JAMES E. GRAHAM, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Al Rico Mapp ("Plaintiff"), an inmate currently incarcerated at Baldwin State Prison
In
Plaintiff alleges that he was physically assaulted by Defendant Jamie Anderson ("Anderson"). Plaintiff claims that Anderson snatched his handcuffs and forcefully pushed him forward. Plaintiff alleges that Anderson then snatched back on his handcuffs and tried to shove him back into his cell causing him to fall. Plaintiff alleges that Anderson punched him in the face more than once and then head butted him in the mouth and face. Plaintiff claims that his leg was caught in his cell door as Anderson repeatedly stomped and kicked his leg. Plaintiff avers that Anderson's alleged actions served no legitimate penological interest. Plaintiff notes that he had recently submitted a grievance regarding Anderson improperly withholding his breakfast. Plaintiff names as Defendants in this case: Anderson, the Georgia Department of Corrections; Steven Upton ("Upton"), Warden; Joe Burnette ("Burnette"), Deputy Warden; and Dane Dasher ("Dasher"), Deputy Warden.
A plaintiff must set forth "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that [he] is entitled to relief." FED. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). In order to state a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must satisfy two elements. First, a plaintiff must allege that an act or omission deprived him "of some right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States."
Plaintiff fails to make any factual allegations that Upton, Burnette, Dasher, or the Georgia Department of Corrections were involved in any way with Anderson's alleged use of excessive force. "Section 1983 will not support a claim based on a respondeat superior theory of liability."
Plaintiff asserts that the Defendants' alleged deliberate indifference "deprived the Plaintiff of his rights as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." (Doc. No. 1, p. 7). However, as determined in the preceding paragraph, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against Defendants' for deliberate indifference. As a result, Plaintiff's derivative claim that the Defendants' alleged deliberate indifference "deprived [him] of his rights as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment" should also be
Plaintiff titles Count Two of his Complaint "
Plaintiff asserts numerous state law torts against all Defendants. Under the Georgia Tort Claims Act ("GTCA"), "[a] state officer or employee who commits a tort while acting within the scope of his or her official duties or employment is not subject to lawsuit or liability therefor." O.C.G.A. § 50-21-25(a). As a result, Defendants are immune from suit in their individual capacities, and Plaintiff's state law tort claims against all Defendants in their individual capacities should be
"A suit against an official in his or her official capacity is not a suit against the official but is rather a suit against the official's office."
The Eighth Amendment's prohibition against the use of cruel and unusual punishment governs the amount of force that a prison official is entitled to use.
The First Amendment forbids prison officials from retaliating against prisoners for exercising the right of free speech.
Plaintiff's allegations, when read in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, arguably state colorable claims for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A against Anderson for the use of excessive force and for retaliation. A copy of Plaintiff's Complaint and a copy of this Order shall be served upon Defendant Anderson by the United States Marshal without prepayment of cost. If Defendant elects to file a Waiver of Reply, then he must file either a dispositive motion or an answer to the complaint within thirty (30) days of the filing of said Waiver of Reply.
Since the Plaintiff is authorized to proceed in forma pauperis, service must be effected by the United States Marshal. FED. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). In most cases, the marshal will first mail a copy of the complaint to the Defendant by first-class mail and request that the Defendant waive formal service of summons. FED. R. Civ. P. 4(d); Local Rule 4.5. Individual and corporate defendants have a duty to avoid unnecessary costs of serving the summons, and any such defendant who fails to comply with the request for waiver must bear the costs of personal service unless good cause can be shown for the failure to return the waiver. FED, R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2). Generally, a defendant who timely returns the waiver is not required to answer the complaint until sixty (60) days after the date that the marshal sent the request for waiver. FED. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(3).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant is hereby granted leave of court to take the deposition of the Plaintiff upon oral examination. FED. ft Civ. P. 30(a). The Defendant shall ensure that the Plaintiff's deposition and any other depositions in the case are taken
In the event Defendant takes the deposition of any other person, Defendant is ordered to comply with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30 as set forth herein. As the Plaintiff will likely not be in attendance for such a deposition, the Defendant shall notify Plaintiff of the deposition and advise him that he may serve on the Defendant, in a sealed envelope, within ten (10) days of the notice of deposition, written questions the Plaintiff wishes to propound to the witness, if any. The Defendant shall present such questions to the witness seriatim during the deposition. FED. R. CIV. P. 30(c).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall serve upon Defendant or, if appearance has been entered by counsel, upon his attorney, a copy of every further pleading or other document submitted for consideration by the Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be filed with the Clerk of Court a certificate stating the date on which a true and correct copy of any document was mailed to Defendant or counsel. FED. R. Civ. P. 5. "Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title of the action, [and] the file number[.]" FED. R. CIV. P. 10(a). Any paper received by a district judge or magistrate judge which has not been filed with the Clerk or which fails to include a caption or a certificate of service will be disregarded by the Court and returned to the sender.
Plaintiff is charged with the responsibility of immediately informing this Court and defense counsel of any change of address during the pendency of this action. Local Rule 11.1. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of this case.
Plaintiff has the responsibility for pursuing this case. For example, if Plaintiff wishes to obtain facts and information about the case from Defendant, Plaintiff must initiate discovery.
Interrogatories are a practical method of discovery for incarcerated persons.
If Plaintiff does not press his case forward, the court may dismiss it for want of prosecution. FED. R. Civ. P. 41; Local Rule 41.1.
It is the Plaintiff's duty to cooperate fully in any discovery which may be initiated by the Defendant. Upon no less than five (5) days' notice of the scheduled deposition date, the Plaintiff shall appear and permit his deposition to be taken and shall answer, under oath or solemn affirmation, any question which seeks information relevant to the subject matter of the pending action. Failing to answer questions at the deposition or giving evasive or incomplete responses to questions will not be tolerated and may subject Plaintiff to severe sanctions,
As the case progresses, Plaintiff may receive a notice addressed to `"counsel of record" directing the parties to prepare and submit a Joint Status Report and a Proposed Pretrial Order. A plaintiff proceeding without counsel may prepare and file a unilateral Status Report and is
Under this Court's Local Rules, a party opposing a motion to dismiss shall file and serve his response to the motion within fourteen (14) days of its service. "Failure to respond shall indicate that there is no opposition to a § motion." Local Rule 7.5. Therefore, if you fail to respond to a motion to dismiss, the Court will assume that you do not oppose the Defendant's motion.
Your response to a motion for summary judgment must be filed within twenty-one (21) days after service of the motion. Local Rules 7.5, 56.1. The failure to respond to such a motion shall indicate that there is no opposition to the motion. Furthermore, each material fact set forth in the Defendant's statement of material facts will be deemed admitted unless specifically controverted by an opposition statement. Should the Defendant file a motion for summary judgment, you are advised that you will have the burden of establishing the existence of a genuine issue as to any material fact in this case. That burden cannot be carried by reliance on the conclusory allegations contained within the complaint. Should the Defendant's motion for summary judgment be supported by affidavit, you must file counter-affidavits if you desire to contest the Defendant's statement of the facts. Should you fail to file opposing affidavits setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial, the consequences are these: any factual assertions made in Defendant's affidavits will be accepted as true and summary judgment will be entered against the Plaintiff pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56.