Opinion
20-CV-3843 (CM)
02-10-2021
MARK GARNES, Plaintiff, v. PRITCHARD INDUSTRIES, INC., Defendant.
ORDER :
Plaintiff filed this action pro se. By order dated May 19, 2020, the Court directed Plaintiff, within thirty days, to either pay the $400.00 in filing fees or submit an application requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), that is, without prepaying the filing fee. On June 23, 2020, the Court dismissed the complaint because it had not received any response to the order May 19, 2020 order, and the time to respond had expired.
The Clerk of Court received Plaintiff's IFP application on June 23, 2020, but it was not entered on the docket until the June 24, 2020, after the action was closed. Plaintiff then filed an amended complaint (totaling nearly 300 pages) in the closed action. (ECF No. 7.) He also filed a motion for reconsideration of the order of dismissal. (ECF No. 8).
Plaintiff also filed an application to withdraw the motion for reconsideration but indicates that he does so in order to provide "Plaintiff the opportunity to proceed without prejudice." (ECF No. 9). It therefore appears that Plaintiff does continue to seek reconsideration of the order of dismissal.
The Court liberally construes this submission (ECF No. 8) as a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) to alter or amend judgment and a motion under Local Civil Rule 6.3 for reconsideration, and, in the alternative, as a motion under Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b) for relief from a judgment or order.
Plaintiff demonstrates good cause for failing to file the IFP application within the deadline for doing so. But upon review of Plaintiff's IFP application, Plaintiff fails to show that he is unable to afford the cost of suit. Plaintiff indicates that he is currently employed earning approximately $52,320.00 annually and has $1200 in a checking account. (ECF No. 4). Plaintiff's IFP application must therefore be denied.
If Plaintiff wishes to proceed with this action, he must, within thirty days, either (1) submit an amended IFP application giving further details that show that he is unable to pay the $400.00 filing fee, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1); or (2) pay the $400.00 filing fee for this action. Upon receipt within the thirty day deadline of either the $400.00 filing fee, or Plaintiff's amended IFP application showing that he is unable to pay the filing fees, the Court will reopen this action.
Effective December 1, 2020, the administrative fee increased from $50.00 to $52.00, bringing the total filing fee to $402.00. Because this action was filed before the effective date of the fee increase, the $400.00 fee applies. --------
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion for reconsideration (ECF No. 8) is denied. Although Plaintiff shows good cause for failing to timely submit the IFP application, he fails to show that he is unable to afford the cost of suit and is entitled to proceed IFP.
If the Court receives, within thirty days of this order, either the $400.00 in filing fees, or Plaintiff's amended IFP application showing that he is unable to pay the filing fees, the Court will reopen this action. An amended IFP Application is attached to this order. If Plaintiff submits an amended IFP application, it should be labeled with docket number 20-CV-3843 (CM). No summons shall issue at this time, and the action remains closed.
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff and note service on the docket.
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962). SO ORDERED. Dated: February 10, 2021
New York, New York
/s/_________
COLLEEN McMAHON
Chief United States District Judge __________ (Full name(s) of the plaintiff or petitioner applying (each person must submit a separate application) -against- __________ (Full name(s) of the defendant(s)/respondent(s).) ___ CV __________( ) ( )
(Enter case number and initials of assigned judges, if available; if filing this with your complaint, you will not yet have a case number or assigned judges.)
AMENDED APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYING FEES OR COSTS
I am a plaintiff/petitioner in this case and declare that I am unable to pay the costs of these proceedings and I believe that I am entitled to the relief requested in this action. In support of this application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP") (without prepaying fees or costs), I declare that the responses below are true: 1. Are you incarcerated? [ ] Yes [ ] No (If "No," go to Question 2.)
I am being held at: __________2. Are you presently employed? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Do you receive any payment from this institution? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Monthly amount: __________
If I am a prisoner, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(h), I have attached to this document a "Prisoner Authorization" directing the facility where I am incarcerated to deduct the filing fee from my account in installments and to send to the Court certified copies of my account statements for the past six months. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), (b). I understand that this means that I will be required to pay the full filing fee.
If "yes," my employer's name and address are:3. In addition to your income stated above (which you should not repeat here), have you or anyone else living at the same residence as you received more than $200 in the past 12 months from any of the following sources? Check all that apply.
Gross monthly pay or wages: __________
If "no," what was your last date of employment? __________
Gross monthly wages at the time: __________
(a) Business, profession, or other self-employment [ ] Yes [ ] No
(b) Rent payments, interest, or dividends [ ] Yes[ ] No
(c) Pension, annuity, or life insurance payments [ ] Yes [ ] No
(d) Disability or worker's compensation payments [ ] Yes [ ] No
(e) Gifts or inheritances [ ] Yes [ ] No
(f) Any other public benefits (unemployment, social security, food stamps, veteran's, etc.) [ ] Yes [ ] No
(g) Any other sources [ ] Yes [ ] No
4. How much money do you have in cash or in a checking, savings, or inmate account? 5. Do you own any automobile, real estate, stock, bond, security, trust, jewelry, art work, or other financial instrument or thing of value, including any item of value held in someone else's name? If so, describe the property and its approximate value: 6. Do you have any housing, transportation, utilities, or loan payments, or other regular monthly expenses? If so, describe and provide the amount of the monthly expense: 7. List all people who are dependent on you for support, your relationship with each person, and how much you contribute to their support (only provide initials for minors under 18): 8. Do you have any debts or financial obligations not described above? If so, describe the amounts owed and to whom they are payable: Declaration: I declare under penalty of perjury that the above information is true. I understand that a false statement may result in a dismissal of my claims. __________
If you answered "Yes" to any question above, describe below or on separate pages each source of money and state the amount that you received and what you expect to receive in the future.
If you answered "No" to all of the questions above, explain how you are paying your expenses:
Dated
__________
Signature __________
Name (Last, First, MI)
__________
Prison Identification # (if incarcerated) __________
Address __________
City __________
State __________
Zip Code __________
Telephone Number
__________
E-mail Address (if available)