Frazier v. Marshall

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Frazier v. Marshall

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS CENTRAL DIVISION

CARLOS RAY FRAZIER PLAINTIFF ADC #650936

v. No: 4:24-cv-00765-KGB-PSH

MARSHALL, et al. DEFENDANTS

PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

INSTRUCTIONS

The following Recommendation has been sent to Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker. You may file written objections to all or part of this Recommendation. If you do so, those objections must: (1) specifically explain the factual and/or legal basis for your objection, and (2) be received by the Clerk of this Court within fourteen (14) days of this Recommendation. By not objecting, you may waive the right to appeal questions of fact. DISPOSITION

Plaintiff Carlos Ray Frazier, an inmate at the W.C. Brassell Adult Detention Center, filed this pro se

42 U.S.C. § 1983

action on September 9, 2024 (Doc. No. 2). The Court initially granted Frazier’s in forma pauperis (IFP) application (Doc. No. 5), but later learned that Frazier is a “three-striker” under the three-strikes provision of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”). See Frazier v. Baker, et al., No. 4:22-CV-00614-JM (E.D. Ark. Sept. 21, 2022) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Frazier v. Craig, et al., No. 4:22-CV-00641-BRW (E.D. Ark. Oct. 5, 2022)

(dismissed for failure to state a claim); Frazier v. Sloan, No. 4:22-CV-00661-BSM (E.D. Ark. Sept. 21, 2022) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); and Frazier v. Guynn, et al., No. 4:22-CV-00691-BRW (E.D. Ark. Aug. 16, 2022) (dismissed for

failure to state a claim). As a three-striker, Frazier must show that he was in imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time he filed the complaint in order to proceed in forma pauperis.

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(g); Ashley v. Dilworth,

147 F.3d 715, 717

(8th Cir.

1998). The PLRA’s three-strikes provision states that a prisoner cannot proceed in forma pauperis in a civil action 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) (emphasis added). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has explicitly upheld the constitutionality of the three-strikes provision. See Higgins v. Carpenter,

258 F.3d 797

(8th Cir. 2001). The Eighth Circuit has clarified that the imminent danger exception applies only when there is a genuine risk of an “ongoing serious physical injury.” Martin v. Shelton,

319 F.3d 1048

, 1050 (8th Cir. 2003). In this case, Frazier alleges that defendant Lieutenant Marshall sprayed him with mace after he flooded his cell, and that Marshall and defendant Sheriff C.

Lowry refused to take him to the shower unless he undressed, which he refused to do. Doc. No. 2 at 4. He indicates that this occurred the Saturday before he signed his complaint on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Id. at 4-5. Frazier makes no allegation

that the defendants pose a serious and ongoing threat to his physical safety. Rather, he complains of one isolated incident. On October 11, 2024, the Court found that Frazier was not in imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time he filed his complaint, and vacated and set aside

the order granting his motion to proceed IFP. Doc. No. 11. The Court gave Frazier 30 days to pay the $405 filing and administrative fees to proceed with this case. Id. He was warned that if he did not do so, his case would be recommended for dismissal

without prejudice. Id. Thirty days have passed since entry of this order and Frazier has not paid the $405 filing and administrative fees or made any other filing in this case. It is therefore RECOMMENDED:

(1) that this case be DISMISSED without prejudice; and (2) that the Court certify, pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(a)(3), that an in forma pauperis appeal from the order adopting this recommendation would not be

taken in good faith. SO RECOMMENDED this 20" day of November, 2024.

UNITED STATES Af E JUDGE

Reference

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