Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_05-cv-03234/USCOURTS-azd-3_05-cv-03234-0/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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28 JDDL

WO KM

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Steven Murray Crosby, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

State of Arizona, et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CIV 05-3234-PCT-NVW (LOA)

ORDER

On October 14, 2005, Plaintiff Steven Murray Crosby, presently confined in the

Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis, filed a Civil Rights Complaint by a Prisoner

("Complaint") pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and an Application to Proceed In Forma

Pauperis ("Application to Proceed"). Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed is insufficient to

support the request to proceed in forma pauperis because Plaintiff did not file a certified

copy of his inmate account statement from the Arizona Department of Corrections' Central

Office.

A. Payment of Filing Fee.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff must pay the two hundred fifty dollar

($250.00) filing fee when he files a civil action. Nevertheless, Plaintiff may file a civil action

even if he has no assets to immediately pay the filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). If Plaintiff

Case 3:05-cv-03234-NVW Document 3 Filed 10/26/05 Page 1 of 5
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currently has no assets, the filing fee will be collected from his inmate account when funds

exist. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

Accordingly, Plaintiff must now pay the two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) filing fee

or, if unable to pay the fee immediately, must submit to the Court a new, certified

Application to Proceed, using the form included with this Order. Plaintiff’s Application to

Proceed must have an original signature by Plaintiff, and must include a certified copy of his

trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the six (6) months immediately

preceding the filing of the Complaint, and if he was held at more than one institution during

the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint, he must file a certified

trust fund account statement(s) (or institutional equivalent) for each institution where he was

confined. Both Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed and trust fund account statement must have

an original signature of an authorized officer of the institution.

The Arizona Department of Corrections ("ADOC") has notified the Court that a

certified trust fund account statement showing deposits and average monthly balances is

available from the ADOC’s Central Office. Accordingly, Plaintiff shall obtain the certified

copy of his trust fund account statement from the ADOC’s Central Office.

B. Application Fails to Comply With Statute. 

Although Plaintiff attached a printout of his account statement to his Application to

Proceed, Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed is deficient because the printout of his inmate

account statement for the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint

is not certified by an authorized officer of the institution, and does not show deposits and

average monthly balances as required.

Accordingly, Plaintiff's Application to Proceed will be denied without prejudice and

Plaintiff will be given thirty (30) days to submit a new Application to Proceed, using the

form included with this Order, and a certified copy of his trust fund account statement(s)

from the ADOC’s Central Office for the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing

of the Complaint.

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If Plaintiff submits a new, certified Application to Proceed and a certified copy of his

trust fund account statement(s) for the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of the

Complaint, instead of immediately paying the two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) filing fee,

the Court will assess and, when funds exist, collect an initial partial filing fee of twenty

percent (20%) of the greater amount of either the average monthly deposits or the average

monthly balance in Plaintiff’s account for the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing

of the Complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). After payment of the initial partial filing fee,

Plaintiff will be required to make monthly payments equaling twenty percent (20%) of the

preceding month’s income credited to his account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). 

The agency having custody of Plaintiff will be required to forward payments from his

account to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in the account exceeds ten dollars

($10.00) until the filing fee is paid. Id.

C. Statutory Limitations on Prisoner Complaints.

Plaintiff should note that even after he pays the filing fee, the Court will dismiss the

case at any time if the Court determines the allegation of poverty is untrue, the action is

frivolous or malicious, the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,

or monetary relief is sought against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2). The Court also will dismiss the complaint if Plaintiff fails to exhaust any

administrative remedy available to him. 42 U.S.C. 1997e(a). 

Plaintiff also should note that a prisoner may not bring a civil action without complete

prepayment of the appropriate filing fee if the prisoner has brought on three or more

occasions an action or appeal in a federal court that was dismissed as frivolous, as malicious,

or for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is in

imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

D. Notice of Possible Dismissal Pursuant to Rule 41.

Plaintiff is cautioned that if he fails to timely comply with every provision of this

Order, or any order entered in this matter, this action will be dismissed pursuant to Rule

41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258 (9th

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Cir.) (district court may dismiss action for failure to comply with any order of the court), cert.

denied, 506 U.S. 915 (1992).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED: 

(1) Plaintiff's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis ("Application to Proceed"),

filed with the Complaint, is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE;

(2) Plaintiff SHALL HAVE thirty (30) days from the filing date of this Order to pay

the two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) filing fee, or in the alternative, to file with the Court

a new, certified Application to Proceed, using the form included with this Order. Plaintiff’s

Application to Proceed shall have an original signature by Plaintiff, and shall include a copy

of his trust fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the six (6) months

immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint which is certified by an authorized officer

of the Arizona Department of Corrections ("ADOC"). Both Plaintiff’s Application to

Proceed and trust fund account statement shall have an original signature of an authorized

officer of the ADOC. If Plaintiff was held at more than one institution during the six (6)

months immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint, he shall file a certified trust fund

account statement(s) (or institutional equivalent) for each institution where he was confined.

The trust fund account statement(s) must show deposits and average balances for each

month. Plaintiff shall obtain the certified copy of his trust fund account statement for

his account at the ADOC from the ADOC’s Central Office;

(3) The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter a judgment of dismissal without

prejudice of this action, without further notice to Plaintiff, if Plaintiff fails to pay the two

hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) filing fee, or in the alternative, if he fails to file a certified

Application to Proceed and a copy of his trust fund account statement(s) (or institutional

equivalent) for the six (6) months immediately preceding the filing of the Complaint, which

is certified by an authorized officer of the ADOC, within thirty (30) days of the filing date

of this Order;

(4) A clear, legible copy of every pleading or other document filed SHALL

ACCOMPANY each original pleading or other document filed with the Clerk for use by the

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District Judge or Magistrate Judge to whom the case is assigned. See Local Rule of Civil

Procedure 5.4. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the pleading or

document being stricken without further notice to Plaintiff;

(5) At all times during the pendency of this action, Plaintiff SHALL IMMEDIATELY

ADVISE the Court and the United States Marshal of any change of address and its effective

date. Such notice shall be captioned "NOTICE OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS." The notice

shall contain only information pertaining to the change of address and its effective date,

except that if Plaintiff has been released from custody, the notice should so indicate. The

notice shall not include any motions for any other relief. Failure to file a NOTICE OF

CHANGE OF ADDRESS may result in the dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b);

(6) The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to provide Plaintiff with a current

Court-approved form for filing an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.

DATED this 25th day of October, 2005.

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