Williams v. Correctional Officer Cadden

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
PARIS WILLIAMS,
Plaintiff
v.
JENNIFER POLEMITIS, et al.,
Defendants
PARIS WILLIAMS,
Plaintiff
V.
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER CADDEN, 	:
Defendant
No. 3:25cv2294
(Judge Munley)
No. 3:26cv65
(Judge Munley)
MEMORANDUM
On January 13, 2026, plaintiff Paris Williams ("Williams"), an inmate
housed at the Lackawanna County Prison, in Scranton, Pennsylvania,
commenced a prose civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, docketed at
3:26-cv-65.
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On December 1, 2025, Williams filed a near identical case pursuant to 42
U.S .C. § 1983, docketed at 3:25-cv-2294. 	See Will iams v. Polemitis, et al. , 3:25-
cv-2294 (M.D. Pa.).
For the following reasons , the court will consolidate Williams' cases
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a).
I. 	Background
Williams filed the instant action against Correctional Officer Cadden
alleg i ng that, on January 30 , 2025, Cadden pushed him into a door, causing
damage to his teeth. 	(Doc. 1, at 2-3).
Williams filed his previous action against defendant Cadden, as well as
Grievance Coordinator Jennifer Polemitis, Warden Tim Betty, Deputy Warden
Jason Talutto , and Deputy Warden Colleen Orzel. 	Williams v. Polemitis, et al. ,
3:25-cv-2294, at Doc. 11 . 	In that action , Williams alleged that, on January 30,
2025, Cadden pushed him into a metal door, causing damage to his teeth. 	kt
He also alleged that defendants Polemitis, Betty, Talutto, and Orzel denied his
grievances and appeals. kt 	The court performed its statutorily mandated
screening of Williams' amended complaint and dismissed the claims against
Polemitis, Betty, Talutto, and Orzel. 	kt , Docs. 13 , 14 . The court also directed
service on defendant Cadden. 	kt 	That action remains pending against
defendant Cadden .
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II. 	Legal Standard
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a) provides as follows :
If actions before the court involve a common question of law or fact,
the court may:
(1) join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the actions;
(2) consolidate the actions; or
(3) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
FED . R. C1v. P. 42(a). The power given to a federal court to consolidate actions
involving a common question of law or fact is purely discretionary. 	Watkinson v.
Great Atl. & Pac. Tea Co., 585 F. Supp. 879, 883 (E.D. Pa. 1984). " In deciding
whether to order consolidation , the trial court must balance the probable savings
of time and effort against the likelihood that a party might be prejudiced ,
inconvenienced or put to extra expense. " Bernardi v. City of Scranton , 101
F.R.D. 411,413 (M.D. Pa. 1983). Consolidation should be "prudently employed
as a valuable and important tool of judicial administration ... invoked to expedite
trial and eliminate unnecessary repetition and confusion ." 	Endress v. Gentiva
Health Servs. , Inc. , 278 F.R.D . 78 , 81 (E.D .N.Y. 2011) (citations omitted).
Ill. 	Discussion
In his two pending actions, Williams ' claims against defendant Cadden are
identical. 	He alleges that defendant Cadden used excessive force against him
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on January 30 , 2025. 	He also makes identical claims for relief and for damages
against defendant Cadden.
Upon review, the court finds that the circumstances of the two cases
support consolidation . The cases share the same defendant, the fact patterns
are the same or similar, the questions of law are the same, and there are
witnesses in common . 	It would be efficient and cost-saving for all parties
involved to consolidate the cases , with little if any prejudice to defendant.
IV. 	Conclusion
Consistent with the foregoing , the court will consolidate civil action numbers
3:25-cv-2294 and 3:26-cv-65 for all purposes. 	The court will direct the Clerk of
Court to close case number 3:26- cv -65, and this case wil l proceed at
consolidated case number 3:25-cv-2294.
An appropriate order shall issue.
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