Mack v. Olson et al, No. 3:2014cv03370 - Document 20 (C.D. Ill. 2015)
Court Description: MERIT REVIEW OPINION AND CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER entered by Judge Harold A. Baker on 2/5/2015. Rule 16 Deadline 4/6/2015. See written order. (KE, ilcd)
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Mack v. Olson et al Doc. 20 E-FILED Thursday, 05 February, 2015 03:50:55 PM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS HENRY L. MACK, Plaintiff, v. M. OLSON, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 14-CV-3370 MERIT REVIEW AND CASE MANAGEMENT ORDER The plaintiff, proceeding pro se and incarcerated in Western Correctional Center, was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 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 video merit review hearing in order to give the plaintiff a chance to personally explain his claims to the court. Plaintiff had originally filed his Complaint in the Southern District alleging actions which occurred at Menard and Western. Judge Reagan severed the cases by Order of 9/17/14 transferring the Western Illinois actions, Claims II and III, to the Central District. A review of the complaint reveals that when Plaintiff was transferred to Western on 3/6/2013, he had a looming deadline in which to respond to a motion for summary judgment in 12-986. Plaintiff claims he placed the Response in an envelope and gave it to a corrections officer. The librarian, M. Olson told Plaintiff that she did not have the envelope and that it had likely been discarded as the delivery was not in compliance with the rules. Plaintiff alleges that Olson discarded his filing in retaliation for his having filed other lawsuits. Plaintiff’s retaliation claim will go forward. The plaintiff also alleges claims of deliberate indifference as to Doctor Baker and Nurse Practitioner Mills in their treatment of his diverticulosis, however, attempts to impermissibly join unrelated defendants and unrelated claims. See Owens v. Hinsley, 635 F.3d 950, 952 (7th Cir. 2011). See also, George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007)("Unrelated claims against different defendants belong in different suits . . ."). If Plaintiff seeks to pursue the claims against Baker and Mills, he must file within 28 days, a motion to sever these claims from this case. If Plaintiff does not file a motion to sever, Page 1 of 3 Dockets.Justia.com these claims will be dismissed without prejudice to refiling, subject to any applicable statute of limitations. The court concludes that the plaintiff has stated a claim for retaliation and the case will accordingly be sent for service. 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 First Amendment claim for retaliation against defendants M. Olson, Librarian, and Warden Williams. 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. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. Page 2 of 3 6. 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 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 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. 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). 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 the defendants Olson and Williams pursuant to the standard procedures. No service will be attempted on Doctor Baker or Nurse Practitioner Mills at this time. Entered this 5th day of February, 2015. /s/Harold A. Baker ___________________________________________ HAROLD A. BAKER UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Page 3 of 3
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