Opinion
3:23-cv-01493-L (BT)
07-10-2023
ETHELYN RENEIGH BLAKE, #02135215, Petitioner, v. ANDREA LAZADO, Respondent.
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
REBECCA RUTHERFORD, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Petitioner Ethelyn Reneigh Blake, a state prisoner, filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 2). The Court should deny Blake's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss her petition unless she pays the $5.00 filing fee by August 14, 2023.
The procedure for a party to bring a lawsuit in forma pauperis is set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915. The goal of § 1915(a) is to allow access to federal courts for those plaintiffs who lack the resources to pay any of the statutory filing costs. Prows v. Kastner, 842 F.2d 138, 140 (5th Cir. 1988). The district court may authorize the commencement of a civil action without the prepayment of fees or costs by a prisoner when the prisoner files a financial affidavit along with a certified copy of their trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The Court must then examine the financial condition of the applicant to determine whether the payment of fees would “cause undue financial hardship.” Prows, 842 F.2d at 140. “This entails a review of other demands on individual plaintiffs' financial resources, including whether the expenses are discretionary or mandatory.” Id.
On June 27, 2023, Blake had $580.68 in her inmate trust account. Over the last six months, her average balance has been $851.69. In March 2023, Blake's inmate trust account had $1,497.10 in it. Based on this information, the Court should find she has failed to show that payment of the $5.00 filing fee would cause her undue financial hardship.
Recommendation
The Court should DENY Blake's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and dismiss this case without prejudice unless she pays the $5.00 filing fee by August 14, 2023.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL/OBJECT
A copy of this report and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of this report and recommendation must file specific written objections within 14 days after being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b). To be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the magistrate judge's report and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objections will bar the aggrieved party from appealing the factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted or adopted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglass v. United Services Automobile Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (5th Cir. 1996), modified by statute on other grounds, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (extending the time to file objections to 14 days).