Opinion
No. CV 14-0447-PHX-RCB (DKD)
03-18-2014
Michael Scott Brannen, Plaintiff, v. Joseph M. Arpaio, et al., Defendants.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
On March 5, 2014, Plaintiff Michael Scott Brannen, who was then confined in the Durango Jail in Phoenix, Arizona, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. (Doc. 1, 2.) On March 17, 2014, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Change of Address indicating he is no longer in custody. (Doc. 5.) The Court will grant the Application to Proceed and will require Plaintiff to either pay the filing fee or show good cause why he cannot pay.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), "if a prisoner brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis, the prisoner shall be required to pay the full amount of a filing fee." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Because Plaintiff brought this civil action while he was still a prisoner, he will be required to pay the full amount of the $350.00 filing fee even though he is now released. See Taylor v. Delatoore, 281 F.3d 844, 847 (9th Cir. 2002) ("Under the [Prison Litigation Reform Act], all prisoners who file [in forma pauperis] civil actions must pay the full amount of the filing fee.") (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)).
If Plaintiff were still a prisoner, the Court would order Plaintiff's custodian to periodically withdraw funds from Plaintiff's inmate account according to the statutory formula in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2) until the filing fee was paid in full. However, because Plaintiff is no longer in custody, and therefore does not have a prison account, he cannot avail himself of the partial payment provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), (2). The statute makes no other provision for incremental collection of the fee. Therefore, Plaintiff must now pay the filing fee in full.
Plaintiff will be given 30 days from the date this Order is filed to either pay the $350.00 filing fee or file a "Response" to this Order. Plaintiff's Response must state the date of his release and must either promise to pay the $350.00 filing fee within 120 days from the date of his release or show good cause why he cannot pay the filing fee. Plaintiff's Response must be made under penalty of perjury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746 (oath requirement may be satisfied when a person declares under penalty of perjury that the submission is true and correct and signs and dates the document).
Plaintiff is advised that even after he pays the filing fee, the Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or an officer or an employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the plaintiff has raised claims that are legally frivolous or malicious, that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2).
If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the Court).
IT IS ORDERED:
(1) Plaintiff's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 2) is granted.
(2) Within 30 days from the date this Order is filed, Plaintiff must either pay the $350.00 filing fee or file a Response as described above.
(3) If Plaintiff fails to pay the filing fee or file a Response to this Order within 30 days, the Clerk of Court must enter a judgment of dismissal of this action without prejudice.
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Robert C. Broomfield
Senior United States District Judge