Opinion

Sanders v. Missouri Eastern Correctional Center

Court
District Court, E.D. Missouri
Filed
Sep 10, 2024
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 31.5%

to be cognizable under § 1983, a claim must allege that the defendant was personally involved in or directly responsible for the incidents that deprived the plaintiff of his constitutional rights

How later courts described this case

  • to be cognizable under § 1983, a claim must allege that the defendant was personally involved in or directly responsible for the incidents that deprived the plaintiff of his constitutional rights
  • recognizing that the Eighth Circuit has consistently held that disciplinary segregation is not an atypical and significant hardship under Sandin
  • agency exercising state power as an arm of the compacting state is not “person” subject to § 1983 suit
  • “Only persons who cause or participate in the [constitutional] violations are responsible. ... - Ruling against a prisoner on an administrative complaint does not cause or contribute to the violation.”

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

EASTERN DIVISION

MARCUS SANDERS, )

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 4:24-cv-681 JAR

MISSOURI EASTERN CORRECTIONAL

CENTER, et al., )

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Self-represented Plaintiff Marcus Sanders brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for

alleged violations of his civil rights. The matter is now before the Court upon the motion of

Plaintiff for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, or without prepayment of the required filing fees

and costs. ECF No. 4. Having reviewed the motion and the financial information submitted in

support, the Court will grant the motion and assess an initial partial filing fee of $38.75. See 28

U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). As Plaintiff is now proceeding in forma porren the Court must review his

complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Based on such review, the Court will direct Plaintiff to file an

amended complaint on the Court-provided form in compliance with the instructions set out below.

The Court warns Plaintiff that his failure to comply with this Order could result in dismissal of this

action.

Initial Partial Filing Fee

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner a civil action in forma pauperis is

required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. If the prisoner has insufficient funds in his or her

prison account to pay the entire fee, the Court must assess and, when funds exist, collect an initial

partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of (1) the average monthly deposits in the prisoner’s

account, or (2) the average monthly balance in the prisoner’s account for the prior six-month

period. After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner is required to make monthly

payments of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income predited to the prisoner’s account. 28

U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The agency having custody of the prisoner will forward these monthly

payments to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in the prisoner’s account exceeds $10, until

the filing fee is fully paid. Id.

Plaintiff is incarcerated at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) in Pacific,

Missouri. ECF No. 4 at 1. In support of his motion to proceed without prepaying fees and costs,

Plaintiff submitted an inmate account statement showing average monthly deposits of $193.75 and

an average monthly balance of $147.09 (as of the first of each month). ECF No. 3. The Court

finds that Plaintiff has insufficient funds in his prison account to pay the entire fee and will

therefore assess an initial partial filing fee of $38.75, which is twenty percent of Plaintiff's average

monthly deposits. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).

The Complaint

Plaintiff brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of his civil rights

against Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) and four MECC employees: Unknown

Culbreath (functional unit manager),! Unknown Herron (sergeant), Unknown Wiggins (sergeant),

and Unknown Hancock (warden). ECF No. 1 at 1. Plaintiff sues all defendants in both their

individual and official capacities. Id.

Plaintiff's brief Statement of Claim, in his own words, is as follows:

' The list of defendants in the complaint provides names that are not separated by commas or lines, so it is hard to

differentiate exactly who Plaintiff is attempting to name as defendants in this matter. See ECF No. 1 at 1. However,

based on what the Court can decipher from the list and from Plaintiff's allegations in his Statement of Claim, it

appears he is naming a functional unit manager from “4 house” with last name “Culbreath,” as a defendant in this

matter. [d. at 1 & 3. The Clerk of Court will be directed to add “Unknown Culbreath” to the docket sheet list of

defendants in this matter.

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Defendant Culbreath violated my due process right by not doing a proper

investigation on a major violation that I caught on dec 15, 2023[,] even after my

celly at that time took ownership for the phone[.] Also Sg Herron and Sg Wiggins

violated my prea” rights by conducting a striped search while I was handcuff[ed;]

they mad[e] me feel very uncomfortable[.]

Id. at 3. For relief, Plaintiff seeks compensation in the amount of $150,000 and “to be released on

[his] previous outdate July 28, 2024.” Id. at2 & 4.

Plaintiff attached multiple exhibits’ to his complaint. ECF No. 1-2.4 According to the

exhibits, on December 15, 2023, Plaintiff received a conduct violation from a nondefendant

correctional officer after a cell search revealed a cell phone on the floor of Plaintiffs cell and a

bag of tobacco under the bottom-bunk mattress. Jd. at 5. When interviewed about the contraband

for the violation report, Plaintiff said it belonged to his cellmate. Jd In the following month,

Plaintiff filed a grievance alleging a due process violation concerning the conduct violation. Jd. at

1. Plaintiff claimed that his cellmate had accepted responsibility for, and ownership of, the

contraband phone, and as such, he should be released from administrative segregation and the

violation should be removed from his record. In February 2024, defendant MECC Warden

Gregory Hancock denied the grievance, stating that records did not indicate that anyone had

accepted ownership of the phone — either when it was initially found or during the subsequent

hearing on the violation. As a result, Hancock denied removing the violation from Plaintiffs

record. Id.

2 The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), 34 U.S.C. § 30301, et seg., was enacted by Congress to address and

respond to the high incidence of rape in state and federal prisons.

3 In assessing whether a complaint sufficiently states a valid claim for relief, courts may consider materials that are

attached to the complaint as exhibits. Reynolds vy. Dormire, 636 F.3d 976, 979 (8th Cir. 2011) (citations omitted);

Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c) (“A copy of a written instrument that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part of the pleading for all

purposes.”). .

4 In addition to the exhibits described herein, Plaintiff included a self-composed poem about life in prison which

does not appear to have any relevance to his claims. See ECF No. 1-2 at 6.

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Plaintiff attached a second grievance denial, which he also received in February 2024,

concerning a PREA complaint he made. /d. at 3. Plaintiff did not include a copy of the initial

grievance that he filed. But, according to the denial response signed by Warden Hancock,

Plaintiff's PREA complaint was about an “incident that occurred during a double-cuff stripout

event in administrative segregation.” Hancock denied the grievance, stating that the incident was

referred to the PREA site coordinator, that it was under active investigation, and that any action

taken because of the complaint would be kept confidential. Id.

Legal Standard on Initial Review

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court may dismiss a complaint filed in forma pauperis

if the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a eaietiren which relief can be granted, or

seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. When reviewing a

complaint filed by a self-represented person under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the Court accepts the well-

pleaded facts as true, White v. Clark, 750 F.2d 721, 722 (8th Cir. 1984), and it liberally construes

the complaint. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520

(1972). A “liberal construction” means that if the essence of an allegation is discernible, the district

court should construe the plaintiff's complaint in a way that permits the claim to be considered

within the proper legal framework. Solomon v. Petray, 795 F.3d 777, 787 (8th Cir. 2015).

However, even self-represented plaintiffs are required to allege facts which, if true, state a claim

for relief as a matter of law. Martin v. Aubuchon, 623 F.2d 1282, 1286 (8th Cir. 1980); see also

Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914-15 (8th Cir. 2004) (refusing to supply additional facts or to

construct a legal theory for the self-represented plaintiff).

To state a claim for relief, a complaint must plead more than “legal conclusions” and

“[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action [that are] supported by mere conclusory

statements.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A plaintiff must demonstrate a plausible

. 4.

claim for relief, which is more than a “mere possibility of misconduct.” Id. at 679. “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.” Jd. at 678.

Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief is a context-specific task that

requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense. Jd. at 679.

Discussion

Based on a careful review and liberal construction of the filings before the Court, Plaintiff

has not adequately alleged claims to withstand review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). However,

because Plaintiff is self-represented and has presented serious allegations to the Court, he will be

allowed to amend his complaint in accordance with the instructions set forth below. Plaintiff

should consider the following legal issues in filing in his amended complaint.

I. Unrelated Claims Cannot be Brought in Same Suit

After review of Plaintiff's complaint, the Court finds that it does not comply with the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff cannot assert in a single lawsuit, claims against

different defendants that are related to events arising out of different occurrences or transactions.

Rule 20(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs joinder of defendants, and provides:

Persons ... may be joined in one action as defendants if: (A) any right to relief is

asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative with respect to or

arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or

occurrences; and (B) any question of law or fact common to all defendants will

arise in the action.

In other words, “Claim A against Defendant 1 should not be joined with unrelated Claim

B against Defendant 2.” George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007). “Unrelated claims

against different defendants belong in different suits, ... [in part] to ensure that prisoners pay the

required filing fees - for the Prison Litigation Reform Act limits to 3 the number of frivolous suits

or appeals that any prisoner may file without prepayment of the required fees.” Jd.

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Plaintiff may, however, name a single defendant, and assert as many claims as he has

against him or her. Rule 18(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs joinder of claims,

and provides:

A party asserting a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim may join,

as independent or alternative claims, as many claims as it has against an opposing

party.

In this case, Plaintiff's complaint brings two unrelated claims: a due process violation

regarding a conduct violation against defendant Culbreath and a PREA claim regarding a strip

search against defendants Herron and Wiggins. These claims are unrelated as these arise out of

different occurrences or transactions. They cannot be brought in the same suit.

Even self-represented litigants are obligated to abide by the Federal Rules. McNeil v.

United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993). As such, when filing an amended complaint, Plaintiff

should decide which of these claims he seeks to pursue in this case and include only defendants

and allegations pertaining to that claim in his amended pleading. Any separate, unrelated claims

must be brought in a different lawsuit.

I. Conduct Violation Claim

Plaintiff asserts a violation of his due process rights against defendant Culbreath, in relation

to an allegedly improper investigation into a conduct violation which resulted in Plaintiff's

placement in administrative segregation. ECF No. 1 at 3. The determination of whether prison

officials denied an inmate due process involves a two-step inquiry. Williams v. Hobbs, 662 F.3d

994, 1000 (8th Cir. 2011). In the administrative segregation context, “an inmate must show that

the segregation created an ‘atypical and significant hardship on him in relation to the ordinary

incidents of prison life’ to demonstrate that his liberty interest was curtailed.” Jd. (quoting Rahman

X v. Morgan, 300 F.3d 970, 973 (8th Cir. 2002) (quoting Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484

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(1995)). Once it has been established that a liberty interest exists, the process necessary to protect

that interest must be determined. Id.

As to what process is due, the “fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity

to be heard ‘at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.’”” Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S.

319, 333 (1976) (internal citation omitted), When an inmate is deprived of privileges or placed in

a special confinement status as punishment for past misconduct, due process requires a hearing

beforehand. Brown-El v. Delo, 969 F.2d 644, 647 (8th Cir, 1992). Furthermore, examples of due

process requirements include written notice of the charge; a written statement by the factfinders as

to the evidence relied on and the reasons for the disciplinary action; the right of the inmate to be

present, call witnesses, and present documentary evidence; and, in limited situations, a counsel

substitute. See Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 564-70 (1974).

Therefore, if Plaintiff chooses to pursue his due process claim in his amended complaint,

he must explain how administrative segregation created an atypical and significant hardship on

him in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life, and what process he was denied. Placement

in disciplinary segregation does not, in and of itself, amount to an atypical and significant hardship.

See Portley-El y. Brill, 288 F.3d 1063, 1065 (8th Cir. 2002) (recognizing that the Eighth Circuit

has consistently held that disciplinary segregation is not an atypical and significant hardship under

Sandin). Failure to sufficiently allege facts in support of his claim will result in dismissal for

failure to state a claim.

I. Claim Regarding Strip Search

Plaintiff also claims that defendants Herron and Wiggins violated his rights when they

conducted a strip-search of him while he was handcuffed. ECF No. 1 at 3. Plaintiff does not

provide any details on the search, except to say that it made him “uncomfortable.” Jd.

-7-

To the extent Plaintiff is attempting to bring a PREA claim against Herron and Wiggins,

this claim fails. PREA “does not create a right of action that is privately enforceable by an

individual civil litigant.” LeMasters v. Fabian, 2009 WL 1405176, at *2 (D. Minn. May 18, 2009);

see also Chinnici v. Edwards, 2008 WL 3851294, at *3 (D. Vt. Aug. 12, 2008) (“PREA confers

no private right of action . .. The statute does not grant prisoners any specific rights ... such as a

right to sue”). Therefore, any PREA claim brought by Plaintiff in his amended complaint will be

dismissed as legally frivolous.

Moreover, it is unclear from the complaint whether Plaintiff is attempting to also bring

other claims against Herron and Wiggins in relation to the strip search, such as an Eighth

Amendment claim for assault or a Fourth Amendment claim for unreasonable search. The Eighth

Amendment does protect those who are incarcerated from physical or sexual assault at the hands

of correctional officers. See Kahle v. Leonard, 477 F.3d 544, 553 (8th Cir. 2007) (stating that

prisoners have a clearly established right under the Eighth Amendment to be free from sexual

abuse).

If Plaintiff seeks to pursue an Eighth Amendment assault claim, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983,

he must allege “threatened or actual injury.” Berry v. Oswalt, 143 F.3d 1127, 1133 (8th Cir. 1998).

However, “the Eighth Amendment analysis does not require significant injury.” Jd. (allegations

of “nonroutine patdowns” and verbal harassment which caused “fear and frustration” was

sufficient evidence for jury to find injury). But, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth

Circuit has determined that “sexual harassment, absent contact or touching, does not constitute

unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.” Howard v. Everett, 208 F.3d 218, at *1 (8th Cir. 2000)

(unpublished opinion).

In addition, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects against

unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const. amend. IV. However, “[l]awful incarceration

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brings about the necessary withdrawal or limitation of many privileges and rights, a retraction

justified by the considerations underlying our penal system.” Goffv. Nix, 803 F.2d 358, 362 (8th

Cir. 1986) (quoting Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 822 (1974)). As such, “a prison inmate has a

far lower expectation of privacy than do most other individuals in our society.” Jd. at 365.

Nevertheless, “a convicted inmate has rights under the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable

searches of his body.” Story v. Foote, 782 F.3d 968, 971 (8th Cir. 2015).

Strip searches raise special Fourth Amendment considerations. Robinson v. Hawkins, 937

F.3d 1128, 1136 (8th Cir. 2019). Whether or not a search is reasonable under the Fourth

Amendment requires a case-by-case “balancing of the need for the particular search against the

invasion of personal rights that the search entails.” Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 559 (1979).

Factors to consider include: “the scope of the particular intrusion, the manner in which it is

conducted, the justification for initiating it, and the place in which it is conducted.” Jd. General

guidelines from the Eighth Circuit include that: “strip searches should be conducted in an area as

removed from public view as possible without compromising legitimate security concerns;” “strip

searches should be conducted by officials of the same sex as the individual to be searched;” and

“strip searches should be performed in a hygienic fashion and not in a degrading, humiliating or

abusive fashion.” Richmond vy. City of Brooklyn Center, 490 F.3d 1002, 1008 (8th Cir. 2007).

Thus, if Plaintiff seeks to bring either an Eighth or Fourth Amendment claim regarding the

strip search, he needs to provide factual details as to what exactly occurred during the search,

where it occurred, who was present, any injury suffered, whether there was any physical contact

or touching, and if so, by whom. It is not enough for Plaintiff to allege only that he was made

“uncomfortable” by the search.

IV. Defendant Hancock: No Supervisor Liability under § 1983

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Plaintiff makes no specific allegations against MECC Warden Hancock in his complaint.

Presumably, he names Hancock because Hancock signed his grievance denials. However, this

alone is not enough to state a claim against Hancock. “Liability under § 1983 requires a causal

link to, and direct responsibility for, the deprivation of rights.” Madewell v. Roberts, 909 F.2d

1203, 1208 (8th Cir. 1990); see also Martin v. Sargent, 780 F.2d 1334, 1338 (8th Cir. 1985) (to be

cognizable under § 1983, a claim must allege that the defendant was personally involved in or

directly responsible for the incidents that deprived the plaintiff of his constitutional rights). “[A]

warden’s general responsibility for supervising the operations of a prison is insufficient to establish

personal involvement.” Reynolds v. Dormire, 636 F.3d 976, 981 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting Ouzts v.

Cummins, 825 F.2d 1276, 1277 (8th Cir. 1987) (per curiam)). In addition, denying a grievance is

not enough for personal involvement either. See George v. Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 609 (7th Cir.

2007) (“Only persons who cause or participate in the [constitutional] violations are responsible. ...

- Ruling against a prisoner on an administrative complaint does not cause or contribute to the

violation.”).

If Plaintiff names Warden Hancock in his amended complaint, he must provide allegations

as to how Hancock was personally involved in, or directly responsible for, a violation of his

constitutional rights. It is not enough for Hancock just to have denied Plaintiffs grievances.

V. Defendant MECC: Not a Person under § 1983

Plaintiff also names his place of incarceration, MECC, as a defendant in this matter.

However, Plaintiff brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 which “provides for an action against

a ‘person’ for a violation, under color of law, of another’s civil rights.” McLean v. Gordon, 548

F.3d 613, 618 (8th Cir. 2008). A State is not a ‘person’ under § 1983 against whom a claim for

money damages can be asserted. Lapides v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga., 535 U.S. 613, 617

(2002); Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 64 (1989). MECC, as a Missouri

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Department: □□ Corrections facility, is an arm or division of the State of Missouri. An agency

exercising state power is also not a “person” subject to a suit under § 1983. E.g., Barket, Levy &

Fine, Inc. v. St. Louis Thermal Energy Corp., 948 F.2d 1084, 1086 (8th Cir. 1991) (agency

exercising state power as an arm of the compacting state is not “person” subject to § 1983 suit).

Thus, Plaintiffs § 1983 claims against MECC fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted.

VI. No Relief of Release

Finally, Plaintiff seeks money damages in this suit, but he also requests release on his

“previous outdate.” ECF No. 1 at 4. Release is not cognizable in a § 1983 action. If Plaintiff is

seeking release from confinement, challenges to the fact or duration of confinement are properly

sought under a writ of habeas corpus. See Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994);

Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973). Damages are an acceptable form of relief in a §

1983 action.

Instructions for Filing an Amended Se

Plaintiff is advised that the filing of an amended complaint completely replaces the

original complaint and all supplements, and so it must include all claims Plaintiff wishes to bring.

See In re Wireless Tel. Fed. Cost Recovery Fees Litig., 396 F.3d 922, 928 (8th Cir. 2005) (“It is

well-established that an amended complaint supercedes an original complaint and renders the

original complaint without legal effect”); see also Yaritz v. Dep’t of Corrs., No. 23-2457, 2024

WL 3218545, at *1 (8th Cir. June 28, 2024) (per curiam) (affirming district court’s dismissal of a

pro se § 1983 complaint, finding no error in construing the “second amended complaint as the sole

operative pleading”). Any claims from the original complaint or any supplements that are not

included in the amended complaint will be deemed abandoned and will not be considered. Plaintiff

must type or neatly print the amended complaint on the Court-provided Prisoner Civil Rights

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Complaint form, and the amended complaint must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. See E.D. Mo. L.R. 2.06(A).

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require litigants to formulate their pleadings in an

organized and comprehensible manner. Plaintiff is required to set out his alleged claims in a

simple, concise, and direct manner, and the facts supporting his claims as to each named defendant.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) (complaint should contain short and plain statement of claims); 8(d)(1)

(each claim shall be simple, concise, and direct); 10(b) (parties are to separate their claims within

their pleadings and the contents of which shall be limited as far as practicable to a single set of

circumstances). Plaintiff should fill out the complaint form in its entirety.

In the “Caption” section of the complaint form, Plaintiff must state the first and last name,

to the extent he knows it, of the defendant or defendants he wants to sue. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(a)

(“The title of the complaint must name all the parties”). If there is not enough room in the caption,

Plaintiff may add additional sheets of paper. However, all the defendants must be clearly listed.

Plaintiff should also indicate whether he intends to sue each defendant in his or her individual

capacity, official capacity, or both. Plaintiff should avoid naming anyone as a defendant unless

that person is directly related to his claim(s).

In the “Statement of Claim” section, Plaintiff should begin by writing the first defendant’s

name. In separate, numbered paragraphs under that name, Plaintiff should set forth the specific

facts supporting his claim or claims against that defendant, as well as the constitutional right or

rights that defendant violated. If Plaintiff is suing more than one defendant, he should proceed in

the same manner with each one. Plaintiff should only include claims that arise out of the same

transaction or occurrence, or simply put, claims that are related to each other. See Fed. R.

Civ. P. 20(a)(2). Plaintiff's failure to make specific factual allegations against any defendant will

anit in that defendant’s dismissal. Furthermore, the Court emphasizes that the “Statement of

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Claim” requires more than “labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a

cause of action.” See Neubauer v. FedEx Corp., 849 F.3d 400, 404 (8th Cir. 2017).

If Plaintiff is suing a defendant in an individual capacity, he is required to allege facts

demonstrating the personal responsibility of the defendant for harming him. Madewell v. Roberts,

909 F.2d 1203, 1208 (8th Cir. 1990) (stating that § 1983 liability “requires a causal link to, and

direct responsibility for, the deprivation of rights”). It is not enough for Plaintiff to refer to a group

of defendants and make general allegations against them. Instead, Plaintiff must een the role

of each defendant so that each defendant will have notice of what he or she is accused of doing or

failing to do. See Topchian v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 760 F.3d 843, 848 (8th Cir. 2014)

(stating that the essential function of a complaint “is to give the opposing party fair notice of the

nature and basis or grounds for a claim.”).

After receiving the amended complaint, the Court will review it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915. Plaintiff’s failure to make specific factual allegations against a defendant will result in the

dismissal of that defendant. If Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint on a Court-provided

form within thirty (30) days in accordance with the instructions set forth herein, the Court will

dismiss this action without prejudice and without further notice to Plaintiff.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis

[ECF No. 4] is GRANTED. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Plaintiff shall pay an initial filing fee of $38.75

within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order. Plaintiff is instructed to make his remittance

payable to “Clerk, United States District Court,” and to include upon it: (1) his name; (2) his prison

registration number; (3) the case number; and (4) that the remittance is for an original proceeding.

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall add defendant “Unknown

Culbreath” to the docket sheet list of defendants in this matter.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall mail to Plaintiff a blank

copy of the Court’s Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint form.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order,

Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint on the Court-provided form and in compliance with the

Court’s instructions.

IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that upon submission of the amended complaint, the Court

shall again review this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915.

Plaintiff’s failure to timely comply with this Order shall result in the dismissal of this

peau without prejudice and without further notice.

Dated this 10" day of September, 2024.

Law

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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