ESTATE OF DEMARIO THOMAS v. GEO GROUP, INC. ( 2020 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION ESTATE OF DEMARIO THOMAS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 1:20-cv-00592-JPH-MPB ) GEO GROUP, INC., et al. ) ) Defendants. ) Order Directing Further Proceedings The plaintiff has filed an amended complaint. Because the plaintiff is not a "prisoner" as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(c), the complaint is not subject to the screening requirement of § 1915A(a). But this Court has the inherent authority to screen the complaint on its own. See Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 490 U.S. 296, 307-08 (1989) (in forma pauperis statute “authorizes courts to dismiss a ‘frivolous or malicious’ action, but there is little doubt they would have power to do so even in the absence of this statutory provision.”); Rowe v. Shake, 196 F.3d 778, 783 (7th Cir. 1999) (“[D]istrict courts have the power to screen complaints filed by all litigants, prisoners and non-prisoners alike, regardless of fee status.”). This step shall be taken in this case. The Court has screened the amended complaint which shall proceed as presented. The clerk shall add Wexford of Indiana, LLC, Mary K. Heimann, Daniel O. Rippetoe, and Bruce D. Ippel as defendants. The plaintiff is responsible for effecting service on the defendants in accordance with Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. SO ORDERED. Date: 8/14/2020 S) anus Patch lhawlove James Patrick Hanlon United States District Judge Southern District of Indiana Distribution: All Electronically Registered Counsel