Opinion
8:22-cv-482-WFJ-CPT
03-14-2022
RANDY ALLEN HART, Plaintiff, v. GRADY C. JUDD, JR., et al., Defendants.
ORDER
WILLIAM F. JUNG, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff Randy Allen Hart's civil rights complaint (Doc. 1). Mr. Hart has not paid the filing fee, therefore the Court considers this action as one proceeding in forma pauperis.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) amended 28 U.S.C. § 1915 by adding the following subsection:
(g) In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 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). Thus, if a prisoner has had three or more cases dismissed for one of the recited reasons, he cannot proceed in forma pauperis and must pay the filing fee in full at the time the lawsuit is initiated. Dupree v. Palmer, 284 F.3d 1234, 1236 (11th Cir. 2002). Consequently, courts have a responsibility to dismiss cases, even sua sponte, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See, e.g., Casey v. Scott, 493 Fed.Appx. 1000, 1001 (11th Cir. 2012).
Mr. Hart has filed many actions that qualify as a “strike” under Section 1915(g), including: Hart v. Judd, 8:11-cv-1590-T-33TBM, Hart v. State of Florida, 8:13-cv-2533-T-30MAP, Hart v. Knight, 8:16-cv-1337-T-33JSS, Hart v. Hays, 16-cv-1391-T-17TGW; Hart v. Murphy, 8:16-cv-1976-MSS-MAP; Hart v. Fla. Dep't of Corr., 8:16-cv-2109-SDM-AEP; Hart v. Auburndale Police Dep't, 8:18-cv-2117-SDM-AEP; Hart v. Auburndale Police Dep't., 8:20-cv-1796-WFJ-TGW, and Hart v. Grady Judd, 8:21-cv-1620-WFJ-JSS.
Because he has had three prior dismissals that qualify under Section 1915(g) and because he has not alleged that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury, Mr. Hart is not entitled to proceed in forma pauperis. This preclusion against proceeding in forma pauperis is without regard to the merits of the present civil rights complaint. Mr. Hart may initiate a new civil rights case by filing a civil rights complaint and paying the filing fee in full at the time he files the complaint.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED without prejudice to the filing of a new complaint, in a new case, with a new case number, upon the contemporaneous payment of the filing fee. The CLERK is directed to enter judgment accordingly and CLOSE the case.
DONE and ORDERED.