The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
JAMES IRA JACKSON,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No.: 2:25-cv-857-SPC-DNF
G. BROWN et al.,
Defendants.
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OPINION AND ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiff James Ira Jackson’s Complaint (Doc. 1).
Jackson is an involuntarily committed resident of the Florida Civil
Commitment Center (FCCC), and he sues four FCCC officials under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983. The Court granted Jackson leave to proceed in forma pauperis, so it
must review the complaint sua sponte to determine whether it is frivolous or
malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary damages against a party
who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) provides the standard for
screening complaints under § 1915. Mitchell v. Farcass, 112 F.3d 1483, 1485
(11th Cir. 1997). A district court should dismiss a claim when a party does not
plead facts that make the claim facially plausible. See Bell Atl. Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A claim is facially plausible when a court
can draw a reasonable inference, based on facts pled, that the opposing party
is liable for the alleged misconduct. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009). This plausibility standard requires “more than a sheer possibility that
a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557
(internal quotation marks omitted)).
To state a § 1983 claim, a plaintiff must allege that (1) the defendant
deprived him of a right secured under the Constitution or federal law, and (2)
the deprivation occurred under color of state law. Bingham v. Thomas, 654
F.3d 1171, 1175 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing Arrington v. Cobb Cnty., 139 F.3d 865,
872 (11th Cir. 1998)). In addition, a plaintiff must allege and establish an
affirmative causal connection between the defendant’s conduct and the
constitutional deprivation. Marsh v. Butler Cnty., Ala., 268 F.3d 1014, 1059
(11th Cir. 2001).
Jackson’s complaint expresses his general discontent about his civil
commitment. He makes vague allegations that FCCC residents are subject to
torture and retaliation for filing lawsuits, he likens the FCCC to prison, and
he complains that other residents have been released, while his commitment
has no end date. Such vague and conclusory allegations do not satisfy the
Iqbal/Twombly federal pleading standards. To state a claim, Jackson must
plead with specificity how and when each defendant violated his constitutional
rights.
Accordingly, Jackson’s Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without
prejudice. The Clerk is DIRECTED to send Jackson a civil-rights complaint
form. Jackson may use the form to file an amended complaint by October 23,
2025. See M.D. Fla. 6.04 (“A pro se person in custody must use the standard
form...to file...a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint[”). Otherwise, the Court will close
this case without further notice.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on October 2, 2025.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SA: FTMP-1
Copies: All Parties of Record