UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 21-cv-21039-BLOOM
KENNETH WAYNE KOLB,
Plaintiff,
v.
FRANK PAPILLON, et al.,
Defendant. / ORDER THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Plaintiff Kenneth Wayne Kolb’s Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, (“Complaint”), ECF No. [1], and his Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis (“Motion”), ECF No. [3]. For reasons set forth below, the Motion is denied and the Complaint is dismissed with leave to amend. I. MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS Civil complaints filed by prisoners seeking in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 are subject to the provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”). In order to promote the speedy, just, and efficient administration of civil rights complaints subject to the PLRA, the court has established forms to be used by prisoners for filing civil rights actions. The court- approved form consists of (1) a cover sheet, (2) a complaint, (3) an application to proceed in forma pauperis, and (4) an authorization form. The authorization form, when completed by the plaintiff, directs the agency holding the plaintiff in custody to forward to the clerk of court a certified copy of the plaintiff’s institutional trust fund account and to disburse from the plaintiff’s account the full statutory filing fee in amounts specified by § 1915(b). Properly completing and filing the authorization form satisfies the plaintiff’s obligation under § 1915(a)(2) to submit a certified copy of the plaintiff’s trust fund account with the complaint. Plaintiff’s Motion is not on the proper form nor is it accompanied by a certified copy of his inmate account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint.1 Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis is denied. Plaintiff may re-file his
Application using the court-approved form or he may pay the filing fee of $402.00 by the filing deadline. II. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS Plaintiff alleges on September 2, 2020 at approximately 1:00-2:00 A.M., while handcuffed behind his back, Defendants C.O. Perez and Patterson were escorting Plaintiff to the shower. ECF No. [1] at ¶ 9. In violation of written security policy, Defendants had no contact with Plaintiff and instead followed closely behind Plaintiff. Id. Plaintiff walked down a set of stairs leading to the showers, unassisted, and slipped in a puddle of standing water in front of the first shower. Id. at ¶ 11. Plaintiff struck his head on the concrete floor and suffered injuries to his face, including a gash
over his left eye that required stitches and a broken nose. Id. at ¶¶ 11-12. Plaintiff was escorted to medical shortly after the accident and told to stay overnight until a doctor arrived in the morning. Id. at ¶ 13. Defendants Perez and Patterson left plaintiff handcuffed to the infirmary bed, “all night bleeding for hours without treatment or calling a doctor that is required to be on 24 hour call.” Id. at ¶ 32 Defendant Dr. Frank Papillon gave Plaintiff stiches over his left eye and examined his nose but did not give him anything to treat that injury. Id. at ¶ 13. Plaintiff was then sent back to his confinement unit. Id. X-rays of his broken nose were never taken. Id. at ¶ 16.
1 Plaintiff provided an account statement but it was only for the period of January 1, 2021 – January 31, 2021. See ECF No. [3-1]. On September 9, 2020, with stitches in his eye, a swollen black eye, and a broken nose, Plaintiff was transferred from Dade Correctional Institute to Tomoka Correctional Institute. Id. at ¶ 15. Following the transfer, Plaintiff filed a series of grievances regarding the incident and subsequent medical care at Dade Correctional Institution. Id. at ¶¶ 16-27. As a result of his injury,
Plaintiff suffers from blurred vision, severe headaches, and constriction of his air passage where his nose is broken making it difficult for him to breathe. Id. at ¶ 12. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Papillon, Perez, and Patterson violated his Eighth Amendment rights and that their actions have caused “pain, suffering, physical injury, and emotional distress.” Id. at ¶¶ 30-31. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages in the amount of $20,000 and $10,000 in punitive damages against each defendant. Id. at ¶¶ 2-3. III. STANDARD OF REVIEW The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), as partially codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii), requires courts to screen prisoner complaints and dismiss as frivolous claims that are “based on an indisputably meritless legal theory” or “whose factual contentions are
clearly baseless.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992); Pullen v. Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., No. 19-11797-C, 2019 WL 5784952, at *1 (11th Cir. Sept. 4, 2019) (“[A]n action is frivolous if it is without arguable merit either in law or fact.”) (quoting Napier v. Preslicka, 314 F.3d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 2002)). Under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii), a complaint may be dismissed if the court determines that the complaint fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted. Wright v. Miranda, 740 F. App’x 692, 694 (11th Cir. 2018). The standard for determining whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted is the same whether under section 1915(e)(2)(B) or Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). See Pullen, No. 19-11797-C, WL 5784952, at *1 (citing Mitchell v. Farcass, 112 F.3d 1483, 1490 (11th Cir. 1997)). Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). There is no required technical form, but “each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(d)(1).
The statement must “give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quotation marks omitted). Thus, “a complaint must allege sufficient facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face.” Pullen, No. 19-11797-C, 2019 WL 5784952 at *1 (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)). The “factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). Plaintiff is obligated to allege “more than mere labels and legal conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Quality Auto Painting Ctr. of Roselle, Inc. v. State Farm Indemnity Co., 917 F.3d 1249, 1262 (11th Cir. 2019) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 555). However, a district court is not required to “rewrite an otherwise deficient pleading in order
to sustain an action.” Rodriguez, 794 F.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 21-cv-21039-BLOOM
KENNETH WAYNE KOLB,
Plaintiff,
v.
FRANK PAPILLON, et al.,
Defendant. / ORDER THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Plaintiff Kenneth Wayne Kolb’s Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, (“Complaint”), ECF No. [1], and his Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis (“Motion”), ECF No. [3]. For reasons set forth below, the Motion is denied and the Complaint is dismissed with leave to amend. I. MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS Civil complaints filed by prisoners seeking in forma pauperis status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 are subject to the provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”). In order to promote the speedy, just, and efficient administration of civil rights complaints subject to the PLRA, the court has established forms to be used by prisoners for filing civil rights actions. The court- approved form consists of (1) a cover sheet, (2) a complaint, (3) an application to proceed in forma pauperis, and (4) an authorization form. The authorization form, when completed by the plaintiff, directs the agency holding the plaintiff in custody to forward to the clerk of court a certified copy of the plaintiff’s institutional trust fund account and to disburse from the plaintiff’s account the full statutory filing fee in amounts specified by § 1915(b). Properly completing and filing the authorization form satisfies the plaintiff’s obligation under § 1915(a)(2) to submit a certified copy of the plaintiff’s trust fund account with the complaint. Plaintiff’s Motion is not on the proper form nor is it accompanied by a certified copy of his inmate account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint.1 Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis is denied. Plaintiff may re-file his
Application using the court-approved form or he may pay the filing fee of $402.00 by the filing deadline. II. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS Plaintiff alleges on September 2, 2020 at approximately 1:00-2:00 A.M., while handcuffed behind his back, Defendants C.O. Perez and Patterson were escorting Plaintiff to the shower. ECF No. [1] at ¶ 9. In violation of written security policy, Defendants had no contact with Plaintiff and instead followed closely behind Plaintiff. Id. Plaintiff walked down a set of stairs leading to the showers, unassisted, and slipped in a puddle of standing water in front of the first shower. Id. at ¶ 11. Plaintiff struck his head on the concrete floor and suffered injuries to his face, including a gash
over his left eye that required stitches and a broken nose. Id. at ¶¶ 11-12. Plaintiff was escorted to medical shortly after the accident and told to stay overnight until a doctor arrived in the morning. Id. at ¶ 13. Defendants Perez and Patterson left plaintiff handcuffed to the infirmary bed, “all night bleeding for hours without treatment or calling a doctor that is required to be on 24 hour call.” Id. at ¶ 32 Defendant Dr. Frank Papillon gave Plaintiff stiches over his left eye and examined his nose but did not give him anything to treat that injury. Id. at ¶ 13. Plaintiff was then sent back to his confinement unit. Id. X-rays of his broken nose were never taken. Id. at ¶ 16.
1 Plaintiff provided an account statement but it was only for the period of January 1, 2021 – January 31, 2021. See ECF No. [3-1]. On September 9, 2020, with stitches in his eye, a swollen black eye, and a broken nose, Plaintiff was transferred from Dade Correctional Institute to Tomoka Correctional Institute. Id. at ¶ 15. Following the transfer, Plaintiff filed a series of grievances regarding the incident and subsequent medical care at Dade Correctional Institution. Id. at ¶¶ 16-27. As a result of his injury,
Plaintiff suffers from blurred vision, severe headaches, and constriction of his air passage where his nose is broken making it difficult for him to breathe. Id. at ¶ 12. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants Papillon, Perez, and Patterson violated his Eighth Amendment rights and that their actions have caused “pain, suffering, physical injury, and emotional distress.” Id. at ¶¶ 30-31. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages in the amount of $20,000 and $10,000 in punitive damages against each defendant. Id. at ¶¶ 2-3. III. STANDARD OF REVIEW The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), as partially codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii), requires courts to screen prisoner complaints and dismiss as frivolous claims that are “based on an indisputably meritless legal theory” or “whose factual contentions are
clearly baseless.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992); Pullen v. Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., No. 19-11797-C, 2019 WL 5784952, at *1 (11th Cir. Sept. 4, 2019) (“[A]n action is frivolous if it is without arguable merit either in law or fact.”) (quoting Napier v. Preslicka, 314 F.3d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 2002)). Under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii), a complaint may be dismissed if the court determines that the complaint fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted. Wright v. Miranda, 740 F. App’x 692, 694 (11th Cir. 2018). The standard for determining whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted is the same whether under section 1915(e)(2)(B) or Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). See Pullen, No. 19-11797-C, WL 5784952, at *1 (citing Mitchell v. Farcass, 112 F.3d 1483, 1490 (11th Cir. 1997)). Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, a complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). There is no required technical form, but “each allegation must be simple, concise, and direct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(d)(1).
The statement must “give the defendant fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quotation marks omitted). Thus, “a complaint must allege sufficient facts to state a claim that is plausible on its face.” Pullen, No. 19-11797-C, 2019 WL 5784952 at *1 (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)). The “factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 555 (citations omitted). Plaintiff is obligated to allege “more than mere labels and legal conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Quality Auto Painting Ctr. of Roselle, Inc. v. State Farm Indemnity Co., 917 F.3d 1249, 1262 (11th Cir. 2019) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. at 555). However, a district court is not required to “rewrite an otherwise deficient pleading in order
to sustain an action.” Rodriguez, 794 F. App’x at 603) (quotation marks omitted) (citation omitted) (quoting Campbell v. Air Jamaica Ltd., 760 F.3d 1165, 1169 (11th Cir. 2014)). Moreover, a district court “should not abandon its neutral role and begin creating arguments for a party, even an unrepresented one.” Sims v. Hastings, 375 F. Supp. 2d 715, 718 (N.D. Ill. 2005) (citing Anderson v. Hardman, 241 F.3d 544, 545 (7th Cir. 2001)). When read liberally, a pro se pleading “should be interpreted ‘to raise the strongest arguments that [it] suggest[s].’” Graham v. Henderson, 89 F.3d 75, 79 (2d Cir. 1996) (quoting Burgos v. Hopkins, 14 F.3d 787, 790 (2d Cir. 1994)). Notwithstanding the leniency afforded to pro se litigants, it does not permit them to file an impermissible “shotgun” pleading. The Eleventh Circuit has identified four types or categories of shotgun pleadings. See Weiland v. Palm Beach Cnty. Sheriff’s Office, 792 F.3d 1313, 1321-23 (11th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted). The most common type of shotgun pleading is one “containing multiple counts where each count adopts the allegations of all preceding counts, causing each successive count to carry all that
came before and the last count to be a combination of the entire complaint.” Id. The next most common type is a complaint that is “replete with conclusory, vague, and immaterial facts not obviously connected to any particular cause of action.” Id. The third type of shotgun pleading is one that does not separate into a different count each cause of action or claim for relief. Id. Fourth, and finally, there is the relatively rare shotgun pleading that asserts multiple claims against multiple defendants without specifying which of the defendants are responsible for which acts or omissions or which of the defendants the claim is brought against. Id. “The unifying characteristic of all types of shotgun pleadings is that they fail to one degree or another, and in one way or another, to give the defendants adequate notice of the claims against them and the grounds upon which each claim rests.” Id. The Eleventh Circuit has repeatedly
condemned the use of shotgun pleadings for “imped[ing] the administration of the district courts’ civil docket.” PVC Windoors, Inc. v. Babbitbay Beach Constr., N.V., 598 F.3d 802, 806 n. 4 (11th Cir. 2010). Indeed, shotgun pleadings require the court to sift through rambling and often incomprehensible allegations in an attempt to separate the meritorious claims from the unmeritorious, resulting in a “massive waste of judicial and private resources.” Id. (citation omitted). The Eleventh Circuit, thus, has established that shotgun pleading is an unacceptable form of establishing a claim for relief. Strategic Income Fund, LLC v. Spear, Leeds & Kellogg Corp., 305 F.3d 1293, 1296 (11th Cir. 2002). IV. DISCUSSION As pled, there are several deficiencies with Plaintiff’s initial Complaint. See generally ECF No. [1]. First, Plaintiff’s Complaint is not on the proper form. Second, because the Complaint identifies more than one defendant, adherence to Fed. R. Civ. P. 10 should be followed more
closely. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b), “[a] party must state its claims or defenses in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of circumstances.” To promote clarity, “each claim founded on a separate transaction or occurrence . . . must be stated in a separate count or defense.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(b). Here, Plaintiff’s claims against multiple defendants would be clearer if different claims were separated by count. See Weiland, 792 F.3d at 1321-23. Consistent with the goal of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, the amended complaint and its memorandum shall not exceed twenty pages in length. Third, Plaintiff’s Complaint would be clearer if Plaintiff described the allegations for his Eighth Amendment claims with more specificity. If Plaintiff intends to raise claims that Defendants were deliberately indifferent to a serious medical need in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights, Plaintiff should state this with clarity.
This is not an exhaustive list of the potential deficiencies in Plaintiff’s Complaint. Because this Court is not unsympathetic, Plaintiff may have an opportunity to rectify his complaint. Plaintiff is instructed to follow the directives and applicable rules articulated in this order if he still wishes to pursue this action. V. CONCLUSION Plaintiff’s allegations fail to state a viable § 1983 claim against the named Defendants. In order to proceed, Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint on the appropriate form providing sufficient, factual allegations to permit the Court to review his complaint. Plaintiff is reminded that he must state with specificity the facts supporting his claims. Plaintiff is also cautioned that each claim should be numbered in a separate paragraph and should be set forth using short and plain statements, with numbered paragraphs stating why the relief requested should be granted. Furthermore, the petition must be verified – that is – signed and dated under the penalty of perjury, pursuant to Local Rule 88.2(a)(4). Consistent with the goal of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, the amended
complaint and its memorandum shall not exceed twenty pages in length. Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows: 1. Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis ECF No. [3] is DENIED without prejudice. 2. On or before April 19, 2021, Plaintiff shall either pay the $402.00 filing fee or may renew his motion to proceed in forma pauperis. 3. If Plaintiff renews his motion to proceed in forma pauperis, he must have the certificate concerning his jail account completed by an officer of the institution and attach a certified copy of his jail account for the six-month period preceding the filing of the Complaint in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
4. The failure to pay the filing fee or renew his motion to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with the foregoing instructions will result in dismissal of this case. 5. Consistent with the purpose of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, Plaintiff is granted leave to file an Amended Complaint not to exceed twenty pages in length. 6. By April 19, 2021, Plaintiff shall file an Amended Complaint, signed under the penalty of perjury, providing a short and plain statement of a claim for relief, a basis for federal jurisdiction, and a demand for judgment. The Plaintiff shall be provided a form complaint for use. 7. The Amended Complaint must be labeled “Amended Complaint” and must set forth Case No. 21-cv-21039-BLOOM
Case No.: 21-CV-21039-BLOOM, so that it can be properly filed in this case. 8. The Amended Complaint must contain a separate paragraph as to each named Defendant explaining what that Defendant did and the supporting facts to show why that person is being sued. 9. Plaintiff is warned that failure to file the Amended Complaint on time and in compliance with this Court’s orders will result in dismissal of this case for failure to prosecute or failure to comply with court orders. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, on March 22, 2021.
BETH BLOOM UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Forms attached Copies to: Counsel of Record Kenneth Wayne Kolb, Pro Se #069540 Tomoka Correctional Institution 3950 Tiger Bay Road Daytona Beach, FL 32124
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the
) Plaintiff/Petitioner ) v. ) Civil Action No. ) Defendant/Respondent ) APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN DISTRICT COURT WITHOUT PREPAYING FEES OR COSTS (Short Form) I am a plaintiff or petitioner in this case and declare that I am unable to pay the costs of these proceedings and that I am entitled to the relief requested. In support of this application, I answer the following questions under penalty of perjury: 1. If incarcerated. I am being held at: . If employed there, or have an account in the institution, I have attached to this document a statement certified by the appropriate institutional officer showing all receipts, expenditures, and balances during the last six months for any institutional account in my name. I am also submitting a similar statement from any other institution where I was incarcerated during the last six months. 2. If not incarcerated. If I am employed, my employer’s name and address are: My gross pay or wages are: $ , and my take-home pay or wages are: $ per (specify pay period) . 3. Other Income. In the past 12 months, I have received income from the following sources (check all that apply): (a) Business, profession, or other self-employment ’ Yes ’ No (b) Rent payments, interest, or dividends ’ Yes ’ No (c) Pension, annuity, or life insurance payments ’ Yes ’ No (d) Disability, or worker’s compensation payments ’ Yes ’ No (e) Gifts, or inheritances ’ Yes ’ No (f) Any other sources ’ Yes ’ No If you answered “Yes” to any question above, describe below or on separate pages each source of money and state the amount that you received and what you expect to receive in the future. AO 240 (Rev. 07/10) Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short Form)
4, Amount of money that I have in cash or in a checking or savings account: $ . 5. Any automobile, real estate, stock, bond, security, trust, jewelry, art work, or other financial instrument or thing of value that I own, including any item of value held in someone else’s name (describe the property and its approximate value):
6. Any housing, transportation, utilities, or loan payments, or other regular monthly expenses (describe and provide the amount of the monthly expense):
7. Names (or, if under 18, initials only) of all persons who are dependent on me for support, my relationship with each person, and how much I contribute to their support:
8. Any debts or financial obligations (describe the amounts owed and to whom they are payable):
Declaration: I declare under penalty of perjury that the above information is true and understand that a false statement may result in a dismissal of my claims.
Date: Applicant’s signature
Printed name
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE __________ DISTRICT OF __________ __________ DIVISION (Write the District and Division, if any, of the court in which the complaint is filed.)
_________________________________________ Complaint for Violation of Civil _________________________________________ Rights _________________________________________ (Prisoner Complaint) (Write the full name of each plaintiff who is filing this complaint. If the names of all the plaintiffs Case No. _______________________ cannot fit in the space above, please write “see (to be filled in by the Clerk’s Office) attached” in the space and attach an additional page with the full list of names.) Jury Trial: ☐ Yes ☐ No (check one) -against- _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ (Write the full name of each defendant who is being sued. If the names of all the defendants cannot fit in the space above, please write “see attached” in the space and attach an additional page with the full list of names. Do not include addresses here.)
NOTICE
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5.2 addresses the privacy and security concerns resulting from public access to electronic court files. Under this rule, papers filed with the court should not contain: an individual’s full social security number or full birth date; the full name of a person known to be a minor; or a complete financial account number. A filing may include only: the last four digits of a social security number; the year of an individual’s birth; a minor’s initials; and the last four digits of a financial account number.
Except as noted in this form, plaintiff need not send exhibits, affidavits, grievance or witness statements, or any other materials to the Clerk’s Office with this complaint.
In order for your complaint to be filed, it must be accompanied by the filing fee or an application to I. The Parties to This Complaint A. The Plaintiff(s) Provide the information below for each plaintiff named in the complaint. Attach additional pages if needed. Name __________________________________________ All other names by which you have been known: __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ID Number __________________________________________ Current Institution __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ B. The Defendant(s) Provide the information below for each defendant named in the complaint, whether the defendant is an individual, a government agency, an organization, or a corporation. Make sure that the defendant(s) listed below are identical to those contained in the above caption. For an individual defendant, include the person’s job or title (if known) and check whether you are bringing this complaint against them in their individual capacity or official capacity, or both. Attach additional pages if needed. Defendant No. 1 Name __________________________________________ Job or Title __________________________________________ (if known) Shield Number __________________________________________ Employer __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ☐ Individual capacity ☐ Official capacity Defendant No. 2 Name __________________________________________ Job or Title __________________________________________ (if known) Shield Number __________________________________________ Employer __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ☐ Individual capacity ☐ Official capacity Defendant No. 3 Name __________________________________________ Job or Title __________________________________________ (if known) Shield Number __________________________________________ Employer __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ☐ Individual capacity ☐ Official capacity Defendant No. 4 Name __________________________________________ Job or Title __________________________________________ (if known) Shield Number __________________________________________ Employer __________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ☐ Individual capacity ☐ Official capacity II. Basis for Jurisdiction Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, you may sue state or local officials for the “deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and [federal laws].” Under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), you may sue federal officials for the violation of certain constitutional rights. A. Are you bringing suit against (check all that apply): ☐ Federal officials (a Bivens claim) ☐ State or local officials (a § 1983 claim) B. Section 1983 allows claims alleging the “deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and [federal laws].” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. If you are suing under section 1983, what federal constitutional or statutory right(s) do you claim is/are being violated by state or local officials? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ C. Plaintiffs suing under Bivens may only recover for the violation of certain constitutional rights. If you are suing under Bivens, what constitutional right(s) do you claim is/are being violated by federal officials? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ D. Section 1983 allows defendants to be found liable only when they have acted “under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. If you are suing under section 1983, explain how each defendant acted under color of state or local law. If you are suing under Bivens, explain how each defendant acted under color of federal law. Attach additional pages if needed. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ III. Prisoner Status Indicate whether you are a prisoner or other confined person as follows (check all that apply): ☐ Pretrial detainee ☐ Civilly committed detainee ☐ Immigration detainee ☐ Convicted and sentenced state prisoner ☐ Convicted and sentenced federal prisoner ☐ Other (explain) ______________________________ IV. Statement of Claim State as briefly as possible the facts of your case. Describe how each defendant was personally involved in the alleged wrongful action, along with the dates and locations of all relevant events. You may wish to include further details such as the names of other persons involved in the events giving rise to your claims. Do not cite any cases or statutes. If more than one claim is asserted, number each claim and write a short and plain statement of each claim in a separate paragraph. Attach additional pages if needed. A. If the events giving rise to your claim arose outside an institution, describe where and when they arose. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ B. If the events giving rise to your claim arose in an institution, describe where and when they arose. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ C. What date and approximate time did the events giving rise to your claim(s) occur? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ D. What are the facts underlying your claim(s)? (For example: What happened to you? Who did what? Was anyone else involved? Who else saw what happened?) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ V. Injuries If you sustained injuries related to the events alleged above, describe your injuries and state what medical treatment, if any, you required and did or did not receive. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ VI. Relief State briefly what you want the court to do for you. Make no legal arguments. Do not cite any cases or statutes. If requesting money damages, include the amounts of any actual damages and/or punitive damages claimed for the acts alleged. Explain the basis for these claims. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ VII. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Administrative Procedures The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), requires that “[n]o action shall be brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983 of this title, or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility until such administrative remedies as are available are exhausted.” Administrative remedies are also known as grievance procedures. Your case may be dismissed if you have not exhausted your administrative remedies. A. Did your claim(s) arise while you were confined in a jail, prison, or other correctional facility? ☐ Yes ☐ No If yes, name the jail, prison, or other correctional facility where you were confined at the time of the events giving rise to your claim(s). __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ B. Does the jail, prison, or other correctional facility where your claim(s) arose have a grievance procedure? ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Do not know C. Does the grievance procedure at the jail, prison, or other correctional facility where your claim(s) arose cover some or all of your claims? ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Do not know If yes, which claim(s)? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ D. Did you file a grievance in the jail, prison, or other correctional facility where your claim(s) arose concerning the facts relating to this complaint? ☐ Yes ☐ No If no, did you file a grievance about the events described in this complaint at any other jail, prison, or other correctional facility? ☐ Yes ☐ No E. If you did file a grievance: 1. Where did you file the grievance? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 2. What did you claim in your grievance? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3. What was the result, if any? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 4. What steps, if any, did you take to appeal that decision? Is the grievance process completed? If not, explain why not. (Describe all efforts to appeal to the highest level of the grievance process.) ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ F. If you did not file a grievance: 1. If there are any reasons why you did not file a grievance, state them here: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 2. If you did not file a grievance but you did inform officials of your claim, state who you informed, when and how, and their response, if any: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ G. Please set forth any additional information that is relevant to the exhaustion of your administrative remedies. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ (Note: You may attach as exhibits to this complaint any documents related to the exhaustion of your administrative remedies.) VIII. Previous Lawsuits The “three strikes rule” bars a prisoner from bringing a civil action or an appeal in federal court without paying the filing fee if that prisoner has “on three or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). To the best of your knowledge, have you had a case dismissed based on this “three strikes rule”? ☐ Yes ☐ No If so, state which court dismissed your case, when this occurred, and attach a copy of the order if possible. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ A. Have you filed other lawsuits in state or federal court dealing with the same facts involved in this action? ☐ Yes ☐ No B. If your answer to A is yes, describe each lawsuit by answering questions 1 through 7 below. (If there is more than one lawsuit, describe the additional lawsuits on another page, using the same format.) 1. Parties to the previous lawsuit Plaintiff(s) ________________________________________________ Defendant(s) ________________________________________________ 2. Court (if federal court, name the district; if state court, name the county and State) ____________________________________________________________ 3. Docket or index number ____________________________________________________________ 4. Name of Judge assigned to your case ____________________________________________________________ 5. Approximate date of filing lawsuit ____________________________________________________________ 6. Is the case still pending? ☐ Yes ☐ No If no, give the approximate date of disposition. _____________________ 7. What was the result of the case? (For example: Was the case dismissed? Was judgment entered in your favor? Was the case appealed?) ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ C. Have you filed other lawsuits in state or federal court otherwise relating to the conditions of your imprisonment? ☐ Yes ☐ No D. If your answer to C is yes, describe each lawsuit by answering questions 1 through 7 below. (If there is more than one lawsuit, describe the additional lawsuits on another page, using the same format.) 1. Parties to the previous lawsuit Plaintiff(s) ________________________________________________ Defendant(s) ________________________________________________ 2. Court (if federal court, name the district; if state court, name the county and State) ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ 3. Docket or index number ____________________________________________________________ 4. Name of Judge assigned to your case ____________________________________________________________ 5. Approximate date of filing lawsuit ____________________________________________________________ 6. Is the case still pending? ☐ Yes ☐ No If no, give the approximate date of disposition. _____________________ 7. What was the result of the case? (For example: Was the case dismissed? Was judgment entered in your favor? Was the case appealed?) ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ IX. Certification and Closing Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, by signing below, I certify to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief that this complaint: (1) is not being presented for an improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation; (2) is supported by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law; (3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and (4) the complaint otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 11. A. For Parties Without an Attorney I agree to provide the Clerk’s Office with any changes to my address where case- related papers may be served. I understand that my failure to keep a current address on file with the Clerk’s Office may result in the dismissal of my case. Date of signing: __________, 20__. Signature of Plaintiff ____________________________________________ Printed Name of Plaintiff ____________________________________________ Prison Identification # ________________________________________________ Prison Address _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ City State Zip Code B. For Attorneys Date of signing: __________, 20__. Signature of Attorney ___________________________________________ Printed Name of Attorney ___________________________________________ Bar Number ___________________________________________ Name of Law Firm ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Telephone Number ___________________________________________ E-mail Address ___________________________________________