Procup v. Strickland

Decision Date17 June 1983
Docket NumberNo. 83-351-Civ-J-14.,83-351-Civ-J-14.
Citation567 F. Supp. 146
PartiesRobert PROCUP, Plaintiff, v. C. STRICKLAND, R. Dugger, D. Watson, M. Franks, and Two Unnamed Prison Notaries, Defendants.
CourtU.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida

Robert Procup, pro se.

Dean Kowalchyk, Asst. Atty. Gen., Dept. of Legal Affairs Tallahassee, Fla., for defendants.

OPINION

SUSAN H. BLACK, District Judge.

On May 6, 1983, the Court entered an Order to Show Cause,1 permitting plaintiff thirty days in which to demonstrate why the Court should not enter an injunction prohibiting him from filing any further pleadings in the courts of this district. In that order, the Court also allowed the Attorney General of the State of Florida thirty days in which to make his position known. The Court has received and reviewed the pleadings submitted by both parties.

As indicated in its Order to Show Cause, the Court is concerned that plaintiff is and has been engaging in an abuse of the judicial process. Because the Court is empowered under the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a),2 to enjoin a litigant who repeatedly files groundless and vexatious claims or who otherwise abuses the judicial process, see In re Oliver, 682 F.2d 443 (3d Cir.1982), the Court will review plaintiff's history of litigation to determine whether such sanctions may be appropriately applied against him.

I. BACKGROUND

Robert Procup was received by the Florida Department of Corrections on June 3, 1975, under a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree. Pursuant to Fla.Stat. § 775.082(1), Procup must serve no less than twenty-five years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Procup has been incarcerated at Florida State Prison and Union Correctional Institution during his term of confinement.3 The terms and conditions of his confinement at these institutions form the basis for nearly all his actions brought in this division.

Procup filed his first complaint in this division on August 4, 1977. He filed only one other case during the remainder of 1977, and did not file a single action during 1978. However, beginning in 1979 and continuing through this date, Procup has filed civil rights actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, pro se, in forma pauperis, at an alarmingly rapid rate. Procup's onslaught has inundated the civil docket to the detriment of other claimants seeking a prompt resolution of their disputes.

To date, Procup has filed the following cases in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division:4Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 77-585-Civ-J-S; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 77-961-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Darby, Case No. 79-565-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Lea, et al., Case No. 79-587-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Pepper, Case No. 79-665-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 79-673-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Barlow, et al., Case No. 79-680-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brierton, et al., Case No. 79-816-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brierton, et al., Case No. 79-817-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brierton, Case No. 79-828-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Lea, et al., Case No. 79-881-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-108-Civ-J-M; Procup, et al. v. Graham, et al., Case No. 80-169-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Savage, et al., Case No. 80-273-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Workman, et al., Case No. 80-278-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-303-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Sewell, et al., Case No. 80-304-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brigham, et al., Case No. 80-305-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Harrington, et al., Case No. 80-324-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-332-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-387-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Sands, Case No. 80-389-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Harrington, Case No. 80-390-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, Case No. 80-391-Civ-J-M; Procup, et al. v. Barlow, Case No. 80-392-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-393-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-412-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-413-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Bigham, et al., Case No. 80-416-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Jarvis, et al., Case No. 80-417-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Whitworth, et al., Case No. 80-430-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-439-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 80-440-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Belz, Case No. 80-474-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-559-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-560-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-561-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Van Eeden, et al., Case No. 80-580-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-581-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-582-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Jarvis, et al., Case No. 80-590-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-591-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Wilson, et al., Case No. 80-592-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-593-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-606-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., 80-607-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-608-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Pilcher, Case No. 80-609-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-610-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-611-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Seely, et al., Case No. 80-629-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-630-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Seely, et al., Case No. 80-631-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-632-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-633-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Bigham, et al., Case No. 80-642-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Hartsfield, et al., Case No. 80-644-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Seely, et al., Case No. 80-645-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Turner, et al., Case No. 80-646-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-647-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Harrington, et al., Case No. 80-679-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-680-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-803-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Pepper, Case No. 80-804-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Morin, Case No. 80-805-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-818-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 80-819-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Baxter, et al., Case No. 80-820-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-825-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-826-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Watson, Case No. 80-867-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Workman, Case No. 80-888-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 80-891-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Watson, Case No. 80-892-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brierton, et al., Case No. 80-903-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Strickland, Case No. 80-905-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-906-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Deering, Case No. 80-907-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Harris, Case No. 80-908-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-909-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Dugger, Case No. 80-910-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Pepper, Case No. 80-911-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 80-934-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Vodt, et al., Case No. 80-963-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Wilson, Case No. 80-1060-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 80-1085-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Seely, et al., Case No. 80-1100-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 80-1106-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Barlow, Case No. 80-1107-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Wilson, et al., Case No. 80-1133-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Eddy, Case No. 81-42-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 81-43-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 81-124-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 81-127-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-167-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 81-225-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Linnehan, et al., Case No. 81-227-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 81-229-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Decker, et al., Case No. 81-253-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Brown, Case No. 81-254-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Rising, et al., Case No. 81-261-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Anderson, et al., Case No. 81-262-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Roberts, et al., Case No. 81-263-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Barlow, et al., Case No. 81-264-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Harris, Case No. 81-265-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-301-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Watson, Case No. 81-302-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Graham, Case No. 81-316-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Linnehan, et al., Case No. 81-317-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 81-318-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Pages, Case No. 81-322-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Andrews, Case No. 81-324-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Terry, et al., Case No. 81-326-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Dayan, Case No. 81-360-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-368-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Barlow, Case No. 81-377-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Frank, et al., Case No. 81-378-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Dugger, et al., Case No. 81-411-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Smith, et al., Case No. 81-416-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-438-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Kemp, et al., Case No. 81-439-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Bigham, et al., Case No. 81-474-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Harrington, Case No. 81-482-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Strickland, Case No. 81-483-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Strickland, Case No. 81-492-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Novak, Case No. 81-515-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Linnehan, et al., Case No. 81-519-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Lee, Case No. 81-521-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Six Unnamed Prison Administrators, et al., Case No. 81-570-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Davis, et al., Case No. 81-615-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Lehr, Case No. 81-653-Civ-J-WC; Procup v. Decker, Case No. 81-682-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Dayan, et al., Case No. 81-692-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-702-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Graham, et al., Case No. 81-720-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Bigham, et al., Case No. 81-775-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-848-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-974-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-1074-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Watson, et al., Case No. 81-1119-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 81-1157-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 81-1249-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Crockett, et al., Case No. 82-120-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 82-438-Civ-J-B; Procup v. Strickland, et al., Case No. 82-447-Civ-J-JHM; Procup v. Wainwright, et al., Case No. 82-457-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Bigham, et al., Case No. 82-459-Civ-J-M; Procup v. Brierton, et al., Case No. 82-462-Civ-J-M;...

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5 cases
  • Procup v. Strickland
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eleventh Circuit
    • July 2, 1986
    ...from filing any case with the district court unless submitted by an attorney admitted to practice before the court. Procup v. Strickland, 567 F.Supp. 146 (M.D.Fla.1983), rev'd, 760 F.2d 1107 (11th Cir.1985), vacated, 760 F.2d 1116 (11th Cir.1985). The proceedings that brought the issue befo......
  • Watts v. Turnbach
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Alabama
    • May 12, 2014
    ...and three interlocutory appeals); Procup v. Strickland, 792 F.2d 1069, 1074 (11th Cir. 1986) (relying on facts in Procup v. Strickland, 567 F. Supp. 146, 148 (M.D. Fla. 1983), listing, among others, 176 cases filed in a single federal district); In re Martin-Trigona, 737 F.2d 1254, 1259 (2d......
  • Procup v. Strickland, 83-3430
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eleventh Circuit
    • May 20, 1985
    ...therein ... unless ... submitted on behalf of Procup by an attorney admitted to practice before this Court." Procup v. Strickland, 567 F.Supp. 146, 162 (M.D.Fla.1983). Because the injunction unduly burdens Procup's constitutional right of access to the courts and seeks to absolve the distri......
  • Karr v. Williams, 02SA18.
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • July 1, 2002
    ...v. Fleming, 726 F.Supp. 1216, 1220 (D.Colo. 1989)); Procup v. Strickland, 792 F.2d 1069, 1071 (11th Cir.1986). In Procup v. Strickland, 567 F.Supp. 146 (M.D.Fla.1983), the federal district court enjoined Robert Procup from filing any complaints with the court without the aid of an attorney.......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • You're Out!: Three Strikes Against the Plra's Three Strikes Rule
    • United States
    • University of Georgia School of Law Georgia Law Review (FC Access) No. 57-2, 2023
    • Invalid date
    ...physical harm or threats to petitioner's person"); Green v. White, 616 F.2d 1054, 1055 (8th Cir. 1980) (same).108. Procup v. Strickland, 567 F. Supp. 146, 159 (M.D. Fla. 1983).109. Id.110. Id. at 160 n.13.111. Id.112. Id. Courts, too, have recognized the free time that prisoners have and ap......

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