Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_16-cv-00078/USCOURTS-ared-3_16-cv-00078-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

JONESBORO DIVISION

STEVEN ALEX MCQUAY PLAINTIFF

 

v. 3:16CV00078-BSM-JJV

MATTHEW HALL, Jail Administrator,

Craighead County Detention Center; et al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER

Plaintiff, Steven Alex McQuay, filed a pro se Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983,

without prepayment of the $400.001filing fee or an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of

Fees and Affidavit. (Doc. No. 1.)

Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), a prisoner who is permitted to file a civil

action in forma pauperis still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350. 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 § 1983 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). If the prisoner’s case is

subsequently dismissed for any reason, including a determinationthatitisfrivolous,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 filing fee will be collected, and no portion of this filing fee

will be refunded to the prisoner. 

1Effective May 1, 2013, the cost for filing a new civil case is $400. The increase is due to

a new $50 administrative fee, which does not apply to persons granted in forma pauperis status

under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 

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Case 3:16-cv-00078-BSM Document 2 Filed 03/08/16 Page 1 of 2
The PLRA requires that Plaintiff submit a completed Application to Proceed Without

Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, along with calculation sheets, prepared and signed by an

authorized officer of the Detention Center.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff must submit either (1) the statutory filing fee

of $400; or (2) a properly completed Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and

Affidavit, with the required calculation sheet signed by an authorized official of the detention

center at which he is confined within thirty (30) days of the entry date of this Order.2

The Clerk shall send to Plaintiff an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and a filing

fee calculation sheet. 

DATED this 8th day of March, 2016.

 

JOE J. VOLPE

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

2Plaintiff is hereby notified of his responsibility to comply with the Local Rules of the Court. 

Of particular note to pro se plaintiffs is Rule 5.5(c)(2), which states: 

Parties appearing pro se. 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.

Loc. R. 5.5(c)(2).

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Case 3:16-cv-00078-BSM Document 2 Filed 03/08/16 Page 2 of 2