Opinion
Criminal Action No.: 8:15-cv-03318-JMC
08-01-2016
Kenneth Syncere Rivera, a/k/a Kenneth D. Rivera, a/k/a Kenneth Rivera, Plaintiff v. Bryan P. Stirling, Director; Elbert Pearson, S.I.U; Lieutenant Skipper, Contraband; Mr. McFadden, Warden; Ms. Ravenell, I.C.C.; Michael R. Matthews, Defendants.
ORDER
Plaintiff Kenneth Rivera ("Plaintiff") proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that his rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments have been violated by Defendants who allegedly placed him in a segregated unit without a disciplinary infraction on part of Plaintiff. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff further alleges that Defendants held hearings regarding his classification without him being present, and that he filed administrative complaints regarding these hearings that went unprocessed. (ECF No. 1.) This matter is now before the court on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff also filed motions to strike Defendants' motion to dismiss (ECF No. 29), to strike Defendants' reply in support of their motion to dismiss (ECF No. 41), to appoint counsel (ECF No. 54), and for an extension of time to respond to the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 57).
In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Rule 73.02, the matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn Austin, for pre-trial handling. On June 27, 2016, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation ("Report") recommending the court consider documents presented outside of the pleadings thereby converting Defendants' motion into a motion for summary judgment. The Magistrate Judge further recommended that this court grant Defendants' motion and deny Plaintiff's outstanding motions as moot. (ECF No. 55.) Subsequently, Plaintiff filed timely Objections to the Report. (ECF No. 59.) For the reasons stated herein, the court ACCEPTS the Report insofar as the Magistrate Judge recommends that Plaintiff's complaint should be dismissed, but the court departs from the reasoning of the Magistrate Judge as to the grounds on which the complaint is to be dismissed. The Magistrate Judge determined that Plaintiff's complaint should be dismissed, and summary judgment granted in favor of Defendants, because Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies as required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e, as a prerequisite for a civil rights action. However, this court finds that Plaintiff's complaint is subject to dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Although Plaintiff's Objections were not received by the court until after the deadline, Plaintiff submitted his Objections to the mail room at McCormick Correctional Institute on July 12, 2016. (ECF No. 60-2.) Thus, pursuant to Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988), Plaintiff's Objections were timely. --------
Over the preceding four years, Plaintiff has filed at least twenty cases in federal court. The vast majority of these cases have resulted in either dismissal of Plaintiff's complaint or a grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), if a "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 grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted," the prisoner is unable to proceed under section 1915 unless "under imminent danger of serious physical injury." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In order for a case to be properly designated as a strike, it must be dismissed in its entirety on grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Tolbert v. Stevenson, 635 F.3d 646 (4th Cir. 2011)
On June 15, 2016, this court entered an order in Kenneth Rivera v. Scott Bodiford, Civil Action No. 8:15-3272 (D.S.C. filed August 18, 2015) dismissing Plaintiff's civil rights action for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. (8:15-3272; ECF No. 15.) The court also designated a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). (Id.) On June 20, 2016, this court entered an order in Kenneth Rivera v. Bryan Stirling, Civil Action No. 8:15-2135 (D.S.C. filed May 29, 2015) dismissing Plaintiff's civil rights action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. (8:15-2135; ECF No. 16.) The court also designated a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). (Id.) Finally, on June 30, 2016, this court entered an order in Kenneth Rivera v. Bryan Stirling, Civil Action No. 8:15-2995 (D.S.C. filed July 31, 2015) dismissing Plaintiff's civil rights action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. (8:15-2995; ECF No. 15.) The court designated the filing in that case a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) as well. (Id.)
To date, Plaintiff has accumulated at least three strikes pursuant to section 1915(g). Plaintiff does not allege, nor does it appear to this court based on Plaintiff's complaint, that Plaintiff is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. Accordingly, Plaintiff is unable to proceed in forma pauperis with this claim in this court. Although prisoners have a constitutional right of access to the courts, that right is not without limits. Blakely v. Wards, 738 F.3d 607, 624 (4th Cir. 2013) (Motz, J., dissenting). "The three-strikes rule imposes a notable limit on a prisoner's ability to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). Id. Thus, Plaintiff's complaint must be dismissed without prejudice to his right to re-file this action subject to the payment of the necessary filing fee.
For the foregoing reasons, this court ACCEPTS, but for differing reasons, the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge (ECF No. 55) insofar as the Magistrate Judge recommends that Plaintiff's complaint be dismissed. Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 25) is DENIED as moot. Plaintiff's motions (ECF Nos. 29, 41, 54, 57) are also DENIED as moot. Plaintiff's complaint (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/
United States District Judge August 1, 2016
Columbia, South Carolina