Source: http://tn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20070815_0000812.ETN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-05-26 04:36:32
Document Index: 741790032

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 2000', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915', '§ 1915']

FindACase™ | Johnson v. Little
Johnson v. Little
DEXTER F. JOHNSON,#130651
GEORGE LITTLE, COMMISSIONER; HOWARD CARLTON, WARDEN; AND PATRICK KELLY, CHAPLAIN
Dexter F. Johnson, an inmate in the Northeast Correctional Complex, has filed a pro se complaint for injunctive relief, alleging violations of his right to free exercise of religion, as secured by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 [RLUIPA], 42 U.S.C. § § 2000cc et seq. Plaintiff has also submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, however, a prisoner who has, on three 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 as frivolous, malicious, or for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, shall not be permitted to bring a civil action under the federal pauper statutes, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In other words, a prisoner who falls within the scope of § 1915(g) is not precluded from filing his lawsuit in federal court. He is, however, precluded from filing his lawsuit at taxpayer expense. Wilson v. Yaklich, 148 F.3d 596, 604 (6th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1139 (1999).
Records reflect that plaintiff has filed at least three prior civil rights actions which have been dismissed as frivolous. See Johnson v. Taylor, Civil Action No. 2:2000-cv-2342 (W.D. Tenn. Apr. 18, 2000) (dismissed as frivolous); Johnson v. Holland, Civil Action No. 3:99-cv-931 (E.D. Tenn. Oct. 4, 1999) (same); and Johnson v. Warren, Civil Action No. 2:95-cv-397 (E.D. Tenn. Nov. 20, 1995) (same). Therefore, the Court finds plaintiff is subject to the 3-dismissal rule in § 1915(g), which means that he may not file this action in forma pauperis unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. Plaintiff does not allege that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury and there is nothing in the complaint to suggest otherwise.
Accordingly, plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED. The Clerk is DIRECTED to file this action solely for the purpose of making a record and for statistical purposes, but this case is DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), without prejudice to plaintiff's filing of a fee-paid civil complaint.
The Court also FINDS that any appeal taken from this decision would not be taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). Therefore, should plaintiff file a notice of appeal, he is DENIED leave to proceed in forma pauperis and must submit the full appellate fee of $455.00 along with the notice.