Opinion
1:22CV224
03-24-2022
ORDER AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
L. PATRICK AULD, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff, a prisoner of the State of North Carolina, submitted a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, together with an application to proceed in forma pauperis. The form of the Complaint is such that a serious flaw makes it impossible to further process the Complaint. The problem is:
1. Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Plaintiff may no longer proceed in forma pauperis in this Court unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. The Act provides that:
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). In this Court alone, Plaintiff has had three cases dismissed on the grounds that they were frivolous or failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Mitchell v. Duddy, No. 1:20CV204 (M.D. N.C. Oct. 14, 2020) (unpublished); Mitchell v. Flint, No. 1:16CV373 (M.D. N.C. June 8, 2016) (unpublished); Mitchell v. Osbourn, No. 1:15CV255 (M.D. N.C. May 6, 2015) (unpublished). The Complaint contains no factual allegations sufficient to even suggest any imminent danger. Instead, the allegations in it relate to past harms.
Consequently, the Complaint should be dismissed, but without prejudice to Plaintiff filing a new complaint, on the proper § 1983 forms, which is accompanied by the applicable $402.00 filing fee. To further aid Plaintiff, the Clerk is instructed to send Plaintiff new § 1983 forms, instructions, an application to proceed in forma pauperis, and a copy of pertinent parts of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8 (i.e., Sections (a) & (d)).
In forma pauperis status is granted for the sole purpose of entering this Order and Recommendation.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that in forma pauperis status is granted for the sole purpose of entering this Order and Recommendation. The Clerk is instructed to send Plaintiff § 1983 forms, instructions, an application to proceed in forma pauperis, and a copy of pertinent parts of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8 (i.e., Sections (a) & (d)).
IT IS RECOMMENDED that this action be filed and dismissed sua sponte without prejudice to Plaintiff filing a new complaint, on the proper § 1983 forms, which is accompanied by the applicable $402.00 filing fee.