Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:15-CV-770-WKW (WO)
11-19-2015
ERIC WILSON, #187180, Plaintiff, v. JEFFERSON S. DUNN, et al., Defendants.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Eric Wilson ("Wilson), an inmate incarcerated at the Draper Correctional Facility filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action on October 21, 2015. In this case, Wilson challenges the conditions of confinement at Draper. Wilson did not submit the $350 filing fee or $50 administrative fee and, instead, filed a document seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis before this court. Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees - Doc. No. 2. In support of this request, Wilson provided financial information necessary to determine the average monthly balance in his prison account for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of this complaint and the average monthly deposits to his inmate account during the past six months.
After a thorough review of the financial information provided by Wilson and pursuant to the requisite provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), the court determined that Wilson owed an initial partial filing fee of $17.83. Order of October 22, 2015 - Doc. No. 3 at 1-2. The court therefore ordered that Wilson pay the initial partial filing fee on or before November 10, 2015. Id. at 2. In addition, this order specifically informed Wilson "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." Id. (emphasis in original). The order also "advised [Wilson] 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." Id. at 3. Moreover, the court specifically cautioned Wilson that failure to pay the requisite fee within the time allowed by the court would result in a Recommendation "that his case be dismissed and such dismissal will not be reconsidered unless exceptional circumstances exist." Id.
Wilson has failed to pay the initial partial filing fee within the time allowed by the court. The court therefore concludes that this case is due to be dismissed. Moon v. Newsome, 863 F.2d 835, 837 (11 Cir.1989) (As a general rule, where a litigant has been forewarned, dismissal for failure to obey a court order is not an abuse of discretion.); see also Tanner v. Neal, 232 Fed. Appx. 924 (11 Cir.2007) (affirming sua sponte dismissal without prejudice of inmate's § 1983 action for failure to file an amended complaint in compliance with court's prior order directing amendment and warning of consequences for failure to comply).
Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that this case be dismissed without prejudice for failure of the plaintiff to pay the initial partial filing fee in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A) as ordered by this court. It is further
ORDERED that on or before December 4, 2015 the parties may file objections to the Recommendation. Any objection must specifically identify the findings in the Recommendation objected to. Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the District Court. The parties are advised that this Recommendation is not a final order of the court and, therefore, it is not appealable.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings in the Recommendation shall bar the party from a de novo determination by the District Court of issues covered in the report and shall bar the party from attacking on appeal factual findings in the report accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982). See Stein v. Reynolds Securities, Inc., 667 F.2d 33 (11 Cir. 1982). See also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11 Cir. 1981, en banc), adopting as binding precedent all decisions of the former Fifth Circuit issued prior to September 30, 1981.
Done this 19th day of November, 2015.
/s/Terry F. Moorer
TERRY F. MOORER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE