Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02121/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02121-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Vernon McNeal
Plaintiff
Unknown
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VERNON MCNEAL,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNKNOWN,

Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-2121 KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a state prisoner at Calipatria State Prison, has filed a letter to the court. No other 

pleadings have been filed by the plaintiff. It is unclear whether plaintiff seeks to file a civil rights 

complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, or a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 2254. If plaintiff is challenging the conditions of his confinement, he should file a civil 

rights complaint. If plaintiff is challenging the fact or duration of his confinement, he should file 

a petition for writ of habeas corpus. 

In order to commence an action, plaintiff must file a complaint as required by Rule 3 of 

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2254. Plaintiff must either pay the required filing fee or file an application requesting leave to 

proceed in forma pauperis.1 See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). The court will not issue any 

 

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If leave to file in forma pauperis is granted, plaintiff will still be required to pay the filing fee in 

a civil rights action but will be allowed to pay it in installments.

Case 2:14-cv-02121-KJN Document 3 Filed 09/23/14 Page 1 of 2
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orders granting or denying relief until an action has been properly commenced. Therefore, 

plaintiff’s motion will be denied without prejudice. Plaintiff will be provided the opportunity to 

file his complaint or petition, and to submit an application requesting leave to proceed in forma 

pauperis or to submit the appropriate filing fee. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s September 12, 2014 letter is denied without prejudice;

2. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file a complaint 

or a petition that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the complaint must bear the docket number 

assigned this case; plaintiff must file an original and two copies of the complaint. Plaintiff shall 

also submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, the application to proceed in forma 

pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of Court, or the appropriate filing fee.

2

 Plaintiff’s 

failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this matter be dismissed; 

and

3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the court’s form for filing a civil 

rights action, a petition for writ of habeas corpus, and the application to proceed in forma 

pauperis by a prisoner.

Dated: September 23, 2014

/mcne2121.Nocompl

 

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 The filing fee for a civil rights action is $400.00, comprised of the $350.00 filing fee and a 

$50.00 administrative fee. If plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, plaintiff is 

not required to pay the $50.00 administrative fee. The filing fee for an application for a writ of 

habeas corpus is $5.00. 

Case 2:14-cv-02121-KJN Document 3 Filed 09/23/14 Page 2 of 2