Opinion ID: 767096
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Events giving rise to this lawsuit and proceedings in the district court.

Text: 18 In September 1997, Snider filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. 1983 against Defendant Dr. Melindez, a psychiatrist at Attica Correctional Facility (Attica). The complaint alleged that Melindez told Snider he was being punished for feeling suicidal, then repeatedly drugged him with Haldol, an antipsychotic medication, despite Snider's protestations that he was allergic to it. Snider also alleged that Melindez caused him to be placed in an uninhabitable cell while he was drugged. This cumulative mistreatment, Snider asserted, led him to experience trouble breathing and a racing . . . mind. Snider's lawsuit sought a transfer to another prison and damages for pain and suffering. 19 Snider wrote his complaint on a form apparently provided for pro se prisoner plaintiffs by the district court. The form asks plaintiffs, Is there a prisoner grievance procedure in this institution? and, Did you present the facts relating to your complaint under the prisoner grievance procedure? Snider checked the box for yes in answer to the first question and the box for no in answer to the second. 20 The district court granted Snider leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. 1915(a). It then ruled, however, that [p]laintiff's claims in this matter, while clearly raising serious issues which may otherwise state a claim under 42 U.S.C. 1983, must be dismissed for failure to comply with the [administrative exhaustion] requirements of 42 U.S.C. 1997e(a). The court ordered that the complaint be dismissed without prejudice, and directed the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York to docket [the] dismissal as a strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. 1915(g). The court's dismissal of the complaint and its entry of the strike were on its own motion, and were not preceded by notice or an opportunity for Snider to be heard in opposition. On the basis of the order, the Clerk of the Court entered judgment stating, [T]he complaint is dismissed without prejudice . . . [and] this dismissal is counted as a strike for the purposes of 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(g). Snider appealed.