IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
JOSEPH M. HISEL, ) ) Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-934 Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan ) LAWRENCE COUNTY ) CORRECTIONS, ) ) Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM ORDER Plaintiff, Joseph M. Hisel, is an inmate currently detained at the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet, Illinois. The Court has granted him leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 17) and he has filed a Complaint against Defendant Lawrence County Corrections (ECF Nos. 18 & 19). Upon review, the Court has determined that the Complaint is deficient in that it does not comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rule 8(a). As such, it is necessary for Plaintiff to file an amended complaint that complies with those Rules and with the following instructions. Instructions for Filing an Amended Complaint A. Caption and Heading The caption should include the name of the court, the parties, their capacities (i.e., whether they are being sued in their individual or representative (official) capacity), and the title of the pleading (i.e., Amended Complaint). To do this, Plaintiff must place his full name at the top left of the amended complaint and also add the names of each defendant. Plaintiff must 1 name as defendants only those persons who are responsible for the alleged constitutional violation(s).1 B. Parties As the person initiating the lawsuit, Plaintiff must identify himself as such. Also, for
each defendant named in the amended complaint, Plaintiff should list their current address and description of their employment. In addition, Plaintiff should explain briefly how or in what capacity each defendant acted under authority given to them by state or local government. C. Jurisdiction Because federal court is a court of limited jurisdiction, Plaintiff must inform the Court why the case should be heard in federal court rather than state court or some other forum. If Plaintiff’s action is generally one for a violation of civil rights, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 will normally be the basis for the claim. In order for Plaintiff’s action to be heard in federal court under Section 1983, he must be able to show that the defendant(s), at the time of the claims alleged in the amended complaint, were acting under the authority or color of state law.
1 Plaintiff should only name defendants who had personal involvement in the alleged wrongdoing. See Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988) (“A defendant in a civil rights action must have personal involvement in the alleged wrongs”). If Plaintiff is unaware of a defendant’s name, then he may list them as a John or Jane Doe.
While Plaintiff has named Lawrence County Corrections as a defendant, he should be aware that a jail, prison or corrections facility is not a “person” subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Crawford v. McMillan, 660 F. App’x 113, 116 (3d Cir. 2016) (“the prison is not an entity subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983”); Slagle v. Cty of Clarion, 435 F.3d 262, 264 n.3 (3d Cir. 2006) (“it is well established in the Third Circuit that a prison is not a ‘person’ subject to suit under federal civil rights laws.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Therefore, in amending his complaint, Plaintiff should take care to name as defendants only those individuals who he believes were personally involved in the alleged wrongdoing. Plaintiff is warned that if he again names the Lawrence County Corrections as the sole defendant in his amended complaint then it will be subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim.
2 D. Statement of Claim This is the time to present the facts of the case: what happened, where it happened, when it happened, how it happened and who was involved. In this section, Plaintiff should write a summary of the facts relevant to this lawsuit. Additionally, any document referred to in this
section must be cited as an exhibit and attached at the end of the amended complaint. In this section, Plaintiff must provide specific details of precisely how his civil rights were allegedly violated. Plaintiff should note that, in civil rights cases, more than conclusory and vague allegations are required to state a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff should clearly describe how each named defendant is involved in the alleged constitutional violation(s). This description should include references to relevant dates, times, and locations. It should explain to the Court what happened by specifically describing each defendant’s behavior or action and how that behavior or action – or lack of action – resulted in the alleged violations. Plaintiff should not include legal argument in his amended complaint. Citations to case law and other statutes are not appropriate in the complaint, but rather may be included in a
response to a dispositive motion or at the time of trial. However, Plaintiff should be specific about the particulars of the event, each defendant’s misconduct, and how such misconduct resulted in a violation or denial of the civil right at issue. Where the amended complaint includes more than one incident, Plaintiff should clearly distinguish between them by preparing a separate description – usually a paragraph – for each incident. Each incident should be identified as a separate count, and each count must include appropriate facts and evidence in support of the claims made in the count. Each incident must be clearly and specifically described; it should include the relevant time, date, and location. Each incident description also should clearly identify the relevant defendant and what that defendant’s 3 role was in the incident. Additionally, the amended complaint should set forth factual allegations that, taken together, satisfy the elements of the cause of action. E. Injury Plaintiff must state as specifically as possible the actual injury suffered from the action of
the defendants that resulted in the alleged civil rights violation. Simply stating that his civil rights have been violated is insufficient. F. Request for Relief Plaintiff must describe for the Court the relief he is seeking as a result of this lawsuit. The relief requested must be related specifically to the injury suffered. However, Plaintiff should be aware that 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e) limits a prisoner’s ability to pursue a federal civil action for mental or emotional injuries suffered while in custody. G. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Plaintiff should be aware that under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), he must fully exhaust all available administrative remedies before pursuing a civil rights complaint concerning prison
conditions. H. Previous Lawsuits Plaintiff must alert the Court to any other case in which he was a party that may be connected with the case he is now filing. Plaintiff should inform the Court of any and all previously filed cases that include some of the same facts and events he relies on for this case. I.
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
JOSEPH M. HISEL, ) ) Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-934 Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan ) LAWRENCE COUNTY ) CORRECTIONS, ) ) Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM ORDER Plaintiff, Joseph M. Hisel, is an inmate currently detained at the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet, Illinois. The Court has granted him leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 17) and he has filed a Complaint against Defendant Lawrence County Corrections (ECF Nos. 18 & 19). Upon review, the Court has determined that the Complaint is deficient in that it does not comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rule 8(a). As such, it is necessary for Plaintiff to file an amended complaint that complies with those Rules and with the following instructions. Instructions for Filing an Amended Complaint A. Caption and Heading The caption should include the name of the court, the parties, their capacities (i.e., whether they are being sued in their individual or representative (official) capacity), and the title of the pleading (i.e., Amended Complaint). To do this, Plaintiff must place his full name at the top left of the amended complaint and also add the names of each defendant. Plaintiff must 1 name as defendants only those persons who are responsible for the alleged constitutional violation(s).1 B. Parties As the person initiating the lawsuit, Plaintiff must identify himself as such. Also, for
each defendant named in the amended complaint, Plaintiff should list their current address and description of their employment. In addition, Plaintiff should explain briefly how or in what capacity each defendant acted under authority given to them by state or local government. C. Jurisdiction Because federal court is a court of limited jurisdiction, Plaintiff must inform the Court why the case should be heard in federal court rather than state court or some other forum. If Plaintiff’s action is generally one for a violation of civil rights, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 will normally be the basis for the claim. In order for Plaintiff’s action to be heard in federal court under Section 1983, he must be able to show that the defendant(s), at the time of the claims alleged in the amended complaint, were acting under the authority or color of state law.
1 Plaintiff should only name defendants who had personal involvement in the alleged wrongdoing. See Rode v. Dellarciprete, 845 F.2d 1195, 1207 (3d Cir. 1988) (“A defendant in a civil rights action must have personal involvement in the alleged wrongs”). If Plaintiff is unaware of a defendant’s name, then he may list them as a John or Jane Doe.
While Plaintiff has named Lawrence County Corrections as a defendant, he should be aware that a jail, prison or corrections facility is not a “person” subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Crawford v. McMillan, 660 F. App’x 113, 116 (3d Cir. 2016) (“the prison is not an entity subject to suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983”); Slagle v. Cty of Clarion, 435 F.3d 262, 264 n.3 (3d Cir. 2006) (“it is well established in the Third Circuit that a prison is not a ‘person’ subject to suit under federal civil rights laws.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). Therefore, in amending his complaint, Plaintiff should take care to name as defendants only those individuals who he believes were personally involved in the alleged wrongdoing. Plaintiff is warned that if he again names the Lawrence County Corrections as the sole defendant in his amended complaint then it will be subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim.
2 D. Statement of Claim This is the time to present the facts of the case: what happened, where it happened, when it happened, how it happened and who was involved. In this section, Plaintiff should write a summary of the facts relevant to this lawsuit. Additionally, any document referred to in this
section must be cited as an exhibit and attached at the end of the amended complaint. In this section, Plaintiff must provide specific details of precisely how his civil rights were allegedly violated. Plaintiff should note that, in civil rights cases, more than conclusory and vague allegations are required to state a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff should clearly describe how each named defendant is involved in the alleged constitutional violation(s). This description should include references to relevant dates, times, and locations. It should explain to the Court what happened by specifically describing each defendant’s behavior or action and how that behavior or action – or lack of action – resulted in the alleged violations. Plaintiff should not include legal argument in his amended complaint. Citations to case law and other statutes are not appropriate in the complaint, but rather may be included in a
response to a dispositive motion or at the time of trial. However, Plaintiff should be specific about the particulars of the event, each defendant’s misconduct, and how such misconduct resulted in a violation or denial of the civil right at issue. Where the amended complaint includes more than one incident, Plaintiff should clearly distinguish between them by preparing a separate description – usually a paragraph – for each incident. Each incident should be identified as a separate count, and each count must include appropriate facts and evidence in support of the claims made in the count. Each incident must be clearly and specifically described; it should include the relevant time, date, and location. Each incident description also should clearly identify the relevant defendant and what that defendant’s 3 role was in the incident. Additionally, the amended complaint should set forth factual allegations that, taken together, satisfy the elements of the cause of action. E. Injury Plaintiff must state as specifically as possible the actual injury suffered from the action of
the defendants that resulted in the alleged civil rights violation. Simply stating that his civil rights have been violated is insufficient. F. Request for Relief Plaintiff must describe for the Court the relief he is seeking as a result of this lawsuit. The relief requested must be related specifically to the injury suffered. However, Plaintiff should be aware that 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e) limits a prisoner’s ability to pursue a federal civil action for mental or emotional injuries suffered while in custody. G. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Plaintiff should be aware that under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), he must fully exhaust all available administrative remedies before pursuing a civil rights complaint concerning prison
conditions. H. Previous Lawsuits Plaintiff must alert the Court to any other case in which he was a party that may be connected with the case he is now filing. Plaintiff should inform the Court of any and all previously filed cases that include some of the same facts and events he relies on for this case. I. Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 provides that every pleading, written motion, and other paper must be signed by an individual attorney of record or by the pro se party. Therefore, Plaintiff must sign his amended complaint and when doing so he is making a declaration under 4 law to the Court that everything in the amended complaint is true. Plaintiff should realize that the Court can order sanctions or penalties for the filing of complaints and pleadings that are frivolous, without merit, based on false or misleading information, etc. These sanctions or penalties can take many forms including, but not limited to, dismissing the case, assessing fines,
and limiting Plaintiff’s filing privileges in federal court. AND NOW, this 15th day of December, 2021; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff shall amend his complaint as described herein and file it with the Court by January 14, 2022. Plaintiff shall clearly mark his complaint “Amended Complaint” and include the case number 2:21-cv-934 in the top right corner. The amended complaint must include all of Plaintiff’s claims and it should not refer back to the original complaint. Any claim not included in the amended complaint will be deemed waived. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall provide service copies of the amended complaint for each named defendant. This means that Plaintiff must complete accurate, identical copies of the amended complaint for EACH defendant named in the amended complaint.
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this Order will result in the recommendation that this case be dismissed for his failure to prosecute. /s/ Lisa Pupo Lenihan Lisa Pupo Lenihan United States Magistrate Judge
Cc: Joseph M. Hisel 21-3552 WCADF 95 S. Chicago St. Joliet, IL 60436 5