Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_10-cv-00114/USCOURTS-ared-3_10-cv-00114-0/pdf.json

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

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Plaintiff is notified of his responsibility to comply with the Local Rules of the Court,

including Rule 5.5(c)(2), which states: "It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to

promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address,

to monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. A party

appearing for himself/herself shall sign his/her pleadings and state his/her address, zip code, and

telephone number. If any communication from the Court to a pro se plaintiff is not responded to

within thirty (30) days, the case may be dismissed without prejudice. Any party proceeding pro se

shall be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

BERNARD C. PEACE, III PLAINTIFF

V. NO: 3:10CV00114 JMM

JAMES SANDERS et al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

Plaintiff, currently held at the Mississippi County Detention Facility, filed this pro se1

complaint (docket entry #2), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, on June 2, 2010. Plaintiff did not submit

the $350.00 statutory filing fee, or file an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, a prisoner who is permitted to file a civil

action in forma pauperis still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350.00. 28 U.S.C.

§1915(b)(1). The only question is whether a prisoner will pay the entire filing fee at the initiation

of the proceeding or in installments over a period of time. Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715, 716

(8th Cir. 1998). Even if a prisoner is without assets and unable to pay an initial filing fee, he will

be allowed to proceed with his claims and the filing fee will be collected by the Court in installments

from the prisoner’s inmate trust account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). 

Case 3:10-cv-00114-JMM Document 4 Filed 07/12/10 Page 1 of 3
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The Court is aware of Plaintiff’s assertion in his letter (docket entry #1) that he has been

unable to obtain financial information from jail officials. Even if Plaintiff is unable to obtain

financial information from jail officials, he must still submit the in forma pauperis application itself,

which requires action only by Plaintiff.

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If the prisoner’s case is subsequently dismissed for any reason, including a

determination that it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary relief

against a defendant who is immune from such relief, the full amount of the $350.00 filing fee

will be collected and no portion of this filing fee will be refunded to the prisoner.

So that the Court can determine how the $350.00 filing fee will be paid, Plaintiff is required

to submit, within thirty (30) days of this order’s entry date, either the full statutory filing fee, or an

application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, along with a calculation sheet and certificate,

prepared and executed by an authorized official at the incarcerating facility.2

 Based on this

information, the Court will assess an initial partial filing fee if sufficient funds exist, and will also

direct the future collection of monthly installment payments from Plaintiff’s account until the filing

fee is paid in full. Id. 1915(b)(1) and (2). However, no prisoner will be prohibited from bringing

a civil action because he “has no assets and no means by which to pay the initial partial filing fee.”

Id. 1915(b)(4).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

1. The Clerk is directed to forward an in forma pauperis application, calculation sheet,

and certificate, to Plaintiff.

2. Plaintiff is directed to submit, no later than thirty (30) days after the entry of this

order, either the $350.00 statutory filing fee, or to complete and sign the in forma pauperis

application, and file it. Plaintiff’s failure to do so will result in the dismissal of his claims.

Case 3:10-cv-00114-JMM Document 4 Filed 07/12/10 Page 2 of 3
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3. Service is not appropriate at this time. 

DATED this 12th day of July, 2010.

 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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