Joshua Jensen v. Justin Backman, et al.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS JOSHUA JENSEN, Plaintiff, v. CASE NO. 25-3279-JWL JUSTIN BACKMAN, et al., Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is a pro se civil rights action filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is incarcerated at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Lansing, Kansas. Plaintiff claims that hearing officers in his disciplinary proceedings at the Norton Correctional Facility failed to follow Kansas regulations, denied him due process, and failed to provide him with a licensed attorney. (Doc. 1, at 1–3.)

The Court finds that Plaintiff is subject to the “three-strikes” provision under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Court records establish that Plaintiff “has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated . . . , 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.”1 Accordingly, he may proceed in forma pauperis only if he establishes a threat of “imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

1 Prior to filing the instant Complaint, the Court finds at least 3 prior civil actions filed by Plaintiff which qualify as “strikes” under § 1915(g). See Jensen v. Zmuda, Case No. 25-3178-JWL, Doc. 10 (D. Kan. Oct. 6, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Trump, Case No. 25-3179-JWL, Doc. 6 (D. Kan. Sept. 3, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Brown, Case No. 25-3180-JWL, Doc. 12 (D. Kan. Oct. 3, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Trump, Case No. 25-3181-JWL, Doc. 6 (D. Kan. Sept. 3, 2025) (dismissed as frivolous); Jensen v. Martin, Case No. 25-3182-JWL, Doc. 13 (D. Kan. Nov. 5, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Zmuda, Case No. 25-3191-JWL, Doc. 8 (D. Kan. Nov. 5, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Zmuda, Case No. 25-3192-JWL, Doc. 8 (D. Kan. Nov. 7, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Zmuda, Case No. 25-3195-JWL, Doc. 8 (D. Kan. Nov. 10, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); Jensen v. Zmuda, Case No. 25-3211-JWL, Doc. 2 (D. Kan. Oct. 6, 2025) (dismissed as frivolous or malicious); “To meet the only exception to the prepayment requirement, a prisoner who has accrued three strikes must make ‘specific, credible allegations of imminent danger of serious physical harm.’” Davis v. GEO Group Corr., 696 F. App’x 851, 854 (10th Cir. 2017) (unpublished) (quoting Hafed v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 635 F.3d 1172, 1179 (10th Cir. 2011)). “Vague and utterly conclusory assertions are insufficient.” Id. The harm must be imminent or occurring at the time the complaint is filed, “allegations of past harm do not suffice.” Id. (citations omitted). The “imminent danger” exception has a temporal limitation—[t]he exception is construed narrowly and available only ‘for genuine emergencies,’ where ‘time is pressing’ and ‘a threat . . . is real and proximate.’” Lynn v. Roberts, No. 11-3073-JAR, 2011 WL 3667171, at *2 (D. Kan. Aug. 22, 2011) (citation omitted). “Congress included an exception to the ‘three strikes’ rule for those cases in which it appears that judicial action is needed as soon as possible to prevent serious physical injuries from occurring in the meantime.’” Id. (citation omitted).

The Court has examined the Complaint and finds no showing of imminent danger of serious physical injury. Accordingly, pursuant to § 1915(g) Plaintiff may not proceed in forma pauperis in this civil action. Plaintiff is given time to pay the full $405.00 district court filing fee2 to the Court. If he fails to pay the full fee within the prescribed time, the Complaint will be dismissed based upon Plaintiff’s failure to satisfy the statutory district court filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT that Plaintiff is denied leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

Jensen v. Proffitt, Case No. 25-3212-JWL, Doc. 7 (D. Kan. Nov. 7, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim); and Jensen v. Shepack, Case No. 25-3213-JWL, Doc. 7 (D. Kan. Nov. 5, 2025) (dismissed for failure to state a claim).

2 If a person is not granted in forma pauperis status under § 1915, the fee to file a non-habeas civil action includes the $350.00 fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) and a $55.00 general administrative fee pursuant to § 1914(b) and the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is granted until January 26, 2026, to submit the $405.00 filing fee. The failure to submit the fee by that date will result in the dismissal of this matter without prejudice and without additional prior notice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated December 31, 2025, in Kansas City, Kansas.

S/ John W. Lungstrum JOHN W. LUNGSTRUM UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE