Opinion
4:22-cv-00606-LPR-PSH
01-17-2023
AARON ANTHONY FLEMONS ADC #119749 PLAINTIFF v. VALERIE WESTBROOK, Classification Officer, EARU DEFENDANT
ORDER
On January 13, 2023, Defendant Valerie Westbrook filed a Motion for Summary Judgment together with a Brief in Support and Statement of Material Undisputed Facts (Doc. Nos. 23-1, 24-1, & 25) seeking to dismiss Plaintiff Aaron Anthony Flemons' claims against her based on his alleged failure to exhaust available administrative remedies. Flemons now has an opportunity to file a response opposing the motion. To be considered, the response must be filed within twenty-eight days of this order's entry date.
At the summary judgment stage, a plaintiff cannot rest upon mere allegations and, instead, must meet proof with proof. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). Accordingly, Flemons' response must include legal arguments as well as evidence establishing that there is a genuine issue of material fact that must be resolved at a hearing or trial. Such evidence may include declarations or notarized affidavits that he or others have signed. Affidavits and declarations are sworn statements that are made under penalty of perjury (see 28 U.S.C. § 1746). Unsworn statements will not be considered in deciding the motion for summary judgment. And to be considered, an affidavit or declaration must be based on personal knowledge of the person who signs it.
If Flemons files a response, he must also file a separate, short statement which lists: (a) any disagreement he has with the specifically numbered factual assertions contained in the defendant's statement of undisputed facts; and (b) any other disputed facts that he believes must be resolved at a hearing or trial. See Local Rule 56.1, Rules of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. If Flemons disputes any of the facts set forth in the defendant's statement of undisputed facts, he must identify each numbered paragraph that contains the facts he disputes and, for each paragraph, explain why he disputes those facts.
Finally, Flemons is advised that if he intends to rely upon grievances or records that have been filed with the Court previously, he must specifically refer to those documents by docket number, page, date, and heading. The Court will not sift through the file to find support for Flemons' factual contentions. See Crossley v. Georgia-Pacific, Corp., 355 F.3d 1112, 1113-14 (8th Cir. 2004) (affirming the grant of summary judgment because a plaintiff failed to properly refer to specific pages of the record that supported his position).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
Flemons may file a response to the defendant's motion for summary judgment along with a separate statement of disputed facts that complies with Fed.R.Civ.P. 56, Local Rule 56.1, and the instructions set forth in this Order within twenty-eight days. While Flemons is not required to file a response to the motion for summary judgment, if he does not respond, the facts set forth in the defendant's statement of facts may be deemed admitted by Flemons, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1(c).
IT IS SO ORDERED.