Opinion
1:19-CV-11843 (CM)
01-03-2020
MATTHEW LOUIS MERCADO, Plaintiff, v. NEW WINDSOR NY P.D. 12553, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DIRECTING PAYMENT OF FEES OR IFP APPLICATION AND PRISONER AUTHORIZATION :
Plaintiff, currently held in the Orange County Jail, brings this action pro se. To proceed with a civil action in this Court, a prisoner must either pay $400.00 in fees - a $350.00 filing fee plus a $50.00 administrative fee - or, to request authorization to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), that is, without prepayment of fees, submit a signed IFP application and a prisoner authorization. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914, 1915. If the Court grants a prisoner's IFP application, the Prison Litigation Reform Act requires the Court to collect the $350.00 filing fee in installments deducted from the prisoner's prison trust fund account. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). A prisoner seeking to proceed in this Court without prepayment of fees must therefore authorize the Court to withdraw these payments from his prison trust account by filing a "prisoner authorization," which directs the facility where the prisoner is incarcerated to deduct the $350.00 filing fee from the prisoner's prison trust fund account in installments and to send to the Court certified copies of the prisoner's prison trust fund account statements for the past six months. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), (b).
The $50.00 administrative fee for filing a federal civil action does not apply to persons granted IFP status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
Plaintiff submitted the complaint without the relevant fees or a completed IFP application and an appropriate prisoner authorization. Within thirty days of the date of this order, Plaintiff must either pay the $400.00 in fees or complete and submit the attached IFP application and prisoner authorization forms. If Plaintiff submits the IFP application and prisoner authorization, they should be labeled with docket number 19-CV-11843 (CM).
Plaintiff filed a prisoner authorization that authorizes the disbursement of $400.00, not the required $350.00 filing fee. (ECF 2.)
Plaintiff is cautioned that if a prisoner files a federal civil action that is dismissed as malicious, frivolous, or for failure to state a claim, the dismissal is a "strike" under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). A prisoner who receives three "strikes" cannot file federal civil actions IFP as a prisoner, unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury, and must pay the relevant fees at the time of filing any new federal civil action. --------
The Clerk of Court is directed to assign this matter to my docket, mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, and note service on the docket. No summons shall issue at this time. If Plaintiff complies with this order, the case shall be processed in accordance with the procedures of the Clerk's Office. If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order within the time allowed, the action will be dismissed.
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 IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that appellant demonstrates good faith when seeking review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: January 3, 2020
New York, New York
/s/_________
COLLEEN McMAHON
Chief United States District Judge