Jenkins Bollinger v. La Villa Grande Care Center

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
October 14, 2008
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
CAROLE JENKINS BOLLINGER,
Wife and Personal Representative of
Estate of Steven N. Bollinger, also
known as Carole E. Jenkins,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 08-1211
(D. of Colo.)
LA VILLA GRANDE CARE (D.C. No. 08-cv-628-ZLW)
CENTER, ITS OUT OF STATE
PARENT CORPORATION,
MONTROSE COUNTY, JEANNETTE
HENSLEY, Director, and
COLORADO STATE HUMAN
SERVICES,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before LUCERO, TYMKOVICH, and HOLMES, Circuit Judges. **
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Carole E. Jenkins Bollinger, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court
order dismissing her amended complaints without prejudice. Bollinger argues, as
a pro se plaintiff, that the district court erred in not according leniency to her to
cure deficiencies in the complaints. She also argues that the district court erred
by concluding she must initiate separate lawsuits concerning her distinct claims
against different defendants. Because the district court did not abuse its
discretion, we AFFIRM.
I.
Bollinger initiated this action by filing a pro se motion to proceed in forma
pauperis signed by Carole Jenkins, two different complaints, signed by Carole E.
Jenkins and by Carole Jenkins Bollinger respectively, and three different cover
sheets. She claimed to file the complaints in her capacity as the personal
representative of Steven Bollinger, her deceased husband. The magistrate judge
who reviewed the complaints determined, pursuant to local rules governing pro se
pleadings, that the submitted documents were deficient. The magistrate judge
issued an order opening a case, but directed Bollinger to cure the deficiencies
within thirty days if she wished to pursue her claims. 1
Bollinger then submitted two amended complaints: (1) a 42 U.S.C. § 1983civil rights complaint signed by Carole Jenkins Bollinger filed against Montrose
1
The deficiencies included a number of technical requirements. The
magistrate judge also observed that the complaints were unreadable.
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County, Jeannette Hensley, and Colorado State Human Services; and (2) a 28
U.S.C. § 1332 diversity complaint signed by Carole E. Jenkins filed against La
Villa Grande Care Center and its out-of-state parent corporation. She also
submitted two amended motions and affidavits seeking to proceed in forma
pauperis, each listing “Steven N. Bollinger, Deceased” as plaintiff, each signed
by Carole Jenkins Bollinger, and each listing different defendants in the caption.
Concluding that Bollinger failed to cure all of the deficiencies in the
allotted time, the district court dismissed the amended complaints and the action
without prejudice. The district court explained that, pursuant to Rule 17 of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Carole Jenkins Bollinger, as representative for
her deceased husband, could proceed in her own name. The district court
determined, however, that she could not initiate two entirely different actions—a
civil rights action and a diversity action—in one lawsuit. If Bollinger desires to
pursue different actions against different defendants, the district court
emphasized, she must initiate two separate lawsuits. Further, the district court
explained, she must list the same defendants in the complaint and the 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915 in forma pauperis motion, and she must sign each document that she
submits using the same name.
II.
We review for abuse of discretion dismissals without prejudice for failure
to cure deficiencies. Cf. Nasious v. Two Unknown B.I.C.E. Agents, at Arapahoe
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County Justice Ctr., 492 F.3d 1158, 1161–62, and n.2 (10th Cir. 2007) (reviewing
for abuse of discretion dismissals under Rule 41(b), which authorizes courts to
dismiss actions for a plaintiff’s failure to comply with the rules of civil procedure
or court orders); Soeken v. Estep, 270 F. App’x 734, 735 (10th Cir. 2008)
(reviewing for abuse of discretion dismissal of habeas corpus petition without
prejudice for failure to cure filing deficiencies). These cases teach us that a
district court possesses broad discretion in determining whether to dismiss a
petition without prejudice for failing to comply with court orders. See, e.g., 8
James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 41.53 (3d ed. 2007) (“When
the dismissal is without prejudice, an abuse of discretion will generally not be
found, since the plaintiff may simply refile the suit.”).
As Bollinger emphasizes, it is well established that “[a] pro se litigant’s
pleadings are to be construed liberally and held to a less stringent standard than
formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110
(10th Cir. 1991). This liberal treatment has limits, however, and we have
“repeatedly insisted that pro se parties follow the same rules of procedure that
govern other litigants.” Garrett v. Selby Connor Maddux & Janer, 425 F.3d 836,
840 (10th Cir. 2005) (quotation omitted).
Here, the court gave Bollinger ample opportunity to cure the deficiencies in
her filings, which she failed to do. A dismissal without prejudice for these
reasons is not an abuse of discretion, and Bollinger fails to show otherwise.
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Because the dismissal was without prejudice, Bollinger remains free to file new
complaints in accordance with all federal and local filing rules.
Although Bollinger’s assertion that the district court erred in concluding
she failed to file two separate lawsuits is not outcome determinative, given that
the district court referenced other deficiencies in her amended complaints as well,
we nonetheless address the issue and reject her argument. After having reviewed
the amended complaints, even under a liberal construction, we cannot say the
district court erred in concluding that Bollinger improperly initiated “entirely
different actions against different Defendants” in one lawsuit. R., Vol. I., Doc. 9,
at 2; cf. Trail Realty, Inc. v. Beckett, 462 F.2d 396, 400 (10th Cir. 1972)
(“[Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a)] does not contemplate joinder where, as
here, an attempt is made to incorporate into an existing action a different action
against different parties and presenting entirely different factual and legal
issues.”). For the reasons explained above, the district court did not abuse its
discretion in dismissing without prejudice for failure to cure deficiencies.
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. 2
Entered for the Court,
Timothy M. Tymkovich
Circuit Judge
2
Bollinger has filed a motion with this court to proceed in forma pauperis.
We GRANT that request.
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