Opinion ID: 734158
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Weaver

Text: And Tingler 41 In Weaver v. Toombs, 948 F.2d 1004, 1011 (6th Cir.1991), we held that courts have discretion in assessing costs against an unsuccessful prisoner who prosecuted his or her case in forma pauperis. Further, we noted that the courts were required to make a determination of the prisoner's capacity to pay the costs assessed. Id. at 1013-14. However, the statute has superseded Weaver. When judgment is entered against a prisoner and costs against the prisoner are assessed, § 1915(f)(2)(A) now requires that the prisoner pay the costs either in full, or in accordance with the payment process set forth in § 1915(b)(2). See 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(f)(2)(B). The prisoner's ability to pay the costs is no longer an issue. Section 1915(f)(2)(B) mistakenly refers to § 1915(a)(2) as the authoritative subsection for the payment process. However, § 1915(a)(2) does not contain a payment procedure. The payment process is located in § 1915(b)(2). 42 The Prison Litigation Reform Act also superseded the procedures set forth in Tingler v. Marshall, 716 F.2d 1109 (6th Cir.1983). In Tingler, we stated that a district court may not sua sponte dismiss a plaintiff's suit unless the court first gives the plaintiff the opportunity to amend or correct the deficiencies in the complaint. Id. at 1111-12. Under § 1915(e)(2), a court is required to dismiss a case when the action satisfies § 1915(e)(2)(A) or § 1915(e)(2)(B). The courts have no discretion in permitting a plaintiff to amend a complaint to avoid a sua sponte dismissal. If a complaint falls within the requirements of § 1915(e)(2) when filed, then the district court must sua sponte dismiss the complaint. Section 1915A also provides for sua sponte dismissals in cases brought by inmates.