Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01407/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01407-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHELTON BENOITE,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. DOERER, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:24-cv-01407-HBK (PC)

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

(Doc. No. 2)

ORDER DIRECTING PAYMENT

OF INMATE FILING FEE BY THE 

BUREAU OF PRISONS

Plaintiff, a federal prisoner, initiated this action on November 18, 2024, by filing a pro se

civil rights complaint pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of 

Narcotics1403 U.S. 388 (1971). (Doc. No. 1, “Complaint”). Plaintiff seeks leave to proceed in

forma pauperis on his Complaint and submitted a certification from prison officials in support.

(Doc. No. 2). Plaintiff has made the showing required by § 1915(a) to proceed in forma pauperis

but remains obligated to pay the full $350.00 statutory filing fees as set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 

Pursuant to § 1915(b)(1)(A), Plaintiff is obligated to make an initial payment of $29.331

1 The statute requires an initial filing fee of 20% of the greater of the six-month average monthly deposits 

or average monthly balance. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), (B). Plaintiff’s average monthly balance over the 

relevant period was $48.89 and his average monthly deposits was $146.66. (Doc. No. 2 at 2).

Case 1:24-cv-01407-HBK Document 4 Filed 11/20/24 Page 1 of 2
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(20% of the average monthly deposits on his prisoner’s account). Thereafter, Plaintiff must 

make monthly payments of 20% of the preceding month’s income credited to his trust account. 

The Bureau of Prisons is required to send the initial $29.33 payment to the Clerk of the Court

from any deposits made into Plaintiff’s account until the $29.33 payment is made and thereafter 

make subsequent payments from Plaintiff’s account each time the amount in his account exceeds 

$10.00, until the statutory filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

ACCORDINGLY, it is ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 2) is GRANTED.

2. The Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or his designee shall forward an 

initial payment of $29.33 to the Clerk of the Court from Plaintiff’s prison trust account in 

accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(B) and thereafter shall make future monthly 

payments in an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month’s income 

credited to the Plaintiff’s trust account each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00, 

in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), until a total of $350.00 has been collected and 

forwarded to the Clerk of the Court. The payments shall be clearly identified by the name and 

number assigned to this action. 

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order and a copy of Plaintiff’s 

in forma pauperis application on the Federal Bureau of Prisons, via the court’s electronic case 

filing system (CM/ECF).

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the Financial 

Department, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.

Dated: November 20, 2024 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:24-cv-01407-HBK Document 4 Filed 11/20/24 Page 2 of 2