Johnson v. O'Hagan-Wolfe
Johnson v. O'Hagan-Wolfe
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK JOHNATHAN JOHNSON, Plaintiff, -against- 21-CV-10783 (LTS) CATHERINE O’HAGAN-WOLFE, CLERK; DIRECTOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER OF DISMISSAL UNDER OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS;
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) CASE MANAGER FOR THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS SECOND CIRCUIT, Defendants. LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff, who is currently incarcerated at Upstate Correctional Facility, brings this action pro se. Plaintiff also requests to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (“IFP”). Plaintiff is barred, however, from filing any new action IFP while he is a prisoner. See Johnson v. Worle, No. 05-CV-6602 (CJS) (W.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2005) (listing cases). That order relied on the “three-strikes” provision of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA),
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which provides that: In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action [IFP] 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. Although Plaintiff has filed this new action seeking IFP status, his complaint does not show that he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury.1 Instead, Plaintiff alleges that
1 An imminent danger is one “existing at the time the complaint is filed.” Malik v. McGinnis,
293 F.3d 559, 563(2d Cir. 2002). A danger “that has dissipated by the time a complaint is filed” is not sufficient. Pettus v. Morgenthau,
554 F.3d 293, 296(2d Cir. 2009). Defendants denied him the right to access the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Plaintiff is therefore barred from filing this action IFP. CONCLUSION The Court denies Plaintiff’s request to proceed IFP, and the complaint is dismissed without prejudice under the PLRA’s “three-strikes” rule. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).2 Plaintiff
remains barred from filing any future action IFP while he is in custody unless he is under imminent threat of serious physical injury.3
Id.The Court certifies under
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States,
369 U.S. 438, 444-45(1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: May 6, 2022 New York, New York
/s/ Laura Taylor Swain LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN Chief United States District Judge
2 Plaintiff may commence a new action by paying the filing fee. If Plaintiff does so, that complaint will be reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, which requires the Court to dismiss any civil rights complaint from a prisoner if it “(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). 3 The Court may bar any vexatious litigant (including a nonprisoner) from filing future actions (even if the filing fee is paid) without first obtaining leave from the Court. See In re Martin-Trigona,
9 F.3d 226, 227-30(2d Cir. 1993) (discussing sanctions courts may impose on vexatious litigants, including “leave of court” requirement).
Reference
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