Goodlaw v. Mendota Mental Health Institute

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
PERVICE CORTEZ GOODLAW,
Plaintiff,
v.
MENDOTA MENTAL HEALTH
INSTITUTE,
Defendant.
ORDER
Case No. 25-cv-1014-wmc
Plaintiff Pervice Cortez Goodlaw has filed a proposed civil action under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 alleging that his rights have been violated at Mendota Mental Health Institute in
Madison, Wisconsin, where plaintiff is in custody under Wis. Stat. Ch. 980. Plaintiff has
filed a motion for leave to proceed without prepaying the filing fee. As proof of indigence,
plaintiff has submitted a certified copy of a resident account statement.
After considering the motion and the supporting documentation, I conclude that
plaintiff qualifies for indigent status. 	Using information from the account statement for
the six-month period preceding the filing of this case, I have determined that plaintiff owes
an initial partial payment of $14.33. 	For this case to proceed, plaintiff must pay this
amount by February 6, 2026.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that:
1. 	The motion by plaintiff Pervice Cortez Goodlaw for leave to proceed without
prepaying the filing fee is GRANTED. 	Plaintiff is assessed an initial partial payment of
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$14.33. 	Plaintiff must submit a check or money order payable to the clerk of court for
$14.33 by February 6, 2026. If plaintiff fails to make the payment or fails to show cause
why the payment could not be made, then I will assume that plaintiff wishes to withdraw this
case voluntarily. In that event, the case will be dismissed without prejudice to plaintiff refiling
at a later date.
2. 	No further action will be taken in this case until the clerk’s office receives
the initial partial payment as directed above and the court has screened the complaint as
required under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Once the screening process is complete, the court
will issue a separate order.
3. 	If plaintiff fails to make the initial partial payment by February 6, 2026, or fails
to show cause why the payment could not be made, then I will assume that plaintiff wishes to
withdraw this action voluntarily. 	In that event, the case will be dismissed without prejudice
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i). 	If plaintiff submits the initial partial
payment within 30 days of dismissal, the case will be reopened. The court will not reopen the
case after 30 days unless plaintiff makes a showing that they are entitled to relief under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).
Entered this 9th day of January, 2026.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
ANDREW R. WISEMAN
United States Magistrate Judge
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