Opinion
No. 17-1227-JDT-cgc
12-13-2017
BILLIE JOE CRUSE, Plaintiff, v. HENDERSON COUNTY JAIL, ET AL., Defendants.
ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO COMPLY WITH 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2) OR PAY THE $400 CIVIL FILING FEE
On December 12, 2017, Plaintiff Billie Joe Cruse, who is incarcerated at the Henderson County Jail in Lexington, Tennessee, filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, accompanied by a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF Nos. 1 & 2.)
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act ("PLRA"), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a)-(b), a prisoner bringing a civil action must pay the filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). Although the obligation to pay the fee accrues at the moment the case is filed, see McGore v. Wriggleworth, 114 F.3d 601, 605 (6th Cir. 1997), partially overruled on other grounds by LaFountain v. Harry, 716 F.3d. 944, 951 (6th Cir. 2013), the PLRA provides the prisoner the opportunity to make a "down payment" of a partial filing fee and pay the remainder in installments. § 1915(b)(2). However, in order to take advantage of the installment procedures, the prisoner must properly complete and submit to the district court, along with the complaint, an in forma pauperis affidavit containing a current certification by the prison trust account officer and a copy of his trust account statement for the last six months immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. § 1915(a)(2).
In this case, the affidavit submitted by Plaintiff was not accompanied by a certified copy of his trust account statement. Accordingly, Plaintiff is ORDERED to submit, within thirty 30 days after the date of this order, either the entire $400 civil filing fee or a current copy of his trust account statement for the last six months. If Plaintiff needs additional time to file the required document, he may request one 30-day extension of time from this Court. McGore, 114 F.3d at 605.
Twenty-eight U.S.C. § 1914(a) requires a civil filing fee of $350. In addition, § 1914(b) requires the clerk to "collect from the parties such additional fees...as are prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States." The Judicial Conference has prescribed an additional administrative fee of $50 for filing any civil case, except for cases seeking habeas corpus and cases in which the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis umder 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Therefore, if Plaintiff is ultimately granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis in accordance with the PLRA, he will not be responsible for the additional $50 fee.
Plaintiff does not need to submit another in forma pauperis affidavit.
If Plaintiff timely submits the necessary document and the Court finds that he is indeed indigent, the Court will grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis and assess a filing fee of only $350 in accordance with the installment procedures of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). However, if the Plaintiff fails to comply with this order in a timely manner, the Court will deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis, assess the entire $400 filing fee without regard to the installment payment procedures, and dismiss the action without further notice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), for failure to prosecute. McGore, 114 F.3d at 605.
Even a voluntary dismissal by Plaintiff will not eliminate the obligation to pay the filing fee. McGore, 114 F.3d at 607; see also In re Alea, 286 F.3d 378, 381 (6th Cir. 2002). --------
If Plaintiff is transferred to a different prison or released, he is ORDERED to notify the Court immediately, in writing, of his change of address. Failure to abide by this requirement may likewise result in the dismissal of this case without further notice, for failure to prosecute. IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/James D. Todd
JAMES D. TODD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE