Opinion
Case No. 2:12-CV-1209-TS
01-03-2013
JOHN ROBERT DEMOS JR., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM DECISION
AND ORDER
District Judge Ted Stewart
Plaintiff/inmate, John Robert Demos Jr., filed a civil rights complaint against several United States defendants. He moves to proceed in forma pauperis. As discussed below, the Court concludes that Demos must pay the filing fee before this case can proceed.
The court construes these pro se filings liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972).
The in forma pauperis statute allows an indigent prisoner to file a complaint in federal court without prepaying the filing fee. But, it restricts those who have repeatedly filed complaints that are frivolous or fail to state a valid claim. In relevant part, the statute provides:
28 U.S.C.S. § 1915(a) (2012).
In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action . . . under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury."These fee provisions are intended 'to reduce frivolous prisoner litigation by making all prisoners seeking to bring lawsuits or appeals feel the deterrent effect created by liability for filing fees."
Id. § 1915(g).
Cosby v. Meadors, 351 F.3d 1324, 1327 (10th Cir. 2003) (quoting In re Smith, 114 F.3d 1247, 1249 (D.C.Cir. 1997)).
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Southern Division has stated, "Plaintiff [Demos] has a lengthy history of vexatious litigation in the federal courts, and has had well over three cases dismissed as frivolous while incarcerated .... Thus, plaintiff comes within the provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which precludes him from filing the instant action in forma pauperis . . . ." As the Tenth Circuit states, "A federal court may take notice of proceedings in other federal courts when those proceedings are relevant to matters at issue."
Demos v. United States, No. 2:10-CV-0758-WMA-RRA, slip op. at 2 (S.D. Ala. April 6, 2010).
See White v. Colorado, 157 F.3d 1226, 1232 (10th Cir. 1998) (citing St. Louis Baptist Temple, Inc. v. FDIC, 605 F.2d 1169, 1172 (10th Cir. 1979)).
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Section 1915(g) applies here because (1) Demos was a prisoner when he filed this complaint; and (2) he has filed three or more prior cases in federal court that have been dismissed as frivolous or failing to state a claim. The language of section 1915(g) is mandatory. Thus, a federal prisoner who falls within the three-strikes provision is required to prepay the entire filing fee before his claims may proceed.
ORDER
Demos is not eligible to proceed without prepaying the filing fee in this case because he has filed three or more cases in federal court which have been dismissed as frivolous or failing to state a claim, and the complaint does not fall within the three-strikes exception. Therefore, Demos is DENIED leave to proceed without prepayment of fees. He is ORDERED to pay the entire $350 statutory filing fee within thirty days from the date of this order. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of the complaint.
BY THE COURT:
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TED STEWART
United States District Chief Judge