Rogers v. Scott et al, No. 3:2014cv03144 - Document 8 (C.D. Ill. 2014)
Court Description: MERIT REVIEW OPINION (See Written Opinion): The Clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The Clerk is directed to attempt service on Defendantspursuant to the standard procedures. Plaintiff's "motion for relief of filing fees" is granted in part (7). Plaintiff's deadline for paying the $8.75 is extended to August 1, 2014. If Plaintiff seeks another extension, Plaintiff m ust file a motion attaching his trust fund ledgers from May 1, 2014 to the date he files the motion. Plaintiff's petition to proceed in forma pauperis is granted (2). However, Plaintiff's in forma pauperis status may be revoked if he does not pay his $8.75 filing fee.Plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel is denied (3), with leave to refile after Plaintiff tries to obtain counsel on his own. Typically this means writing to lawyers or law firms and attaching the responses. If Plaintiff refiles his motion, he should set forth his highest educational level, any classes he has taken in prison or Rushville, and any jobs he has held in Rushville, in prison, or while free.. Entered by Judge Sue E. Myerscough on 6/23/2014. (VM, ilcd)
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E-FILED Monday, 23 June, 2014 09:08:07 AM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS DOTHAN ROGERS, Plaintiff, v. GREGG SCOTT, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 14-CV-3144 MERIT REVIEW OPINION Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and detained in the Rushville Treatment and Detention Center, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The "privilege to proceed without posting security for costs and fees is reserved to the many truly impoverished litigants who, within the District Court's sound discretion, would remain without legal remedy if such privilege were not afforded to them." Brewster v. North Am. Van Lines, Inc., 461 F.2d 649, 651 (7th Cir. 1972). Additionally, a court must dismiss cases proceeding in forma pauperis "at any time" if the action is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim, even if part of the filing fee has been paid. 28 U.S.C. Page 1 of 7 § 1915(d)(2). Accordingly, this Court grants leave to proceed in forma pauperis only if the complaint states a federal claim. In reviewing the complaint, the Court accepts the factual allegations as true, liberally construing them in Plaintiff's favor. Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir. 2013). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants have placed him in a room with another resident who is violent, unstable and who constantly threatens Plaintiff, destroys Plaintiff's property, talks to himself about raping children, stabbing Plaintiff in Plaintiff's eyes, and raping the therapists at the facility. This resident also obsessively sticks "hand made art" all over the walls, using toothpaste and food as glue, which creates a filthy living environment. Defendants have warned Plaintiff that a refusal to room with this resident will negatively impact Plaintiff's progress in therapy. These allegations state plausible claims for deliberate indifference to a serious risk of harm to Plaintiff from his roommate and deliberate indifference to the inhumane living conditions caused by that roommate. Accordingly, this case will be sent for service. IT IS ORDERED: Page 2 of 7 1. Pursuant to a review of the Complaint, the Court finds that Plaintiff states claims for deliberate indifference to a serious risk of harm to Plaintiff from his roommate and deliberate indifference to the inhumane living conditions caused by that roommate. This case proceeds solely on the claims identified in this paragraph. Any additional claims shall not be included in the case, 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. This case is now in the process of service. Plaintiff is advised to wait until counsel has appeared for Defendants before filing any motions, in order to give 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. Plaintiff need not submit any evidence to the Court at this time, unless otherwise directed by the Court. 3. The Court will attempt service on Defendants by sending each Defendant a waiver of service. Defendants have 60 days from the date the waiver of service is sent to file an Answer. If Defendants have not filed Answers or appeared through counsel within 90 days of the entry of this order, Plaintiff may file a motion Page 3 of 7 requesting the status of service. After counsel has appeared for Defendants, the Court will enter a scheduling order setting deadlines for discovery and dispositive motions. 4. With respect to a Defendant who no longer works at the address provided by 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. 5. Defendants shall file an answer within 60 days of the day the waiver of service 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. 6. Once counsel has appeared for a Defendant, Plaintiff need not send copies of his filings to that Defendant or to that Defendant's counsel. Instead, the Clerk will file Plaintiff's document electronically and send a notice of electronic filing to defense Page 4 of 7 counsel. The notice of electronic filing shall constitute service on Defendants pursuant to Local Rule 5.3. If electronic service on Defendants is not available, Plaintiff will be notified and instructed accordingly. 7. Counsel for Defendants is hereby granted leave to depose Plaintiff at Plaintiff's place of confinement. Counsel for Defendants shall arrange the time for the deposition. 8. Plaintiff shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, of any change in his mailing address and telephone number. 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. 9. 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. Marshal's 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). Page 5 of 7 10. The Clerk is directed to enter the standard qualified protective order pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. 11. The Clerk is directed to attempt service on Defendants pursuant to the standard procedures. 12. Plaintiff's "motion for relief of filing fees" is granted in part (7). Plaintiff's deadline for paying the $8.75 is extended to August 1, 2014. If Plaintiff seeks another extension, Plaintiff must file a motion attaching his trust fund ledgers from May 1, 2014 to the date he files the motion. 13. Plaintiff's petition to proceed in forma pauperis is granted (2). However, Plaintiff's in forma pauperis status may be revoked if he does not pay his $8.75 filing fee. 14. Plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel is denied (3), with leave to refile after Plaintiff tries to obtain counsel on his own. Typically this means writing to lawyers or law firms and attaching the responses. If Plaintiff refiles his motion, he should set forth his highest educational level, any classes he has taken in prison or Rushville, and any jobs he has held in Rushville, in prison, or while free. Page 6 of 7 ENTERED: June 23, 2014 FOR THE COURT: s/SUE E. MYERSCOUGH SUE E. MYERSCOUGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Page 7 of 7
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