Opinion
Case No. 2:07-cv-00162-MMD-VCF
07-12-2012
JOSEPH ANTONETTI, Plaintiff, v. DWIGHT NEVIN, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
(Request for Copies of Filings - Dkt. no. 100)
(Motion for Restraining Order - Dkt. no. 101)
Before this Court are Plaintiff's Notice of Change of Address, which includes a request for copies of all filings in this case since the time of his move (dkt. no. 100), and Plaintiff's Motion for a Restraining Order (dkt. no. 101). The two Motions are related because Plaintiff requests a restraining order against parties he claims prevented him from informing the Court of his change of address. (See dkt. no. 101.)
The statute providing authority to proceed in forma pauperis, 28 U.S.C. § 1915, does not include the right to obtain court documents without payment. Although the Ninth Circuit has not spoken on the issue, courts in other jurisdictions have not allowed plaintiffs proceeding in forma pauperis to receive free copies of documents from the court without the plaintiff demonstrating a specific showing of need. In re Richard, 914 F.2d 1526, 1527 (6th Cir. 1990) (28 U.S.C. § 1915 does not give litigant right to have documents copied at government expense); Douglas v. Green, 327 F.2d 661, 662 (6th Cir. 1964) (no free copy of court orders); Collins v. Goord, 438 F. Supp. 2d 399, 416 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (same). Plaintiff here demonstrates the requisite need because of his recent change of address. The Court therefore GRANTS his motion. Because the Court grants Plaintiff's request to be sent the filings in this case, his Motion for a Restraining Order is denied.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff's request for copies of the documents in this case (dkt. no. 100) is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall receive copies of any filings submitted between June 15, 2012, and June 29, 2012.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for a Restraining Order is DENIED.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE