Opinion
5:12CV00235-DPM-JTK
04-16-2013
JACOB THOMAS EARLS PLAINTIFF v. GLYNN PITTS, et al. DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Defendants filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, together with a Brief in Support and Statement of Undisputed Facts on March 28, 2013 (Doc. Nos. 17-19). Plaintiff has not responded to the Motion.
At the summary judgment stage, a plaintiff cannot rest upon mere allegations and, instead, must meet proof with proof. See FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e). This means that Plaintiff's Response must include his legal arguments, as well as affidavits, prison records, or other evidence establishing that there is a genuine issue of material fact that must be resolved at a hearing or trial.
The affidavit must be based upon the personal knowledge of the person executing the affidavit and must be either: (1) sworn and subscribed to by a notary public; or (2) executed under penalty of perjury, as provided for by 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
Furthermore, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1, Plaintiff must also separately file a Statement of Disputed Facts, which lists: (a) any disagreement he has with the specifically numbered factual assertions contained in Defendants' Statement of Undisputed Facts (Doc. No. 47); and (b) any other disputed facts that he believes must be resolved at a hearing or trial.
If Plaintiff disputes any of the facts set forth in Defendant's Statement of Undisputed Facts, he must identify each numbered paragraph that contains the facts he disputes and, for each paragraph, explain why he disputes those facts.
Finally, Plaintiff is advised that if he intends to rely upon grievances or records that have been previously filed with the Court, he must specifically refer to those documents by docket number, page, date, and heading. The Court will not sift through the file to find support for Plaintiff's factual contentions. See Crossley v. Georgia-Pacific, Corp., 355 F.3d 1112, 1113-14 (8th Cir. 2004) (affirming the grant of summary judgment because a plaintiff failed to properly refer to specific pages of the record that supported his position).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1. Plaintiff must file, within fifteen days of the entry of the Order, a Response to Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, and a separate Statement of Disputed Facts that complies with FED. R. CIV. P. 56, Local Rule 56.1, and the instructions set forth in this Order.
2. Plaintiff shall file an updated Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis in this action within fifteen days of the date of this Order.
On August 22, 2013 (Doc. No. 9), Plaintiff notified the Court of a change in his address, reflecting his release from incarceration. In order to continue to prosecute this action in forma pauperis, he must file a renewed Motion.
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3. Plaintiff is advised that the failure to timely and properly comply with this Order will result in: (a) all of the facts set forth in Defendants' summary judgment papers being deemed admitted by Plaintiff, pursuant to Local Rule 56.1(c); or (b) the dismissal of this action, without prejudice, pursuant to Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).
4. The Clerk shall forward to Plaintiff an in forma pauperis application.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 16th day of April, 2013.
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JEROME T. KEARNEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE