Nix v. Warden, Southern Correctional Facility et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION (CINCINNATI)
DELSHAUN R. NIX,
Plaintiff,
vs.
WARDEN, SOUTHERN OHIO
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, et al.,
Defendants.
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Case No. 1:26-cv-113
Judge Matthew W. McFarland
Magistrate Judge Caroline H. Gentry
DEFICIENCY ORDER
Plaintiff, an inmate at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, in Lucasville, Ohio, has
filed a pro se motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 1) and Complaint (Doc. 1-1)
with this Court. The case has been referred to the undersigned Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 636(b) and this Court’s Amended General Order 22-05. Due to deficiencies with the
Complaint, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff to correct the following issues within thirty (30) days
of the date of this Order if he wishes to proceed with this action.
Plaintiff’s Complaint does not conform with Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, which requires a complaint to contain a “short and plain statement of the claim.”
Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 8(a). Instead, Plaintiff’s Complaint, which names 13 Defendants, is 39 pages
long1 and mostly single spaced. (Doc. 1-1). Although a complaint may be dismissed for failing
to comply with Rule 8, cf. Shabazz v. Xerox, No. 1:14-cv-578, 2014 WL 4181600, at *1, *3
1Although the Complaint as submitted by Plaintiff totals 56 pages in length, the first 17 pages appear to have been
submitted twice. Therefore, the Complaint is actually 39 pages in length.
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(S.D. Ohio Aug. 21, 2014) (and cases cited therein), the undersigned will give Plaintiff an
opportunity to file an Amended Complaint that conforms with Rule 8(a).
Accordingly, if Plaintiff wishes to proceed with this action, he is ORDERED to file an
Amended Complaint, which must not exceed 20 pages in length, setting forth in clear, short
and concise terms the names of each Defendant, the specific claims for relief attributable to each
Defendant, and the factual allegations supporting each such claim within thirty (30) days. As
required by S.D. Ohio Local Rule 5.1, the Amended Complaint should be legible and double-
spaced. Further, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2), the factual allegations and claims must
arise out of the same transaction or occurrence. If Plaintiff wishes to seek relief based on
unrelated claims, he must do so in separate lawsuits.
The CLERK OF COURT is DIRECTED to send the standard form complaint for pro
se prisoners to Plaintiff.
If Plaintiff fails to comply with this Order, this case may be dismissed for lack of
prosecution. In re Prison Litigation Reform Act, 105 F.3d 1131 (6th Cir. 1997). Should Plaintiff
need additional time to comply with this Order, he must file a motion for extension of time.
Plaintiff is ADVISED that he must keep this Court informed of his current address and
promptly file a Notice of New Address if he is released or transferred.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
February 17, 2026 	/s/ Caroline H. Gentry
CAROLINE H. GENTRY
United States Magistrate Judge
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