Opinion
Civil Action No. 2:05-CV-983-D WO.
October 24, 2005
ORDER AND OPINION ON MOTION
NOTICE TO PRISONERS: Pursuant to the 1996 revisions to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the requisite procedures for filing civil actions in forma pauperis have substantially changed. Additionally, in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, the filing fee for civil actions has increased to $250. The attached notice contains an explanation of these changes.
The plaintiff, a state inmate, filed an affidavit in support of a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis before this court. See Court Doc. No. 2. In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner who seeks to proceed in forma pauperis in a civil action or on appeal is required to pay the full amount of the requisite filing fee. However, where an inmate lacks the funds necessary to pay the entire filing fee upon initiation of the civil action or appeal and has money available to him, the court shall assess and collect an initial partial filing fee.
An inmate account clerk filed a certificate which indicates the balance in plaintiff's prison account at the time the instant complaint was filed and provides the court with information necessary to determine the average monthly balance of plaintiff's prison account and the average monthly deposits to such account for the six month period preceding the filing of this complaint. A review of this information reveals that the plaintiff lacks the funds necessary to pay the $250.00 filing fee. The documents further establish that for the six month period immediately preceding the filing of the instant complaint the average monthly deposits to plaintiff's prison account were $150.00. Such amount was greater than the average monthly balance of plaintiff's account. Thus, in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), the plaintiff is required to pay an initial partial filing fee of $30.00. Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that on or before November 7, 2005 the plaintiff shall forward to the Clerk of this Court the sum of $30.00 as an initial partial filing fee. The plaintiff is hereby advised that it is his responsibility to submit the appropriate paperwork to the prison account clerk for transmission of his funds to this court for payment of the initial partial filing fee. If the funds have been dispersed from the plaintiff's prison account and are not now available to him, the plaintiff must make arrangements for payment of the requisite filing fee.
In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), it is hereby
ORDERED that:
1. The plaintiff shall make monthly payments of 20 percent of each preceding month's income and/or funds credited to his account as payments towards the $250.00 filing fee.
2. Those persons having custody of the plaintiff shall forward the above described payments from the plaintiff's account to the clerk of this court each time the amount in the plaintiff's account exceeds $10.00 until the $250.00 filing fee is paid in full. Id.
To aid the plaintiff and those persons having custody of the plaintiff in complying with the requirements of this order, the clerk is DIRECTED to furnish a copy of this order to the account clerk at the Hamilton A and I Correctional Facility.
It is further
ORDERED that except to the extent that payment is required under this order the plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is hereby GRANTED.
The plaintiff is cautioned that if he fails to pay the initial partial filing fee in compliance with this order the Magistrate Judge will recommend that his case be dismissed and such dismissal will not be reconsidered unless exceptional circumstances exist. The plaintiff is advised that if he is unable to procure the initial partial filing fee within the time allowed by this court he must inform the court of such inability and request an extension of time within which to file the fee. The plaintiff is further advised that if this case is dismissed for failure to pay the initial partial filing fee or for any other reason he remains obligated to pay the $250.00 filing fee. The filing fee will be collected from any funds which become available to the plaintiff and will be forwarded to this court by those persons having custody of the plaintiff pursuant to the directives contained in this order. Moreover, the plaintiff is hereby informed that notwithstanding payment of the initial partial filing fee this court will dismiss this case prior to service of process if the court determines that the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), (ii) and (iii).
Additionally, the plaintiff is advised that if he files a notice of appeal he will likewise be required to pay the requisite appellate filing fee which is currently $255.00. Thus, if at the time the plaintiff files a notice of appeal he has the necessary funds to pay the $255.00 filing fee, he must submit such amount to the court with the not ice of appeal. If the requisite funds are not available and the plaintiff seeks to proceed in forma pauperis on his appeal, he must complete an affidavit in support of such request and supply the court with a certified copy of his prison account statement for the 6-month period preceding the filing of the appeal. However, the plaintiff is informed that regardless of this court's determination on his in forma pauperis motion the entire appellate filing fee will be collected from those persons having custody of him from funds available in his prison account in a manner similar to that outlined in this order.