Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-03-03816/USCOURTS-ca8-03-03816-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Abernathey
Appellee
Mary Brim
Appellee
John Byus
Appellee
Fitts
Appellee
Greg Harmon
Appellee
Lee
Appellee
Low
Appellee
Lucas
Appellee
Max Mobley
Appellee
Stephen M. Partin
Appellant

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

 No. 03-3396

___________

Stephen M. Partin, *

*

Appellant, *

*

v. *

*

Greg Harmon, Warden, Maximum * Appeals from the United States

Security Unit, ADC; S. Speers, * District Court for the

Infirmary Manager, Maximum Security * Eastern District of Arkansas

Unit, ADC; Max Mobley, Deputy *

Director, Arkansas Department of * [UNPUBLISHED]

Correction; J. Blankenship, *

Disciplinary Court Judge, Arkansas *

Department of Correction; J. Kleiner, *

Major, Maximum Security Unit, ADC; *

James, Assistant Warden, Maximum *

Security Unit, ADC; Abernathey, Sgt., *

Maximum Security Unit, ADC; *

Sangoseani, Dr., Maximum Security *

Unit, ADC; F. Moka, Sgt., Maximum *

Security Unit, ADC; Larry Norris, *

Director, Arkansas Department of *

Correction, *

*

Appellees. *

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___________

 No. 03-3816

___________

Stephen M. Partin, *

*

Appellant, *

*

v. *

*

Abernathey, Sgt., East Arkansas *

Regional Unit, ADC; Mary Brim, East *

Arkansas Regional Unit, ADC; Low, *

Warden, East Arkansas Regional Unit, *

ADC; Fitts, Supervisor, East Arkansas *

Regional Unit, ADC; Lucas, Manager, *

East Arkansas Regional Unit, ADC; *

John Byus, Director, Arkansas *

Department of Correction; Greg *

Harmon, Warden, East Arkansas *

Regional Unit, ADC; Lee, Dr., East *

Arkansas Regional Unit, ADC; Max *

Mobley, Deputy Director, Arkansas *

Department of Correction, *

*

Appellees. *

___________

Submitted: October 12, 2004

Filed: October 15, 2004

___________

Before WOLLMAN, McMILLIAN, and HANSEN, Circuit Judges.

___________

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PER CURIAM.

In this consolidated proceeding, Stephen Partin appeals from the final

judgments entered in the District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions prior to service and pursuant to the “three

strikes” provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). For the reasons discussed below, we

reverse and remand the judgments of the district court.

Both courts below found that Partin had had at least three prior complaints

dismissed, had not alleged facts showing that he was under imminent danger of

serious physical injury, and was thus ineligible for in forma pauperis (IFP) status

under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (prisoner may not bring

civil action or appeal IFP if prisoner has had 3 prior actions or appeals dismissed for

frivolousness, maliciousness, or failure to state a claim, “unless the prisoner is under

imminent danger of serious physical injury”).

After careful review of the pleadings, we agree with Partin that he sufficiently

alleged imminent danger of serious physical injury to meet the exception to the “three

strikes” rule of section 1915(g). According to Partin’s complaint allegations, he was

exposed to raw sewage; denied treatment for tuberculosis, prostate cancer, and colon

cancer; deprived of prosthetic support boots; denied medical care for an injured knee

and ankle; and forced to work against medical restrictions. Because Partin has

properly alleged that these serious medical needs continue to go untreated, we

conclude that Partin meets the imminent-danger exception in § 1915(g). See

McAlphin v. Toney, 281 F.3d 709, 710-11 (8th Cir. 2002) (plaintiff’s allegations of

5 tooth extractions that had been delayed, and spreading tooth infection, were

sufficient to meet imminent-danger exception); Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715,

717 (8th Cir. 1998) (per curiam) (imminent-danger standard was satisfied when

inmate alleged that despite his repeated complaints and having been stabbed twice

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before, prison staff continued to place him near his known enemies and threatened to

transfer him near his enemies).

Accordingly, we reverse the judgments of the district court and remand the

cases for further proceedings with directions that Partin be permitted to file his

complaint pursuant to § 1915 without the full payment of the filing fee up front. We

also respectfully suggest that the two cases be consolidated on remand.

______________________________

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