Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_20-cv-00423/USCOURTS-ared-4_20-cv-00423-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gary Block
Plaintiff
Does
Defendant

Document Text:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

CENTRAL DIVISION 

GARY BLOCK PLAINTIFF 

V. No. 4:20-CV-423-LPR-JTR 

DOES, Medical Staff DEFENDANTS 

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONERS 

 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. 

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) 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 must 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 must 

be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure. 

Second: The Three Strikes Rule. The Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(g), provides that: 

 In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a 

judgment in a civil action or proceeding under this section 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, 

Case 4:20-cv-00423-LPR Document 2 Filed 04/21/20 Page 1 of 3
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malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, 

unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. 

Third: Service of Defendants. All Defendants must be served with the 

Complaint and a summons within 90 days of the filing of the Complaint. This 

includes “John/Jane Doe” Defendants. It is your responsibility to identify all 

Defendants, including “Doe” Defendants. The Court will order service on all 

properly identified Defendants if it determines that service is appropriate after 

screening your claims as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.1

 However, you are 

responsible for providing sufficient identifying information and valid service 

addresses for each of them. Any Defendant who is not served within 90 days may 

be dismissed, without prejudice, from the lawsuit. 

Service is not appropriate at this time. 

 

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 will be appointed to assist you. 

Fifth: Do Not File Discovery. Discovery requests (such as interrogatories 

and requests for production of documents) and responses to discovery requests 

cannot be filed with the Court. Instead, you must mail discovery requests and 

responses directly to counsel for the Defendant. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d). Do not mail 

discovery requests to Defendants’ counsel until after he or she has filed an Answer 

or Motion to Dismiss. 

Sixth: Do Not Send Documents to the Court, Except in Two Situations. 

You may send documents or other evidence to the Court only if: (1) it is attached to 

a Motion for Summary Judgment, or a Response thereto; or (2) the Court orders you 

to file documents or other evidence. 

Seventh: Witnesses. If your case is set for trial, as your trial date approaches, 

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

Court will subpoena the necessary witnesses. 

 1

The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires federal courts to screen prisoner complaints 

seeking relief against a governmental entity, officer, or employee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The 

Court must dismiss a complaint or a portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that: (a) are 

legally frivolous or malicious; (b) fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (c) 

seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. Id. § 1915A(b). 

Case 4:20-cv-00423-LPR Document 2 Filed 04/21/20 Page 2 of 3
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Eighth: Filing Fee. Every civil case filed by a prisoner requires the plaintiff 

to pay a filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915. A $400 filing fee must be paid at the beginning 

of the lawsuit unless the plaintiff cannot afford to pay the entire fee at once. If you 

cannot afford to pay the filing fee in a lump sum, you may file a motion to proceed 

in forma pauperis (“IFP motion”). If you are granted IFP status, the filing fee is 

$350, which will be collected in installments from your prisoner account. 

Importantly, even if your lawsuit is later dismissed, the Court will continue to collect 

the filing fee until it has received the full amount of $350 from your prisoner account. 

 You have not paid the $400 filing fee or filed an IFP motion. You must do 

one or the other on or before May 21, 2020. If you do not do so, your case will 

be dismissed without prejudice. The Clerk is directed to send you an IFP application, 

along with an institutional trust fund account statement. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED this 21st day of April, 2020. 

 ____________________________________ 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 4:20-cv-00423-LPR Document 2 Filed 04/21/20 Page 3 of 3