Chenoweth v. Hill Correctional Center, No. 1:2014cv01253 - Document 9 (C.D. Ill. 2014)
Court Description: MERIT REVIEW OPINION entered by Judge Harold A. Baker on 8/13/2014. Plaintiff's Motion for Extension of Time to File a Trust Fund Ledger 5 is DENIED as unnecessary. Rule 16 Deadline 10/14/2014. See written order.(DS, ilcd) (Main Document 9 replaced on 8/13/2014) (DS, ilcd).
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E-FILED Wednesday, 13 August, 2014 12:12:03 PM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS JIMMY CHENOWETH, Plaintiff, v. S. A. GODINEZ, Director of Illinois Department of Corrections, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 14-CV-1253 MERIT REVIEW OPINION The plaintiff, proceeding pro se and incarcerated in the Danville Correctional Center was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this civil case. The case is before the Court for a merit review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. In reviewing the Complaint, the Court accepts the factual allegations as true, liberally construing them in the plaintiff's favor. Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir. 2013). The Court has reviewed the Complaint and has also held a merit review hearing in order to give the plaintiff a chance to personally explain his claims to the Court. Plaintiff is pursuing a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plaintiff s left leg is amputated above the knee. He gets around with a crutch and a prosthetic leg. Although he was placed in an ADA-compliant facility during his prior incarcerations, during this incarceration he has been denied a transfer to an ADA prison for the stated reason that only prisoners who need wheelchairs are housed in ADA prisons. As a result, the plaintiff is unable to participate in prison amenities like nondisabled prisoners, such as the law library and shower. Whether Plaintiff has exhausted his administrative remedies is unclear, but that is an affirmative defense that should be raised by the defendants, if appropriate. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED: 1. Pursuant to its merit review of the Complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court finds that the plaintiff states a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Any additional claims shall not be included in the case, Page 1 of 3 except at the Court s discretion on motion by a party for good cause shown or pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15. 2. The clerk is directed to add the Illinois Department of Corrections as a Defendant. 3. This case is now in the process of service. The plaintiff is advised to wait until counsel has appeared for the defendants before filing any motions, in order to give the defendants notice and an opportunity to respond to those motions. Motions filed before defendants' counsel has filed an appearance will generally be denied as premature. The plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the Court at this time, unless otherwise directed by the Court. 4. The Court will attempt service on the defendants by mailing each defendant a waiver of service. The defendants have 60 days from the date the waiver is sent to file an answer. If the defendants have not filed answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days of the entry of this order, the plaintiff may file a motion requesting the status of service. After the defendants have been served, the Court will enter an order setting discovery and dispositive motion deadlines. 5. With respect to a defendant who no longer works at the address provided by the plaintiff, the entity for whom that defendant worked while at that address shall provide to the Clerk said defendant's current work address, or, if not known, said defendant's forwarding address. This information shall be used only for effectuating service. Documentation of forwarding addresses shall be retained only by the Clerk and shall not be maintained in the public docket nor disclosed by the Clerk. 6. The defendants shall file an answer within 60 days of the date the waiver is sent by the Clerk. A motion to dismiss is not an answer. The answer should include all defenses appropriate under the Federal Rules. The answer and subsequent pleadings shall be to the issues and claims stated in this opinion. In general, an answer sets forth the defendants' positions. The Court does not rule on the merits of those positions unless and until a motion is filed by the defendants. Therefore, no response to the answer is necessary or will be considered. 7. This district uses electronic filing, which means that, after defense counsel has filed an appearance, defense counsel will automatically receive electronic notice of any motion or other paper filed by the plaintiff with the Clerk. The plaintiff does not need to mail to defense counsel copies of motions and other papers that the plaintiff has filed with the Clerk. However, this does not apply to discovery requests and responses. Discovery requests and responses are not filed with the Clerk. The plaintiff must mail his discovery requests and responses directly to defendants' counsel. Discovery requests or responses sent to the Clerk will be returned unfiled, unless they are attached Page 2 of 3 to and the subject of a motion to compel. Discovery does not begin until defense counsel has filed an appearance and the Court has entered a scheduling order, which will explain the discovery process in more detail. 8. Counsel for the defendants is hereby granted leave to depose the plaintiff at his place of confinement. Counsel for the defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition. 9. The plaintiff shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, of any change in his mailing address and telephone number. The plaintiff's failure to notify the Court of a change in mailing address or phone number will result in dismissal of this lawsuit, with prejudice. 10. If a defendant fails to sign and return a waiver of service to the clerk within 30 days after the waiver is sent, the Court will take appropriate steps to effect formal service through the U.S. Marshals service on that defendant and will require that defendant to pay the full costs of formal service pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(2). 11. The clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. 12. The clerk is directed to attempt service on the named defendants pursuant to the standard procedures. 13. The plaintiff has filed a letter in which he appears to ask for more time to file a trust fund ledger. The plaintiff s request is denied (5) as unnecessary. The trust fund ledger has been filed. ENTERED: August 13, 2014 FOR THE COURT: /s/ Harold A. Baker HAROLD A. BAKER UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Page 3 of 3
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