Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00107/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00107-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Billie Jo Cossey
Plaintiff
Craighead County Jail
Defendant

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

BILLIE JO COSSEY PLAINTIFF

V. CASE NO. 3:19-CV-107-KGB-BD

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY JAIL DEFENDANT 

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS

Ms. Cossey: Dana Presley filed this federal civil rights lawsuit pro se, that is, 

without the help of a lawyer, on behalf of yourself and Lisa Ann Butler. Ms. Presley and 

Ms. Butler will litigate their claims in separate lawsuits. There are rules and procedures

that you must follow in order to proceed with your lawsuit, even though you are not a 

lawyer.

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. 

In particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) explains requirements for plaintiffs, like you, who are 

not represented by a lawyer:

1. You must promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties in the case of any 

change in address. If you do not keep the Court informed as to your current 

address, your lawsuit can be dismissed.

2. You must monitor the progress of your case and prosecute the case 

diligently.

3. You must sign all pleadings and other papers filed with the Court, and each 

paper you file must include your current address.

4. If you fail to timely respond to a Court Order directing action on your part, 

the case may be dismissed, without prejudice. 

Second: Pay the Filing Fee. Every civil case - 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 to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) and pay a $350 

filing fee in monthly installments. Here, you have not filed either a complete IFP 

application or paid the statutory filing fee. 

The Clerk of Court is directed to enclose an IFP application along with a copy of this 

Order. You must return a completed IFP application, or pay the $400.00 filing fee 

Case 3:19-cv-00107-KGB Document 2 Filed 04/17/19 Page 1 of 2
2

within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order. Otherwise, your lawsuit will be 

dismissed.

Third: 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 

trial, however, a lawyer may be appointed to assist you before trial.

Fourth: 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.

Fifth: 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.

Sixth: Provide a Witness List. If your case is set for trial, as your trial date approaches, 

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

subpoena necessary witnesses.

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 17th day of April, 2019.

__________________________________

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:19-cv-00107-KGB Document 2 Filed 04/17/19 Page 2 of 2