Opinion
2:23-cv-00598-APG-VCF
04-21-2023
JEAN CHACON ELIAS, Plaintiff v. STATE OF NEVADA, et al., Defendants
ORDER
I. DISCUSSION
On April 17, 2023, Plaintiff, an inmate in the custody of Clark County Detention Center (“CCDC”), submitted a one-page complaint. (ECF No. 1-1). This one-page complaint does not include all the information necessary in a complaint, nor does it include Plaintiff's signature, as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure11(a). Plaintiff did not file an application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the $402 filing fee.
The United States District Court for the District of Nevada must collect filing fees from parties initiating civil actions. 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). The fee for filing a civil-rights action is $402, which includes the $350 filing fee and the $52 administrative fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b). “Any person who is unable to prepay the fees in a civil case may apply to the court for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.” Nev. Loc. Special R. 1-1. For an inmate to apply for in forma pauperis status, the inmate must submit all three of the following documents to the Court: (1) a completed Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis for Inmate, which is pages 1-3 of the Court's approved form, that is properly signed by the inmate twice on page 3; (2) a completed Financial Certificate, which is page 4 of the Court's approved form, that is properly signed by both the inmate and a prison or jail official; and (3) a copy of the inmate's prison or jail trust fund account statement for the previous six-month period. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1)-(2); Nev. Loc. Special R. 1-2. In forma pauperis status does not relieve an inmate of his or her obligation to pay the filing fee, it just means that the inmate can pay the fee in installments. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).
The Court will grant Plaintiff an opportunity to file a complete complaint, including his signature, and a fully complete application to proceed in forma pauperis containing all three of the required documents, or in the alternative, pay the full $402 filing fee for this action on or before June 23, 2023.
II. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is ordered that Plaintiff will submit a complete complaint, including his signature, to this Court on or before June 23, 2023.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Court will send to Plaintiff the approved form for filing a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint and instructions for the same. The Clerk of the Court will also send Plaintiff a copy of his complaint (ECF No. 1 -1).
It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Court will send Plaintiff the approved form application to proceed in forma pauperis by an inmate, as well as the document entitled information and instructions for filing an in forma pauperis application.
It is further ordered that on or before June 23, 2023, Plaintiff will either pay the full $402 filing fee or file a fully complete application to proceed in forma pauperis with all three required documents: (1) a completed application with the inmate's two signatures on page 3, (2) a completed financial certificate that is signed both by the inmate and the prison or jail official, and (3) a copy of the inmate's trust fund account statement for the previous six-month period.
Plaintiff is cautioned that this action will be subject to dismissal without prejudice if Plaintiff fails to timely comply with this order. A dismissal without prejudice allows Plaintiff to refile the case with the Court, under a new case number, when Plaintiff can file a complaint and a complete application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the required filing fee.