Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00081/USCOURTS-ared-3_24-cv-00081-6/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Joshua Hoyer
Defendant
Curtis Morris
Plaintiff
Jacob White
Defendant

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

CURTIS MORRIS PLAINTIFF 

 

V. NO. 3:24-cv-00081-JM-ERE 

JACOB WHITE and 

JOSHUA HOYER1

 DEFENDANTS 

ORDER 

Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment, a brief in support, and 

a statement of undisputed facts arguing that Mr. Morris failed to exhaust his 

administrative remedies against before filing this lawsuit. Docs. 28, 29, 30. Pro se

plaintiff Curtis Morris has a right to file a response. 

At the summary judgment stage, a plaintiff cannot rest upon mere allegations 

and, instead, must meet proof with proof. See FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e). This means that 

Mr. Morris’ response should include his legal arguments, as well as affidavits,2

1 The Clerk is instructed to update the docket sheet to reflect Defendant 

Hoyer’s correct name – Joshua Hoyer. 

2 The affidavit must be either: (1) sworn and subscribed to by a notary public; or (2) 

executed under penalty of perjury, as provided for by 28 U.S.C.  1746, by including the 

following statement before the date and signature: “I declare (or certify, verify, or state) 

under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.” Additionally, the affidavit 

must be based upon the personal knowledge of the person executing the affidavit. The 

Court may not consider an affidavit unless it meets these requirements.

Case 3:24-cv-00081-JM Document 31 Filed 10/09/24 Page 1 of 3
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prison records, or other evidence to show that there is a genuine issue of material 

fact that must be resolved at a hearing or trial. 

In addition, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1,3 Mr. Morris must separately file a 

“separate, short and concise statement of the material facts as to which [he] contends 

there is no genuine dispute to be tried.” Mr. Morris’ statement of disputed facts must 

state whether he “agrees” or “disagrees” with the factual statements in each of the 

numbered paragraphs in Defendants’ statement of undisputed facts. Doc. 30. If Mr. 

Morris disagrees with any of the facts in Defendants’ statement of undisputed facts, 

he must: (1) identify each numbered paragraph that contains the facts he disputes; 

(2) for each paragraph, explain why he disputes those facts; and (3) include a citation 

to the evidence he is relying on to support his version of the disputed fact. 

If Mr. Morris relies on documents that have been previously filed in the 

record, he must specifically refer to those documents by docket number and page. 

The Court will not sift through the file to find support for Mr. Morris’ factual 

contentions. See Crossley v. Georgia-Pacific Corp., 355 F.3d 1112, 1113-14 (8th 

Cir. 2004) (affirming the grant of summary judgment because a plaintiff failed to 

properly refer to specific pages of the record that supported his position). 

3 The Local Rules for the Eastern District of Arkansas are available on the internet. 

See https://www.are.uscourts.gov/court-info/local-rules-and-orders/local-rules. 

Case 3:24-cv-00081-JM Document 31 Filed 10/09/24 Page 2 of 3
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Defendants’ motion for summary judgment concerns only whether Mr. Morris 

fully and properly exhausted the grievance process with regard to his pending claims 

against Defendants before filing this lawsuit. Therefore, Mr. Morris’ response to the 

motion should focus on that issue. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: 

1. Mr. Morris has until October 31, 2024, to file: (1) a response to 

Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the issue of exhaustion; and (2) a 

separate statement of disputed facts. As to any filing, Mr. Morris should attempt to 

comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, Local Rule 56.1, and the 

instructions in this Order. 

2. Mr. Morris is advised that the failure to timely and properly file a 

response and statement of disputed facts may result in: (1) all of the facts in 

Defendants’ statement of undisputed facts being deemed admitted, pursuant to Local 

Rule 56.1(c); and (2) the possible dismissal of Mr. Morris’ claims, without prejudice, 

pursuant to Local Rule 5.5(c)(2). 

SO ORDERED 9 October 2024. 

___________________________________ 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:24-cv-00081-JM Document 31 Filed 10/09/24 Page 3 of 3