ROBERTS v. MORRIS et al, No. 4:2014cv00102 - Document 4 (S.D. Ind. 2014)

Court Description: ENTRY GRANTING IN FORMA PAUPERIS STATUS, DISCUSSING COMPLAINT, DISMISSING INSUFFICIENT CLAIMS, AND DIRECTING FURTHER PROCEEDINGS - The plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis 2 is granted. No assessment of an initial partial filing fe e is feasible at this time. The Floyd County Jail, to the extent it is also named as a defendant, is dismissed because it is a building. The claim against Officer Vest is dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. No p artial final judgment shall issue as to the claims dismissed in this Entry. The clerk shall update the docket to reflect the dismissal of defendant Officer Vest and the Floyd County Jail. The claim of excessive force alleged against Officer Morris shall proceed. The clerk shall issue and serve process on defendant Officer D. Morris. Process in this case shall consist of the complaint filed on 8/25/2014, applicable forms, and this Entry. Copy sent to pltf via U.S. Mail. Signed by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on 9/4/2014. (JLM)

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ROBERTS v. MORRIS et al Doc. 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA NEW ALBANY DIVISION DONALD BRUCE ROBERTS, Plaintiff, vs. OFFICER D. MORRIS, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 4:14-cv-0102-TWP-WGH Entry Granting In Forma Pauperis Status, Discussing Complaint, Dismissing Insufficient Claims, and Directing Further Proceedings The plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (dkt. 2) is granted. No assessment of an initial partial filing fee is feasible at this time. I. Background Because plaintiff Donald Bruce Roberts is a A prisoner@ as defined by 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(h) when he filed his complaint, the Court has screened his complaint as required by 28 U.S.C. ' 1915A(b). Pursuant to this statute, “[a] complaint is subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim if the allegations, taken as true, show that plaintiff is not entitled to relief.” Jones v. Bock, 127 S. Ct. 910, 921 (2007). Mr. Roberts’ claims are brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He is confined at the Floyd County Jail. He brings this civil rights complaint against two defendants: 1) Officer D. Morris and 2) Officer R. Vest. 1 He alleges that on March 17, 2014, Officer Morris kicked him twice while he was brushing his teeth. Mr. Roberts further alleges that on May 24, 2014, Officer Vest told a visitor that he, Mr. Roberts, was a “n- hating honky.” He seeks compensatory damages. 1 The Floyd County Jail, to the extent it is also named as a defendant, is dismissed because it is a building, not a “person” subject to suit under section 1983. Dockets.Justia.com II. Screening To satisfy the notice-pleading standard of Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a complaint must provide a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Such a statement must provide the defendant with “fair notice” of the claim and its basis. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93 (2007) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). The complaint “must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. . . . A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation omitted). Pro se complaints such as that filed by Mr. Roberts are construed liberally and held to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. Erickson, 551 U.S. at 94; Obriecht v. Raemisch, 517 F.3d 489, 491 n.2 (7th Cir. 2008). Calling an inmate derogatory names is unprofessional but it does not rise to the level of a constitutional violation. See Patton v. Przybylski, 822 F.2d 697, 700 (7th Cir. 1987) (making racially derogatory remarks is unprofessional and inexcusable but does not support a constitutional claim); McDowell v. Jones, 990 F.2d 433, 434 (8th Cir. 1993) (verbal threats and name calling are not actionable under section 1983). The claim against Officer Vest is dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. No partial final judgment shall issue as to the claims dismissed in this Entry. The clerk shall update the docket to reflect the dismissal of defendant Officer Vest and the Floyd County Jail. III. Service of Process The claim of excessive force alleged against Officer Morris shall proceed. The clerk shall issue and serve process on defendant Officer D. Morris in the manner specified by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2). Process in this case shall consist of the complaint filed on August 25, 2014, applicable forms, and this Entry. IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: 9/4/2014 Distribution: Donald Bruce Roberts #24506 Floyd County Jail Inmate Mail/Parcels P. O. Box 1406 New Albany, IN 47150 ________________________ Hon. Tanya Walton Pratt, Judge United States District Court Southern District of Indiana Officer D. Morris Floyd County Jail P. O. Box 1406 New Albany, IN 47150 NOTE TO CLERK: PROCESSING THIS DOCUMENT REQUIRES ACTIONS IN ADDITION TO DOCKETING AND DISTRIBUTION.

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