Opinion
Civil No. 08-2247 (JAP).
June 4, 2008
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Plaintiff, Dr. Emory M. Ghana, a state inmate currently confined at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey, seeks to bring this action under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against defendants, alleging violations of his constitutional rights. Plaintiff failed to pay the $350.00 filing fee and did not submit a complete application to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
Plaintiff refers to himself as the "lead" plaintiff in this matter, but the Complaint is in his name only, and alleges no facts pertaining to any other inmate plaintiff than Dr. Ghana. Moreover, no other inmates have signed the Complaint or submitted applications to proceed in forma pauperis in this matter. Consequently, this Court regards this action as being submitted by a single plaintiff, Dr. Ghana.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Pub.L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (April 26, 1996) (the "Act"), which amends 28 U.S.C. § 1915, establishes certain financial requirements for prisoners who are attempting to bring a civil action or file an appeal in forma pauperis.
Under the Act, a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis must submit an affidavit, including a statement of all assets, which states that the prisoner is unable to pay the fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The prisoner also must submit a certified copy of his inmate trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the appropriate official of each prison or institutional facility at which he was or is confined. Id.
Even if the prisoner is granted in forma pauperis status, the prisoner must pay the full amount of the $350 filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). In each month that the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds $10.00, until the $350.00 filing fee is paid, the agency having custody of the prisoner shall assess, deduct from the prisoner's account, and forward to the Clerk of the Court payment equal to 20% of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
Plaintiff may not have known when he submitted his Complaint that he must pay the filing fee, and that even if the full filing fee, or any part of it, has been paid, the Court must dismiss the case if it finds that the action is: (1) frivolous or malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). If the Court dismisses the case for any of these reasons, the Act does not permit the prisoner to get his filing fee back.
If the prisoner has, on three or more prior occasions while incarcerated, brought an action or appeal in a court that was dismissed on any of the grounds listed above, he cannot bring another action in forma pauperis unless he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Plaintiff, Dr. Ghana, is no stranger to this Court, having filed numerous actions in this District Court over the years. However, to date, it does not appear that Dr. Ghana is subject to three strikes that would preclude him from proceeding as an indigent in this matter, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
In this case, Plaintiff failed to either pay the $350.00 filing fee, or submit a complete in forma pauperis application as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1); in particular, Plaintiff failed to provide a complete in forma pauperis application that contains his six-month institutional account statement as prescribed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).
THEREFORE, it is on this 4th day of June, 2008;
ORDERED that Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is hereby DENIED, without prejudice;
FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall supply to Plaintiff a blank form Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis;
FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall administratively terminate this case, without filing the Complaint or assessing a filing fee; Plaintiff is informed that administrative termination is not a "dismissal" for purposes of the statute of limitations, and that if the case is reopened, it is not subject to the statute of limitations time bar if it was originally filed timely, see Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988) (prisoner mailbox rule); McDowell v. Delaware State Police, 88 F.3d 188, 191 (3d Cir. 1996); see also Williams-Guice v. Board of Education, 45 F.3d 161, 163 (7th Cir. 1995);
FURTHER ORDERED that if Plaintiff wishes to reopen this case, he shall so notify the Court, in writing addressed to the Clerk of the Court, 402 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08608, within thirty (30) days of the date of entry of this Order; Plaintiff's writing shall include either (1) a complete in forma pauperis application, including an affidavit of indigence and six-month prison account statement, or (2) the $350 filing fee;
FURTHER ORDERED that upon receipt of a writing from Plaintiff stating that he wishes to reopen this case, and either a completein forma pauperis application or filing fee within the time allotted by this Court, the Clerk of the Court will be directed to reopen this case; and, FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon Plaintiff by regular U.S. mail.