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Jones v. Carranza

United States District Court, District of Nevada
Feb 1, 2023
3:22-cv-00494-ART-CSD (D. Nev. Feb. 1, 2023)

Opinion

3:22-cv-00494-ART-CSD

02-01-2023

BARRY JONES, Plaintiff v. GEORGE CARRANZA, et al. Defendants


ORDER

RE: ECF NO. 1

CRAIG S. DENNEY, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Plaintiff is an inmate in the custody of the United States Penitentiary Canaan in Pennsylvania. He filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) and a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Reno and Sparks Police Department Officers. (ECF No. 1-1.)

The Local Rules of Practice for the District of Nevada provide: “Any person who is unable to prepay the fees in a civil case may apply to the court for authority to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP). The application must be made on the form provided by the court and must include a financial affidavit disclosing the applicant's income, assets, and liabilities.” LSR 1-1 (emphasis added). When a prisoner seeks to proceed without prepaying the filing fee, in addition to filing the affidavit, the prisoner is required to submit a certified copy of the trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. The statement must be obtained from the appropriate official at the prison or detention facility where the prisoner is or was confined. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).

When a prisoner brings a civil action IFP, the prisoner is still required to pay the full amount of the filing fee. The court is required to assess, and when funds exist, collect an initial partial payment of 20 percent of the greater of: (A) the average monthly deposits in the prisoner's account or (B) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for the sixmonth period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. Thereafter, whenever the prisoner's account exceeds $10, the prisoner must make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoners account until the filing fees are paid. The funds are to be forwarded by the agency having custody of the prisoner. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), (2).

The regular filing fee is $402, consisting of the $350 filing fee and a $52 administrative fee. If an inmate does not qualify for IFP status, he must pay the full $402 filing fee. If the inmate qualifies for IFP status, the $52 administrative fee is waived, and the inmate will only pay the $350 filing fee over time.

Plaintiff has not submitted the IFP application on the court's form. Therefore, Plaintiff's IFP application (ECF No. 1) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

The Clerk shall SEND Plaintiff a copy of the instructions and application to proceed IFP for an inmate in the District of Nevada. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date of this Order to either file his completed IFP application on the court's form and financial certificate or pay the full $402 filing fee.

Once Plaintiff has filed his completed IFP application and financial certificate or paid the filing fee, the court will screen the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, or both. Both require dismissal of a complaint, or any portion thereof, that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. If the complaint is dismissed on screening, there will be no refund of the filing fee, and an inmate proceeding IFP is still required to pay the $350 filing fee over time.

If Plaintiff fails to timely file a completed IFP application on the court's form and financial certificate or pay the filing fee, this court will recommend dismissal of this action without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.


Summaries of

Jones v. Carranza

United States District Court, District of Nevada
Feb 1, 2023
3:22-cv-00494-ART-CSD (D. Nev. Feb. 1, 2023)
Case details for

Jones v. Carranza

Case Details

Full title:BARRY JONES, Plaintiff v. GEORGE CARRANZA, et al. Defendants

Court:United States District Court, District of Nevada

Date published: Feb 1, 2023

Citations

3:22-cv-00494-ART-CSD (D. Nev. Feb. 1, 2023)