Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_05-cv-00872/USCOURTS-almd-2_05-cv-00872-0/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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Attached to this Order is a notice explaining the requisite procedures for filing civil actions

in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHERN DIVISION

 ______________________________

LAMAR CATO, #49616-019 *

Plaintiff, *

v. * CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:05-CV-872-F

WO

RUTH YANCEY, et al., *

Defendants. *

 __________________________________

ORDER ON MOTION

Plaintiff is an inmate incarcerated at the Federal Prison Camp in Est ill, South

Carolina. He filed an affidavit in support of a request for leave to proceed in forma

pauperis, on September 12, 2005. In accordance wit h the provisions of 28 U.S.C. §

1915(b)(1), a p risoner 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 act ion or

appeal and has money available t o him, the court shall assess and collect an initial partial

filing fee.1

 

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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 mont hly balance in his prison account and

the average monthly deposits to such account for the six month period preceding t he filing

of this complaint. A review of t his information reveals that Plaintiff lacks the funds

necessary to pay the $250.00 filing fee. The documents further establish that for the six

mont h period immediately preceding the filing of the instant complaint the average monthly

deposits to Plaintiff's prison account were $165.00. Such amount was less than the average

monthly balance in Plaintiff's account ($238.70). Thus, in accordance with the provisions

of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), Plaintiff is required to pay an initial part ial filing fee of $47.74

(20 percent of the average monthly balance in Plaintiff's account). 

 Accordingly, it is ORDERED that:

1. Within twenty-one (21) days of t he filing date of this order Plaintiff shall forward

to the Clerk of this Court the sum of $47.74 as an initial partial filing fee. Plaintiff is hereby

advised that it is his responsi bi lity 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 are not now available in Plaintiff's prison account, he must make

arrangements for payment of the requisite filing fee;

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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. 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 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,

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

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2. Plaintiff shall make monthly payments of 20 percent of each preceding mont h's

income and/or funds credited to his account as payments towards the $250.00 filing fee in

accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2); 

3. Those persons having custody of Plaintiff shall forward the above described

payments from his inmate account t o t he 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;

4. The Clerk of Court SEND a copy of this Order to the account clerk at FPC Estill;

5. Except to the extent that payment is required under this order, Plaintiff’s motion

for leave t o p roceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 2), IS GRANTED pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(a)(1); and

6. Plaintiff is cautioned that his failure to pay the initial partial filing fee in

compliance with this order may result in a recommendation the Magistrate Judge will

recommend that his case be dismissed and such dismissal will not be reconsidered unless

exceptional circumstances exist.2

 

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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).

Plaintiff is also 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 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 notice of appeal. If the requisite funds are not available and 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, 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. 

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Done, this 15th day of September, 2005.

/s/ Susan Russ Walker 

SUSAN RUSS WALKER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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NOTICE

INFORMATION TO PRISONERS SEEKING LEAVE TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915

IN CIVIL ACTIONS BEFORE ANY FEDERAL COURT

In accordance with 1996 amendments to the in forma pauperis (IFP) statute

governing civil actions in federal court, as a prisoner you will be obligated to pay the full

filing fee of $250.00 for a civil action. If you later file an appeal, the filing fee for the

appeal is $255.00 and you will likewise be responsible for payment of such fee. Thus, if

at the time you file your action you have the funds available to pay the requisite filing fee,

you must send such amount to the court with your complaint or notice of appeal and, if

appropriate, your IFP application. 

If you do not have enough money to pay the full filing fee when your action is

filed, you can file t he action without prepayment of the filing fee. However, the court will

assess and, when funds exist, collect an initial partial filing fee. The initial partial filing fee

will be equal to 20 percent of the average monthly deposit s to your prison or jail account

for the six months immediately preceding the filing of the lawsuit, or 20 percent of the

average monthly balance in your prison or jail account for that same six month period,

whichever is greater. The court will order that you make the initial partial filing fee out of

your prison or jail account or any other funds y ou have indicated are available to you.

If you fail to submit the initial partial filing fee, your case will be dismissed and the full

amount of the filing fee will be collected from those persons having custody of you.

After the initial partial filing fee has been paid, you will be responsible for paying

t he balance of the filing fee. To fulfill your obligation for payment of the full filing fee,

each month you will owe 20 percent of your preceding month’s income t oward the balance

on the filing fee. Pursuant to an order of the court, the agency t hat has custody of you

will collect that money and send payment s t o the court any time the amount in the

account exceeds $10.00. You are advised that the balance of the filing fee will be collected

even if the action is subsequently dismissed for any reason, summary judgment i s

granted against you, or you fail to prevail at trial. 

In order to proceed with an action or appeal in forma pauperis you must complete

the affidavit in support of your request to proceed in forma pauperis and sup p ly t he court

with a certified copy of your prisoner account statement for the 6-month period preceding

t he filing of the complaint or notice of appeal and return it to the court with your cause of

action. If you submit an incomplete form or do not submit a prison or jail account

statement with the form, your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied.

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Re gardl e ss of whether some or all of the filing fee has been paid, the court is

required to screen your complaint and to dismiss the complaint if (1) your allegation of

poverty is untrue ; (2) the action is frivolous or malicious; (3) your complaint does not

state a claim on which relief can be grante d; or (4) you sue a defendant for money

damages and that defendant is immune from liability for money damages.

If on three or more occasions you have filed actions or appeals while a prisoner

which were dismissed as frivolous or malicious or for failure to state a claim on which

relief can be granted, then you wi l l be prohibited from bringing any other actions in

forma pauperis unless you are in imminent danger of serious physical injury. In such

cases, your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied and you will be required

to pay the appropriate filing fee before proceeding in your civil action.

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