Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-02099/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-02099-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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 “Doc.#” refers to the docket number of filings in this case. 

JDDL

WO SC

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Earl Mervin Johnson, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Somerton Police Department, et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV 07-2099-PHX-SMM (JJM)

ORDER

Plaintiff Earl Mervin Johnson, who was then-confined in the Arizona State Prison

Complex, Coronado Unit in Winslow, Arizona, filed a pro se civil rights Complaint pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc.# 1.)1

 Plaintiff subsequently filed a document captioned “Petition

to Show Good Cause,” in which he states that he will complete “a temporary release

commitment” on December 2, 2007 and will be able to provide addresses for the Defendants

in this case. (Doc.# 3.) Because Plaintiff had not paid the $350.00 civil action filing fee or

filed a proper Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, the Court gave Plaintiff 30 days

to pay the fee or to file a completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. (Doc.# 4.)

On November 13, 2007, Plaintiff filed a notice of change of address indicating that he was

due to be released on December 2, 2007. (Doc.# 5.) On December 3, 2007, Plaintiff filed

an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, which he dated November 3, 2007. (Doc.#

6.) Because Plaintiff has been released from custody, Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis

application will be denied and he will be ordered to pay the filing fee or to show cause why

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he is unable to do so. 

I. Payment of Filing Fee

When bringing an action, a prisoner must either pay the filing fee in a lump sum or,

if granted the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis, pay the fee incrementally as set

forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). A prisoner who has been released must pay any unpaid

balance of the filing fee within 120 days of his release unless he shows good cause why he

cannot. In any event, a former inmate must, within 30 days of his release, either (1) notify

the Court that he intends to pay the balance or (2) show good cause, in writing, why he

cannot. Failure to comply may result in dismissal.

 Plaintiff was an inmate when he commenced this action, therefore, he is liable for the

$350.00 filing fee. (See doc.# 1.) On December 3, 2007, Plaintiff filed a notice of change

of address indicating that he has been released. None of the filing fee has been paid.

Because Plaintiff has been released and he has not paid the filing fee, he must notify the

Court within 30 days from the filing date of this Order whether he intends to pay the filing

fee or show good cause in writing why he cannot. Plaintiff may show cause by submitting

an affidavit, signed under penalty of perjury, demonstrating why he is presently unable to pay

the filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746 (the oath requirement may be satisfied when a person

declares under penalty of perjury that the submission is true and correct, and signs and dates

the statement). An application to proceed in forma pauperis is attached, which may assist

Plaintiff in the preparation of such an affidavit. Failure to comply with this Order may result

in the dismissal of this action.

II. Warnings

A. Address Changes

Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address 10 days before the move

is effective, if practicable. See LRCiv 83.3(d). Plaintiff must not include a motion for other

relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal.

B. Copies

Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every document that he files for use by the

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Court. See LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without

further notice to Plaintiff.

C. Possible Dismissal

Plaintiff is warned that failure to timely comply with every provision of this Order,

including these warnings, may result in dismissal of this action without further notice. See

Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (a district court may dismiss an

action for failure to comply with any order of the Court).

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis is denied. (Doc.# 6.)

(2) Within 30 days from the filing date of this Order, Plaintiff must either pay the

$350.00 filing fee or show good cause why he is unable to pay the filing fee. 

(3) If Plaintiff fails, within 30 days from the filing date of this Order, either to pay

the $350.00 court filing fee or to show good cause why he is unable to pay the filing fee, the

Clerk of Court must enter a judgment of dismissal of this action without prejudice or further

notice.

(4) The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing an

Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Non-Habeas) as a guideline in the event that

Plaintiff seeks to show good cause why he is unable to pay the filing fee.

DATED this 4th day of February, 2008.

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