Opinion
C/A No. 0:10-2327-HMH-PJG.
August 22, 2011
ORDER
The plaintiff, Dion Orlando Taylor ("Taylor"), a self-represented state prisoner, filed this civil rights matter pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter is before the court on the plaintiff's motions to compel, for sanctions, and for a "poor persons" order. (ECF No. 22.)
Plaintiff's discovery request is untimely pursuant to Local Civil Rule 37.01(A) DSC and the scheduling order in this case. Moreover, the defendants appear to have provided the discovery sought. Accordingly, Plaintiff's motions to compel and for sanctions are denied.
Plaintiff's motion for a "poor persons" order requests that the court allow him to receive free copies of transcripts and other discovery materials due to his indigent status. While Plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, this status exempts litigants from paying the filing fees in full at the time the lawsuit is filed; it does not exempt litigants from the costs of copying and filing documents, service of documents other than the complaint, costs, expert witness fees, or sanctions. See, e.g., In re Richard, 914 F.2d 1526 (6th Cir. 1990) (stating that the granting of in forma pauperis status "does not give the litigant a right to have documents copied and returned to him at government expense");Boring v. Kozakiewicz, 833 F.2d 468 (3d Cir. 1987) (upholding the district court's denial of a civil plaintiff's request for funds to pay an expert medical witness and observing that neither 28 U.S.C. § 1915 nor any other authority provides for such funding). Therefore, Plaintiff's motion is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.