Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01551/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01551-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LARRY CARSON, ) 

 )

Plaintiff, )

)

)

v. )

)

CHARLES K. STODDARD, ESQ., )

et al., ) 

 )

Defendants. )

)

 )

1:07-cv-1551-LJO-SMS 

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO FILE

A COMPLETED APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS OR PAY

THE $350.00 FILING FEE WITHIN

THIRTY DAYS OF THE DATE OF

SERVICE OF THIS ORDER, OR FACE

DISMISSAL OF THIS ACTION 

ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO SEND

TO PLAINTIFF A BLANK IN FORMA

PAUPERIS APPLICATION FOR A PERSON

IN CUSTODY

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with an

action for damages and other relief concerning alleged civil

rights violations. The matter has been referred to the Magistrate

Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Rules 72-302 and

72-304. 

Plaintiff filed a complaint on October 24, 2007. However,

Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee or submitted an application

to proceed in forma pauperis. By its order dated November 6,

2007, the Court directed Plaintiff to file an application to

proceed in forma pauperis, which could permit the Plaintiff’s

Case 1:07-cv-01551-LJO -SMS Document 7 Filed 01/16/08 Page 1 of 4
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case to go forward without payment of a filing fee. The Clerk

sent to Plaintiff a blank application form, and the docket

reflects that the order and form were served by mail on Plaintiff

at Wasco on the same date. However, Plaintiff did not file the

application or pay the fee within the thirty-day period stated in

the order. On January 4, 2008, the Court issued an order to show

cause why the action should not be dismissed because of

Plaintiff’s failure to file an application to proceed in forma

pauperis or, alternatively, to pay the filing fee. Plaintiff’s

response to the order to show cause was filed on January 15,

2008; in it, Plaintiff does not explain his failure to file an

application, and he states only that he cannot afford to pay the

filing fee. Thus, Plaintiff has not provided any explanation or

excuse for not having filed an application to proceed in forma

pauperis. 

The filing fee for all civil actions other than habeas

corpus is $350.00; the filing fee for an application for a writ

of habeas corpus is $5.00. 28 U.S.C. § 1914, as amended effective

April 8, 2006. Pub. L. No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4 (2006). If a

plaintiff cannot pay the fee, he or she may file an application

to proceed in forma pauperis and be relieved of the duty to pay

the filing fee. However, in order for the Court to allow a

plaintiff to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court must have more

information than a plaintiff’s bare statement that he cannot pay

the fee. By statute, Plaintiff is required either to pay the

filing fee or to submit an original, signed prison trust account

statement that includes the entire six-month period immediately

preceding the filing of the complaint. See 28 U.S.C. §

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1915(a)(2). 

Here, Plaintiff has been given multiple opportunities to

file an application of pay the fee. The Court will permit

Plaintiff one more opportunity either to pay the $350.00 filing

fee or submit a completed application, with a signed certificate

and an original certified copy of his trust account statement

covering the full six-month period in support of his request to

proceed in forma pauperis.

However, if Plaintiff does not either pay the fee or file an

application within the thirty-day period now being extended to

Plaintiff, the undersigned Magistrate Judge will recommend that

Plaintiff’s case be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to comply

with an order of the Court and failure to prosecute the case. If

Plaintiff cannot pay the filing fee, then Plaintiff must comply

with the Court’s order to submit a timely application to proceed

in forma pauperis. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that

within thirty days of the date of service of this order,

Plaintiff shall either submit a completed application to proceed

in forma pauperis, including a signed certificate and an original

certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the sixmonth period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint,

or, in the alternative, pay the $350.00 filing fee for this

action.

Further, the Clerk of the Court IS DIRECTED to send to

Plaintiff with this order a blank application to proceed in forma

pauperis for a person in custody. 

Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in

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a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 16, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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