Heflin Postoak v. Oklahoma Department of Human Services et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
NICOLE DIANE HEFLIN POSTOAK, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
)
v. 	) 	Case No. CIV-26-175-SLP
)
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF 	)
HUMAN SERVICES, et al., 	)
)
Defendants. 	)
O R D E R
Upon review of the Complaint [Doc. No. 1], certain allegations contain protected
information, including the names of one or more individuals that appear to be minors. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a). Accordingly, the Clerk of Court is directed to seal the Complaint.
The Court further directs Plaintiff to file an Amended Complaint that redacts all
minor children’s names and includes only their initials, as required by the privacy
protection requirements of Rule 5.2(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff is
warned that while she is proceeding in this action without an attorney, she must still comply
with applicable rules. Garrett v. Selby Connor Maddux & Janer, 425 F.3d 836, 840 (10th
Cir. 	2005) 	(“[P]ro 	se parties 	[must] 	follow 	the 	same rules of procedure that 	govern
other litigants,” including the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court's Local
Civil Rules (which are available on the Court's website)). Future filings that do not comply
with the Local Civil Rules or Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rule 5.2(a), may
be summarily stricken.
Case 5:26-cv-00175-SLP Document 5 Filed 02/04/26 Page 1 of 2

Lastly, Plaintiff did not include a completed civil cover sheet (Form JS-44) with her
Complaint. 	The Local Civil Rules require every civil action to have a civil cover sheet
accompany the filing of the Complaint. 	See LCvR 3.1. 	The form is available from the
Court Clerk’s office or on the Court’s website. 	Plaintiff is directed to complete a civil
cover sheet and include it with her Amended Complaint.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff shall file a Civil Cover Sheet and an
Amended Complaint with redactions of all minor children’s names, and which includes
only their initials no later than February 13, 2026.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall seal the Complaint [Doc.
No. 1].
IT IS SO ORDERED this 4th day of February, 2026.
Case 5:26-cv-00175-SLP Document 5 Filed 02/04/26 Page 2 of 2