Opinion
Civ. No. 21-4199 (KM) (ESK)
03-10-2021
WILLIAM KAETZ, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant.
OPINION
KEVIN MCNULTY , U.S.D.J.
Plaintiff, William Kaetz, a pretrial detainee currently confined at Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey, has filed a pro se civil rights complaint, as well as an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (DE 1; DE 1-2.) As Plaintiff's in forma pauperis application is incomplete, it will be denied without prejudice and this case will be administratively terminated.
A complaint must generally include either a $402.00 fee (a $350.00 filing fee plus a $52.00 administrative fee) or an application to proceed in forma pauperis. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). If a prisoner plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the $350.00 filing fee is still assessed, but may be paid in installments as described below. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).
A prisoner who seeks to proceed in forma pauperis must submit an affidavit, including a statement of all assets, stating that the prisoner is unable to pay the applicable filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The prisoner must also submit a certified copy of his inmate trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint. See id. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the appropriate official of each prison at which he was or is confined. See id.; see also L. Civ. R. 81.2(b) ("Whenever a Federal, State, or local prisoner submits a civil rights complaint, . . . the prisoner shall also submit an affidavit setting forth information which establishes that the prisoner is unable to pay the fees and costs of the proceedings and shall further submit a certification signed by an authorized officer of the institution certifying (1) the amount presently on deposit in the prisoner's prison account and, (2) the greatest amount on deposit in the prisoner's prison account during the six-month period prior to the date of the certification.").
Even if a prisoner is granted in forma pauperis status, he must pay the full amount of the filing fee of $350.00. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). In each month that the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds $10.00, 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. See id. § 1915(b)(2). The deductions will continue until the $350.00 filing fee is paid.
Even if the necessary fees are paid and the complaint is accepted for filing, the Court may nevertheless immediately dismiss the case. The Court must review the complaint and dismiss it if it finds that the action (1) is 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. See id. § 1915(e)(2)(B); see also id. § 1915A(b).
If the plaintiff 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. See id. § 1915(g).
In this case, Plaintiff has not paid the $402.00 filing fee, and his application to proceed in forma pauperis is incomplete. Specifically, Plaintiff's in forma pauperis application does not include a six-month prison account statement certified by a prison official. (See DE 1-2.) Therefore, Plaintiff's application will be denied without prejudice at this time. The Clerk of the Court will be ordered to administratively close this case. Plaintiff may reopen this action, however, by either paying the filing fee or submitting a complete in forma pauperis application.
/s/ Kevin McNulty
KEVIN MCNULTY
United States District Judge DATED: March 10, 2021