Opinion
No. 4:14-CV-1315-SNLJ
01-09-2015
GREGORY LYNN GALES, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL GRAHAM, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court for collection of plaintiff's appellate filing fee as directed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner appealing a civil action in forma pauperis is required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. If the prisoner has insufficient funds in his or her prison account to pay the entire fee, the Court must assess and, when funds exist, collect an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of (1) the average monthly deposits in the prisoner's account, or (2) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for the prior six-month period. After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner is required to make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The agency having custody of the prisoner will forward these monthly payments to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds $10, until the filing fee is fully paid. Id.
Plaintiff has submitted an affidavit and a certified copy of his prison account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the submission of his complaint. A review of plaintiff's account indicates an average monthly deposit of $118, and an average monthly balance of $19. Plaintiff has insufficient funds to pay the entire filing fee. Accordingly, the Court will assess an initial partial filing fee of $24, which is 20 percent of plaintiff's average monthly deposit.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the plaintiff shall immediately pay an initial filing fee of $24. Plaintiff is instructed to make his remittance payable to "Clerk, United States District Court," and to include upon it: (1) his name; (2) his prison registration number; (3) the case number; and (4) that the remittance is for an appellate proceeding.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if plaintiff fails to pay the fee as ordered, the Court may deny plaintiff in forma pauperis status in future cases in the Eastern District of Missouri.
Dated this 9th day of January, 2015.
/s/_________
STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE