Opinion
Civ. No. 21-4975 (KM) (ESK)
03-16-2021
LUIS SANCHEZ SANTOS, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Pro se Plaintiff, Luis Sanchez Santos, seeks to bring a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (DE 1.) A civil rights 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). Plaintiff's filing included neither. Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court will be ordered to administratively close the case. Plaintiff may reopen this action, however, by either paying the filing fee or submitting a complete in forma pauperis application.
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 institution at which he was or is confined. See id.
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).
Therefore, IT IS this 16th day of March, 2021,
ORDERED that the Clerk shall administratively terminate this case; 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 provided the original complaint was timely; and it is further
ORDERED that Plaintiff may have the above entitled case reopened, if, within thirty (30) days of the date of the entry of this order, he either pre-pays the $402 filing fee or submits to the Clerk a complete signed in forma pauperis application, including a certified six-month prison account statement and complete affidavit; and it is further
ORDERED that upon receipt of a writing from Plaintiff stating that he wishes to reopen this case, and either a complete in forma pauperis application or filing fee within the time allotted by this Court, the Clerk will be directed to reopen this case; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk shall serve on Plaintiff by regular U.S. mail: (1) this Memorandum and Order; and (2) a blank Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis in a Civil Rights Case, form DNJ-Pro Se-007-A-(Rev05/2013).
/s/ Kevin McNulty
KEVIN MCNULTY
United States District Judge