Summary
affirming district court's dismissal of pro se prisoner complaint without prejudice where plaintiff failed to comply with a court order directing him to file an amended complaint that sued the proper parties, complied with pleading requirements, and alleged the personal participation of the defendants in a deprivation of his constitutional rights
Summary of this case from Stults v. Mesa Cnty. Det. Med. StaffOpinion
No. 13-1160 D.C. No. 1:13-CV-00081-LTB
2013-10-09
SOLOMON BOWENS, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. STERLING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; THE WARDEN, in his individual capacity, Sterling Correctional [Facility], Defendant - Appellee.
(D. Colo.)
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Before KELLY, HOLMES, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
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Plaintiff-Appellant Solomon Bowens, a Colorado state inmate proceeding pro se, appeals from the dismissal without prejudice of his civil rights complaint, 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Mr. Bowens sought damages for inadequate medical care of multiple sclerosis. Pursuant to Rule 41(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., the district court dismissed the complaint based upon Mr. Bowens' failure to comply with a court order. R. 23-24. The magistrate judge had ordered Mr. Bowens to file an amended complaint that was legible, sued the proper parties, complied with pleading requirements, and alleged the personal participation of each named Defendant. R. 17-22.
Mr. Bowens' notice of appeal was received on April 19, 2013, two days after the 30-day deadline. See Fed. R. App. Proc. 4(a)(1). However, Mr. Bowens submitted a sworn affidavit stating that his notice of appeal was filed in the correctional facility's mail system on April 15, 2013; a statement supported by a copy of the envelope. Based on this evidence, we conclude that Mr. Bowens' notice of appeal was timely. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(c)(1).
Nothing in the record demonstrates that Mr. Bowens timely filed a second amended complaint as directed by the February 5, 2013, order. On appeal, he argues that he requires the assistance of an attorney given his health and also argues the merits of his claim. However, his filing to this court does not substitute for his lack of filing in the district court. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the complaint. See Cosby v. Meadors, 351 F.3d 1324, 1326 (10th Cir. 2003) (standard of review).
AFFIRMED. We DENY Mr. Bowens' motion for leave to proceed without prepayment of costs or fees and order immediate payment of the unpaid balance due.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge