; Sgt. Rayes; Lt. Kirkland; John Doe Kitchen Supervisor and John

Doe Health Care.

IV. Compliance With Local Rule 3.5(a): Only One Claim Per Count

LRCIV 3.5(a) requires that all complaints by prisoners be in accordance with the

instructions provided in the court-approved civil rights complaint form. Specifically, the

instructions provide that plaintiff “MAY ALLEGE THE VIOLATION OF ONLY ONE

CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIM PER COUNT.” See Information and Instructions for a Prisoner

Filing Civil Rights Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Form, at 4 (emphasis in original); see also, Complaint form at 4, 5 and 6 (“if your claim

involves more than one issue, each issue should be stated in a different count”). Plaintiff has

failed to comply with this rule. Accordingly, the Complaint will be dismissed with leave to

amend. In any Amended Complaint, Plaintiff may allege only one civil rights violation

per count. If Plaintiff alleges more than three counts (the form provides space to allege three

separate counts), Plaintiff must provide the necessary information about each additional

count on separate pages.

V. Failure to Make Short, Plain Statement of Claims

Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that a complaint contain “a

short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Rule

8(e)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states that “[e]ach averment of a pleading

shall be simple, concise, and direct.” A complaint having the factual elements of a cause of

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action present but scattered throughout the Complaint and not organized into a “short and

plain statement of the claim” may be dismissed for failure to satisfy Rule 8(a) of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure. McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 1996).

In order to assist litigants to understand the Rule 8 requirement that averments “be

simple, concise, and direct,” Rule 84 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for an

Appendix of Forms, “intended to indicate the simplicity and brevity of statement which the

rules contemplate.” McHenry, 84 F.3d at 1177. 

Plaintiff has not properly complied with Rule 8. Although the Court does not always

insist on technical compliance with the rules, particularly when litigants are pro se, the

difficulty caused by the lack of compliance is that the Court cannot determine which counts

are connected to which Defendants, nor can the Court determine what each Defendant has

done that has allegedly violated Plaintiff’s rights. Further, it is difficult to tell whether

Plaintiff’s allegations are background facts or are actually facts to support the count for

relief. 

It is not the responsibility of the Court nor the Defendants to review a lengthy

narrative in an attempt to determine the number and nature of Plaintiff’s claims. As a

practical matter, it would be impossible for the Defendants to draft an answer to the

Complaint in its present form. Accordingly, Plaintiff will be provided with an opportunity

to amend his Complaint.

In any Amended Complaint, Plaintiff must tell the Court (1) the constitutional right

Plaintiff believes was violated; (2) the name of the Defendant who violated that right;

(3) exactly what that Defendant did or failed to do; (4) how the action or inaction of that

Defendant is connected to the violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional right; and (5) what

specific injury Plaintiff suffered because of that Defendant’s conduct. See Rizzo v. Goode,

423 U.S. 362, 371-72, 377 (1976). Plaintiff's failure to comply with these requirements will

result in the dismissal of this action.

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VI. Amendment

The Clerk of Court will be directed to provide Plaintiff with a Court-approved form

for filing a civil rights complaint. Plaintiff is advised that if he needs to attach additional

pages to his amended complaint, he should write on only one side of each page. 

Plaintiff is also advised that the amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in

its entirety on the court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original

Complaint by reference. Any amended complaint submitted by Plaintiff should be clearly

designated as such on the face of the document. 

An amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963

F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 915 (1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard

Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1546 (9th Cir. 1990). After amendment, the original pleading

is treated as nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Thus, causes of action alleged in an

original complaint which are not alleged in an amended complaint are waived. King v.

Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987).

VII. Warnings

A. Release

Plaintiff must pay the unpaid balance of the filing fee within 120 days of his release.

Also, within 30 days of his release, he must either (1) notify the Court that he intends to pay

the balance or (2) show good cause, in writing, why he cannot. Failure to comply may result

in dismissal of this action.

B. Address Changes

Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule

83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other

relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this

action.

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C. Copies

Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See

LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice

to Plaintiff.

D. Possible “Strike”

Because the Complaint has been dismissed for failure to state a claim, if Plaintiff fails

to file an amended complaint correcting the deficiencies identified in this Order, the

dismissal will count as a “strike” under the “3-strikes” provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 

Under the 3-strikes provision, a prisoner may not bring a civil action or appeal a civil

judgment in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior

occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a

court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious,

or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under

imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). 

E. Possible Dismissal

If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these

warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at

1260-61 (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the

Court).

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) That Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, attached to the

Complaint, is granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1);

(2) That Plaintiff's Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis filed on March 14, 2007

(Doc. #4) is denied as moot;

(3) That Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action.

Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial filing fee of $6.80 for this action. All fees shall be

collected and paid in accordance with this Court=s Order to the appropriate government

agency filed concurrently herewith;

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 (4) The Complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff has 30 days from

the date this Order is filed to file a first amended complaint in compliance with this Order.

(5) If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of Court

must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action with prejudice that

states that the dismissal counts as a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

(6) That the Clerk of Court shall provide to Plaintiff a current court-approved form

for filing a civil rights complaint by a prisoner;

(7) That at all times during the pendency of this action, Plaintiff shall immediately

advise the Court and the United States Marshal of any change of address and its effective

date. Such notice shall be captioned “Notice of Change of Address.” The notice shall

contain only information pertaining to the change of address and its effective date. The

notice shall not include any motions for any other relief. Plaintiff shall serve a copy of the

Notice of Change of Address on all opposing parties. Failure to file a Notice of Change of

Address may result in the dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 

DATED this 23rd day of March, 2007.

Case 2:07-cv-00324-MHM--DKD Document 5 Filed 03/23/07 Page 7 of 10
Revised 4/9/06

Instructions for Prisoners Applying for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 in a Civil Action (Non-habeas) in Federal Court

You must pay the full filing fee of $350.00 for a civil action. If you later file an appeal,

you will be obligated to pay the $455.00 filing fee for the appeal.

If you have enough money to pay the full filing fee, you should send a cashier’s check

or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court with your complaint, petition, or notice of

appeal.

If you do not have enough money to pay the full filing fee, you can file the action

without prepaying the filing fee. However, the court will assess an initial partial filing fee. The

initial partial filing fee will be the greater of 20% of the average monthly deposits or 20% of the

average monthly balance in your prison or jail account for the six months immediately

preceding the filing of the lawsuit. The court will order the agency that has custody of you to

withdraw the initial partial filing fee from your prison or jail account as soon as funds are

available and to forward the money to the court.

After the initial partial filing fee has been paid, you will owe the balance of the filing fee.

Until the filing fee is paid in full, each month you will owe 20% of your preceding month's

income. The agency that holds you in custody will collect that money and forward it to the

court any time the amount in your account exceeds $10.00. The balance of the filing fee may

be collected even if the action is later dismissed, summary judgment is granted against you, or

you fail to prevail at trial.

To file an action without prepaying the filing fee, and to proceed with an action in forma

pauperis, you must complete the attached form and return it to the court with your complaint.

You must have a prison or jail official complete the certificate on the bottom of the form and

attach a certified copy of your prison or jail account statement for the last six months. If you

were incarcerated in a different institution during any part of the past six months, you must

attach a certificate and a certified copy of your account statement from each institution at which

you were confined. If you submit an incomplete form or do not submit a prison or jail account

statement with the form, your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied.

Even if some or all of the filing fee has been paid, the court is required to dismiss your

action if: (1) your allegation of poverty is untrue; (2) the action is frivolous or malicious; (3)

your complaint does not state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (4) your complaint

makes a claim against a defendant for money damages and that defendant is immune from

liability for money damages.

If you file more than three actions or appeals which are dismissed as frivolous or

malicious or for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted, you will be prohibited

from filing any other action in forma pauperis unless you are in imminent danger of serious

physical injury.

Case 2:07-cv-00324-MHM--DKD Document 5 Filed 03/23/07 Page 8 of 10
Revised 4/9/06 1

Name and Prisoner/Booking Number

Place of Confinement

Mailing Address

City, State, Zip Code

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

)

 , ) CASE NO. 

Plaintiff, )

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 vs. ) APPLICATION TO PROCEED

) IN FORMA PAUPERIS 

 , ) BY A PRISONER

Defendant(s). ) CIVIL (NON-HABEAS)

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I, , declare, in support of my request to proceed in the above

entitled case without prepayment of fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, that I am unable to pay the fees for these

proceedings or to give security therefor and that I believe I am entitled to relief.

In support of this application, I answer the following questions under penalty of perjury:

1. Have you ever before brought an action or appeal in a federal court while you were incarcerated or detained?

GYes GNo If "Yes," how many have you filed? .

Were any of the actions or appeals dismissed because they were frivolous, malicious, or failed to state a

claim upon which relief may be granted? GYes GNo If "Yes," how many of them? .

2. Are you currently employed at the institution where you are confined? GYes GNo

If "Yes," state the amount of your pay and where you work. 

3. Do you receive any other payments from the institution where you are confined? GYes GNo

If "Yes," state the source and amount of the payments. 

Case 2:07-cv-00324-MHM--DKD Document 5 Filed 03/23/07 Page 9 of 10
Revised 4/9/06 2

4. Do you have any other sources of income, savings, or assets either inside or outside of the institution where

you are confined? GYes GNo

If "Yes," state the sources and amounts of the income, savings, or assets. 

I declare under penalty of perjury that the above information is true and correct.

DATE SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

CONSENT TO COLLECTION OF FEES FROM TRUST ACCOUNT

I, , hereby consent to having the designated correctional officials at this

institution release to the Court my trust account information. I further consent to having the designated

correctional officials at this institution withdraw from my trust account the funds required to comply with the

order of this Court for the payment of filing fees in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

My consent includes withdrawal from my account by correctional officials of partial initial payments to this

Court equal to 20% of the greater of:

(A) the average monthly deposits to my account for the six-month period preceding my filing of this

action, or

(B) the average monthly balance in my account for the six-month period preceding my filing of this

action.

My consent also includes monthly withdrawals from my account by correctional officials of an amount equal

to 20% of each month’s income. Whenever the amount in my account reaches $10.00, correctional officials will

withdraw that amount and forward it to the Court until the required filing fee is paid in full. I understand that I

am liable for paying the entire fee, even if my case is dismissed by the Court before the fee is fully paid.

DATE SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICIAL

AS TO STATUS OF APPLICANT’S TRUST ACCOUNT

I, , certify that as of the date applicant signed this application:

(Printed name of official)

The applicant’s trust account balance at this institution is: $

The applicant’s average monthly deposits during the prior six months is: $

The applicant’s average monthly balance during the prior six months is: $

The attached certified account statement accurately reflects the status of the applicant’s account.

DATE AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE TITLE/ID NUMBER INSTITUTION 

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