Jay Jones v. Blake R. Gill, Hoe/Garden Squad, ADC

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS NORTHERN DIVISION JAY JONES PLAINTIFF ADC #157758 V. Case No. 3:26-CV-00050-DPM-BBM BLAKE R. GILL, Hoe/Garden Squad, ADC DEFENDANT ORDER On February 9, 2026, Plaintiff Jay Jones (“Jones”), a prisoner in the Grimes Unit of the Arkansas Division of Correction, filed a Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc.

2). Jones alleges that, on June 30, 2025, Defendant Blake R. Gill made him work on the hoe squad, in the hot sun, with two broken fingers. (Doc. 2 at 5). These allegations are substantially identical to those currently pending in Jones v. Gill, 3:25-CV-00143-DPM (“Jones I”).1 “Plaintiffs may not pursue multiple federal suits against the same party involving the same controversy at the same time.” Missouri ex rel. Nixon v. Prudential Health Care Plan, Inc., 259 F.3d 949, 954 (8th Cir. 2001). When facing duplicative litigation, the district court may decline to exercise jurisdiction and dismiss one of the two identical pending actions. Id. at 954–55. The Court stops short doing so here and, instead, stays this case pending the resolution of Jones I. See Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681, 706 (1997)

1 Although the magistrate judge in Jones I has recommended that the case be dismissed without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies, Jones I, (Doc. 23), that recommendation remains pending before the district judge. (citation omitted) (“The District Court has broad discretion to stay proceedings as an incident to its power to control its own docket.”).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT: 1. This case is hereby STAYED and administratively TERMINATED.

2. If Jones wishes to pursue this lawsuit, then he must file a motion to reopen no later than 30 days after a final judgment has been entered in Jones v. Gill, 3:25-CV- 00143-DPM (“Jones I’). If he fails to do so, the Court will reopen the case and dismiss it without prejudice for failure to prosecute.

SO ORDERED this 10th day of February, 2026.

yun a Wardve- TED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE