ORDER FOR DEFENDANT THOMAS TO FILE ANSWER OR OTHER PLEADING RESPONSIVE TO FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS (ECF No. 27.)

ERICA P. GROSJEAN, Magistrate Judge.

Richard Sansone ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on December 2, 2013. (ECF No. 1.) The Court screened the Complaint and found that it stated a cognizable excessive force claim against defendant Correctional Officer J. C. Thomas. (ECF No. 9) The Complaint was served; and on September 2, 2014, defendant Thomas filed an Answer. (ECF No. 14.) On September 5, 2014, the Court issued a Discovery and Scheduling Order establishing deadlines in this case, including an Exhaustion Motion Filing Deadline of August 8, 2016; a Deadline to Amend Pleadings of November 7, 2016; a Discovery Deadline of January 6, 2017; and a Dispositive Motion Deadline of March 6, 2017. (ECF No. 16.)

On September 18, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion to amend the Complaint, and the motion was granted by the Court on November 13, 2014. (ECF Nos. 20, 26.) Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint was filed on November 13, 2014. (ECF No. 27.) The Court imposed a stay of discovery pending the Court's screening of the First Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 26.)

On January 22, 2016, the Court screened the First Amended Complaint and found that it states cognizable claims. (ECF No. 30.) This case now proceeds on the First Amended Complaint against defendants Correctional Officer J. C. Thomas and John Doe #1,1 for use of excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment.2 (ECF No. 27.)

At this stage of the proceedings, defendant Thomas is required to file an Answer or other pleading responsive to the First Amended Complaint. After an Answer is filed, the Court shall issue a new Discovery and Scheduling Order, which shall lift the Court's stay of discovery and set new deadlines.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

IT IS SO ORDERED.