Free INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRO SE (NON-PRISONER) LITIGANTS FILING COMPLAINTS IN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIONS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 OR 28 U.S.C. § - Florida

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRO SE (NON-PRISONER) LITIGANTS FILING COMPLAINTS IN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIONS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 OR 28 U.S.C. § 1331 OR § 1346
Civil rights actions commenced by pro se litigants will not be considered by the Court unless this form has been completed by the litigant as explained below.

Explanation and Instructions - Read Carefully
1. This packet includes a com plaint form which should be completed as instructed below. Also includ ed is a n in form a pa upe ris application which you m ust c om plete if you can not pay the filing fee. 2. Your com plaint m ust be legibly handw ritten, typ ew ritten, or com puter generated . An sw er all questions on the com plaint form . You m ust furnish your full and correct n am e as P laintiff. W hen listin g Defendants, provide name and either job title or position; i.e., Officer R. Smith. You must furnish an address for each Defendant. If you need additional space to answer a question, you may use additional blank pages, but do not write on the reverse side of any page. You must sign the complaint on the last page of the complaint form. ANY FALSE STATEMENT MADE ON T HIS FORM MAY RESULT IN SANCTIONS AND MAY ALSO SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR PROSECUTION FO R PERJU RY. You must keep a copy of the complaint for your records, but the complaint that is sent to the Court for filing must contain your original signature . Do n ot send s ervice co pies of the com plaint until directe d to do so by the C ourt. 3. State the facts which support your claims in Section III of the complaint form. The claims raised in this action must relate to the same basic incident or issue. Any other claims m ust be addressed in a sep arate civil rights complaint. W hen presenting the facts, do not mak e legal arguments or provide case citations. If you desire to make a legal argument, you should do so by filing a separate mem orandum of law. Such argument is unnecessary at the initiation of a case, however. You will be advised when the submission of evidence or argument in support of your claim is appropriate. Do not attach evidence or exhibits to the com plaint form. 4. If you are financially able to do so, you must submit a filing fee of $350.00 at the same time you subm it your complaint in order for the complaint to be filed. If you can pay the fee , you are also re sponsible for the costs of service of the com plaint upon Defendan ts, although you m ay seek ass istanc e from the C ourt. If you are unable to pay the filing fee and service costs for this action, you may petition the Court to proceed in form a pauperis using the forms included in this packet. The forms m ust be subm itted with your co m plaint. 5. Those who are allowed to proceed in forma pauperis are entitled to service of the complaint upon De fendan ts by the United States Mars hal. If you are granted leave to proceed in fo rm a pauperis, you should not attempt to effect service of the complaint by yourself, nor should you mail to any Defendant a request for waiver of formal service pursuant to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court will order the Marshal to serve the complaint on the Defendants at the appropriate time. 6. After receiving notice from the Clerk of your case number, you must include the case number on all doc um ents you file with the C ourt. You m ust k eep a copy of every do cum ent you sen d to the Court (including a copy of this com plaint) as you are not entitled to free copies from the Clerk even if you are proceeding in fo rm a pauperis. You m ust im m ediate ly advise the Court of any change of address by filing a "Notice to the Court of Change of Address." This notice should contain the address change and the effective date and must be signed. FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE COURT OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDR ESS CO ULD RESULT IN THE DISMISSAL OF YOUR C ASE!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIONS COMMENCED BY PRO SE (NON-PRISONER) LITIGANTS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 OR 28 U.S.C. § 1331 OR § 1346 - PAGE 2

7. The complaint will be prosecuted in either the Gainesville, Panama C ity, Pensacola, or Tallahassee Division of the Court, depending on the county of residence of one or more of the Defendants or the place where the events form ing the basis of the complaint occurred. You should name the appropriate division of the Court in the space provided at the top of the com plaint form. The following counties comprise the Gainesville Division: Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Levy. The following counties comprise the Pana ma City Division: Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and W ashington. The following counties comprise the Pensacola Division: Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and W alton. The following counties comprise the Tallahassee Division: Fra nklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and W akulla.

Cases to be filed in the Tallahassee Division should be mailed to: CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT 111 N. ADAMS STREET SUITE 322 TALLAHAS SEE, FLORIDA 32301-7730

Cases to be filed in the Gainesville Division should be mailed to: CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT 401 S.E. FIRST AVENUE ROO M 243 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32601-6895

Cases to be filed in the Pensaco la Division should be mailed to: CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT 1 NORTH PALAFOX STREET ROO M 226 PENSAC OLA, FLORIDA 32502-5658

Cases to be filed in the Panama City Division should be mailed to: CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT 30 GOVERNM ENT STREET PANAM A CITY, FLORIDA 32401-2758

Revised 04/06