Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_15-cv-00154/USCOURTS-ared-3_15-cv-00154-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Nicholas Cortez Addison
Plaintiff
Joey Martin
Defendant
Leona Willcockson
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

LEONA WILLCOCKSON

and NICHOLAS CORTEZ ADDISON PLAINTIFFS

V. CASE NO. 3:15-CV-00154 DPM/BD

JOEY MARTIN DEFENDANT

INITIAL ORDER FOR PRO SE PRISONER-PLAINTIFFS

Plaintiffs Willcockson and Addison filed this federal civil rights lawsuit pro se,

that is, without the help of a lawyer. There are rules and procedures that Plaintiffs must

follow in order to proceed with your lawsuit, even though they are not a lawyers.

First: Follow All Court Rules. Plaintiffs must comply with the Federal Rules of

Civil Procedure as well as Local Rules for the Eastern District of Arkansas. 

Copies of rules can be found in the jail library.

In particular, Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) explains requirements for plaintiffs 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. You must inform the court if you are

transferred from one unit to another. Notifying the court of your

change in address is especially important if you are released from

custody while your lawsuit is pending. 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 filed by a prisoner – including this

one – requires each plaintiff to pay a filing fee either at the beginning of the

Case 3:15-cv-00154-DPM Document 3 Filed 06/09/15 Page 1 of 2
lawsuit or, if he cannot afford to pay the entire fee in a lump sum, to apply to

proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). Although Mr. Addison filed an application to

proceed IFP, he did not submit all necessary documents. His IFP motion (docket

entry #1), therefore, is DENIED. Ms. Willcockson has neither paid the filing fee

nor filed an IFP application.

The Clerk of Court is directed to send each Plaintiff an IFP application along with

a copy of this order. Each Plaintiff must return a completed IFP application,

including an accompanying affidavit and jail account information sheet, or

pay the $400.00 filing fee within thirty (30) days of the date of this order. 

Otherwise, the 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 the case

proceeds to a jury trial, however, a lawyer will be appointed to assist Plaintiffs

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 9th day of June, 2015.

___________________________________

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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