Opinion
Civil Action No. 2:13-cv-0973
07-11-2013
RUSSELL LEE X. VANCE, Plaintiff, v. REV. ULLI KLEMM, Religion Volunteer and Recreatoinal Services "Program Administrator, " in his personal and professional capacity, Defendant.
United States Magistrate Judge
Cynthia Reed Eddy
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Plaintiff in the above-captioned case has submitted for filing a Civil Rights complaint in this Court and has moved to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, without prepayment of fees. The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 ("PLRA"), which amended 28 U.S.C. § 1915, established certain financial requirements for prisoners who are attempting to bring a civil action or file an appeal in forma pauperis.
Specifically, a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis must pay the full amount of the $350 filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). In this regard, (unless already provided) the prisoner must submit a certified copy of his inmate trust fund account statement for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint so the Court can determine how the $350 filing fee will be paid. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the appropriate official of each prison at which he was or is confined. When funds exist in the prisoner's account, the Court must collect an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of-- (A) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account; or (B) the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. Thereafter, each time that the balance in plaintiff's prison account exceeds $10.00, an amount no greater than 20 percent of the money credited to plaintiff's account during the preceding month will be deducted and forwarded to the Clerk of Court until the filing fee is paid.
Finally, this Court must review Plaintiff's Complaint in accordance with the authority granted to federal courts for sua sponte screening and dismissal of prisoner claims under the PLRA. Specifically, section 1915(e) requires the federal courts to review complaints filed by persons who are proceeding in forma pauperis and to dismiss, at any time, any action that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). If the Court dismisses the case for any of these reasons, the prisoner is NOT entitled to the return of his filing fee.
Plaintiff shall have fourteen (14) days from the date of this order to decide whether he wants to proceed with this case. If Plaintiff decides not to proceed with the case, he need not pay the $350 filing fee and the action will be dismissed. Should Plaintiff wish to proceed with this action, he must authorize payments from his inmate account by returning a signed copy of the enclosed authorization form by July 25, 2013. An authorization form is attached. Plaintiff's failure to return a signed authorization will result in dismissal of this action.
AND NOW, this 11th day of July, 2013:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, on or before July 25, 2013, Plaintiff shall file with this Court a signed copy of the enclosed authorization form indicating whether he wishes to proceed with this action. No extensions of time will be granted without just cause.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's failure to comply with this Order on or before July 25, 2013 will result in immediate dismissal of this action without prejudice.
______________________
Cynthia Reed Eddy
United States Magistrate Judge
cc: RUSSELL LEE X. VANCE
AY-6446
SCI FAYETTE
La Belle, PA 15450-0999
AUTHORIZATION
I, RUSSELL LEE X. VANCE, hereby authorize the custodian of my inmate account to withdraw from my account and pay to the Clerk, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, monthly payments of twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month's income credited to my account and to forward payments from my account, each time the amount in my account exceeds $10.00, to the Clerk, United States District Court, until the entire filing fee of $350.00 for Civil Action No. 2:13-CV-00973 has been paid.
______________________
PLAINTIFF'S SIGNATURE/DATE
WITHDRAWAL OF ACTION
I, RUSSELL LEE X. VANCE, Move to Withdraw Civil Action 2:13-cv-00973.