Source: http://mo.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150720_0001092.EMO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-06-25 00:21:06
Document Index: 262792790

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1983']

| Jackson v. St. Louis County Circuit Court
Jackson v. St. Louis County Circuit Court
ADRIENNE B. JACKSON, Plaintiff,v.ST. LOUIS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, et al., Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on review of plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. #2]. In addition, plaintiff has filed a pro se motion to amend or correct the first amended complaint [Doc. #6], along with a tendered second amended complaint [Doc. #6-1]. Having reviewed plaintiff's financial information, the Court will grant her in forma pauperis status and assess an initial partial filing fee of $37.10. In addition, the Court will instruct plaintiff to file a second amended complaint in accordance with the instructions set forth below.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis is required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. If the prisoner has insufficient funds in his or her prison account to pay the entire fee, the Court must assess and, when funds exist, collect an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of (1) the average monthly deposits in the prisoner's account; or (2) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for the prior six-month period. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner is required to make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's account. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The agency having custody of the prisoner will forward these monthly payments to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds $10, until the filing fee is fully paid. Id. Plaintiff has submitted an affidavit and a certified copy of her prison account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the submission of the complaint. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), (2). A review of plaintiff's account statement indicates an average monthly deposit of $185.50, and an average monthly account balance of $66.65. Plaintiff has insufficient funds to pay the entire filing fee. Accordingly, the Court will assess an initial partial filing fee of $37.10, which is 20 percent of plaintiff's average monthly deposit.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must dismiss a complaint filed in forma pauperis if the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. An action is frivolous if it "lacks an arguable basis in either law or fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 328 (1989); Denton v. Hernandez, 112 S.Ct. 1728, 1733 (1992). An action is malicious if it is undertaken for the purpose of harassing the named defendants and not for the purpose of vindicating a cognizable right. Spencer v. Rhodes, 656 F.Supp. 458, 461-63 (E.D. N.C. 1987), aff'd 826 F.2d 1059 (4th Cir. 1987). A complaint fails to state a claim if it does not plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1974 (2007).
Plaintiff brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The precise nature of plaintiff's claims is unclear to the Court, because plaintiff has failed to set forth her claims and allegations as to each named defendant in a clear, simple, and concise manner. Even pro se litigants are required to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Because plaintiff is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, the Court will give her an opportunity to file a second amended complaint on a Court-provided form.[1] Plaintiff will be granted thirty days from the date of this Order to file a second amended complaint in accordance with the specific instructions set forth herein.
All claims in an action must be included in one, centralized complaint form, as neither the Court nor defendants wish to search through supplemental and prior pleadings in order to piece together plaintiff's claims. As such, plaintiff is warned that the filing of a second amended complaint replaces the original complaint and all previously-filed pleadings, and therefore, she must include each and every one of the claims she wishes to pursue in the second amended complaint. See, e.g., In re Wireless Telephone Federal Cost Recovery Fees Litigation, 396 F.3d 922, 928 (8th Cir. 2005). Any claims from the original complaint, supplements, and/or pleadings that are not included in the second amended complaint will be deemed abandoned and will not be considered. Id. Plaintiff is advised that the second amended complaint will replace the original and amended complaints and will be the only pleading this Court reviews. See id. If plaintiff wishes to sue defendants in their individual capacities, plaintiff must specifically say so in the second amended complaint.
Plaintiff should not attach any exhibits to the second amended complaint; all claims should be clearly set forth in the "Statement of Claim." In addition, in the "Caption" of the second amended complaint, plaintiff shall set forth the name of each defendant she wishes to sue; and in the "Statement of Claim, " plaintiff shall start by typing the first defendant's name, and under that name, she shall set forth in separate numbered paragraphs the allegations supporting her claim(s) as to that particular defendant, as well as the right(s) that she claims that particular defendant violated and the capacity in which the defendant is being sued. Plaintiff shall proceed in this manner with each of the named defendants, separately setting forth each individual name and under that name, in numbered paragraphs, the allegations specific to that particular defendant and the right(s) that she claims that particular defendant violated. The second amended complaint must contain short and plain statements showing that plaintiff is entitled to relief, the allegations must be simple, concise, and direct, and the numbered paragraphs must each be limited to a single set of circumstances. If plaintiff needs more space, she may attach additional sheets of paper to the amended complaint and identify them as part of the "Caption" or "Statement of Claim"; however, as previously stated, plaintiff shall not attach any exhibits to the pleading. Plaintiff shall sign the second amended complaint.
Plaintiff is reminded that she is required to submit her second amended complaint on a Court-provided form, and it must comply with Rules 8 and 10 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff's failure to make specific and actionable allegations against any of defendant(s) will result in that individual's dismissal from this case.[2] Last, if plaintiff fails to file a second amended complaint on a Court form within thirty days in accordance with the Court's instructions, this action may be dismissed without prejudice and without further notice.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma ...