Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-00299/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-00299-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AARON STRIBLING,

Plaintiff,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS, 

et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-cv-00299-YGR (PR)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

PENDING MOTION REGARDING 

FILING FEE; AND GRANTING 

PLAINTIFF AN EXTENSION OF TIME 

TO PAY THE FILING FEE OR FILE A 

COMPLETED PRISONER IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS APPLICATION

On January 17, 2019, Plaintiff, a state prisoner currently incarcerated at Salinas Valley 

State Prison (“SVSP”), filed the present pro se prisoner complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff also filed a motion requesting the Court to direct SVSP prison officials to “hand over an 

institutional check in [his] name to pay the filing fee with [his] money [that] they have complete 

control over.” Dkt. 2 at 1.

On the same date, the Clerk of the Court sent a notice to Plaintiff, informing him that his 

action could not go forward until he paid the filing fee or filed a completed prisoner’s in forma 

pauperis (“IFP”) application. The Clerk sent Plaintiff a blank IFP application and told him that he 

must pay the fee or return the completed application within twenty-eight days or his action would 

be dismissed. 

The twenty-eight-day deadline has passed, and Plaintiff has neither paid the full filing fee 

nor submitted a completed prisoner IFP application form. 

The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s request for a Court Order directing prison officials pay the 

filing fee with his funds. Dkt. 2. Plaintiff has not shown a sufficient reason for this Court to 

interfere in the day-to-day operations of the prison. See Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 84-86 

(1987); Wright v. Rushen, 642 F.2d 1129, 1132 (9th Cir. 1981) (courts should avoid enmeshing 

themselves in minutiae of prison operations in name of constitution).

At this time, the Court cannot review Plaintiff’s complaint because he has neither paid the 

filing fee nor submitted a completed prisoner IFP application form. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2) 

provides: “A prisoner seeking to bring a civil action . . . in addition to filing the affidavit . . . , 

Case 4:19-cv-00299-YGR Document 6 Filed 03/12/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

shall submit a certified copy of the trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the 

prisoner for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint . . . , obtained 

from the appropriate official of each prison at which the prisoner is or was confined.” This 

language is mandatory on its face. While Plaintiff claims that SVSP prison officials are 

“unwilling[] to release or remove money off [his] books,” such a claim is not supported by any 

evidence showing such conduct. Many cases are filed in this Court by inmates who are housed at 

SVSP. Some inmates have been able to request SVSP prison officials to access their funds to pay 

the filing fee, but most inmates (who file IFP applications) have been able to obtain Certificate of 

Funds and copies of their inmate accounts from prison officials. 

Although at some point the Court may have to consider whether the Constitution requires 

an exception to the apparently mandatory requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), Plaintiff here has 

not established a factual basis for such an exception. Thus, Plaintiff is granted an extension of 

time of up to and including twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this Order to pay the filing fee 

or provide a completed prisoner IFP application form, a Certificate of Funds, and a copy of his 

inmate trust account showing six months of transactions from SVSP. Blank copies of the 

aforementioned forms are attached to this Order. Failure to pay the full filing fee or submit a 

completed prisoner IFP application as ordered herein by the twenty-eight-day deadline shall result 

in the dismissal of this action without prejudice. However, if Plaintiff provides documented proof 

of his legitimate requests for his IFP supporting documents and evidence showing that prison

officials are obstructing his ability to meet the mandatory requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), 

then the Court will reconsider Plaintiff’s request to issue an order directing prison officials to 

submit the necessary IFP supporting documents. The Clerk shall send Plaintiff a blank prisoner 

IFP application along with a copy of this Order. 

This Order terminates Docket No. 2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

______________________________________

YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

United States District Judge

March 12, 2019

Case 4:19-cv-00299-YGR Document 6 Filed 03/12/19 Page 2 of 2