Bernard v. Yuma County Detention Center

Filing 10

ORDER that within 30 days of the date this Order is filed, Plaintiff must either pay the $350.00 filing fee or file a completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and the Complaint is dismissed without prejudice with 30 days leave to ame nd. The Clerk must enter dismissal without prejudice if plaintiff fails to comply. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's September 11, 2012 Motion to Amend (Doc. 3) and September 14, 2012 Amended Motion to Amend (Doc. 4) are denied. IT IS FUR THER ORDERED denying 5 Motion for Medical Attention; denying 6 Motion for Injunctive Protective Order; denying 7 Second Amended Motion to Amend; denying 8 Motion for Declaratory Judgment; and denying 9 Motion for Injunctive Relief. Signed by Judge G Murray Snow on 10/9/12.(LSP)

1

WO

KM

2
3
4
5
6

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

7

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

8
9

Bryan Mornyngstarr Bernard,
Plaintiff,

10
11

vs.

12
Yuma County Detention Center,
13
Defendant.

14

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

No. CV 12-1828-PHX-GMS (DKD)
ORDER

15
16

Plaintiff Bryan Mornyngstarr Bernard, who is confined in the Yuma County Detention

17

Center, has filed a pro se Complaint. Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee or filed an

18

Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Plaintiff has also filed Motions to Amend,

19

Motions for Injunctive Relief, and a “Motion for Declaratory Judgment.”

20

The Court will grant Plaintiff 30 days to: (1) pay the filing fee or file a complete

21

Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis; and (2) file an amended complaint on the court-

22

approved form. The Court will also deny Plaintiff’s pending motions.

23

I.

Payment of Filing Fee

24

When bringing an action, a prisoner must either pay the $350.00 filing fee in a lump

25

sum or, if granted the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis, pay the fee incrementally

26

as set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). An application to proceed in forma pauperis requires

27

an affidavit of indigence and a certified copy of the inmate’s trust account statement for the

28
JDDL

1

six months preceding the filing of the Complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). An inmate must

2

submit statements from each institution where he was confined during the six-month period.

3

Id. To assist prisoners in meeting these requirements, the Court requires use of a form

4

application. LRCiv 3.4(a).

5

If a prisoner is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court will assess an

6

initial partial filing fee of 20% of either the average monthly deposits or the average monthly

7

balance in Plaintiff’s account, whichever is greater. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). An initial

8

partial filing fee will only be collected when funds exist. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). The

9

balance of the fee will be collected in monthly payments of 20% of the preceding month’s

10

income credited to an inmate’s account, each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00.

11

28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

12

II.

Failure to Comply With Statute

13

Plaintiff has not filed an Application to Proceed on this Court’s approved form and

14

has not included a certified six-month account statement. Plaintiff will be permitted 30 days

15

to either pay the $350.00 filing fee or file a complete Application to Proceed In Forma

16

Pauperis and certified six-month trust account statement.

17

III.

Failure to File Complaint on Court-Approved Form

18

Pursuant to Local Rule of Civil Procedure 3.4, “[a]ll complaints and applications to

19

proceed in forma pauperis by incarcerated persons shall be signed and legibly written or

20

typewritten on forms approved by the Court.” Plaintiff has not filed his Complaint or

21

Amended Complaints on the court-approved form and the Court is unable to determine the

22

precise number and nature of Plaintiff’s claims. The Court will therefore dismiss the

23

Complaint and grant Plaintiff 30 days to file an amended complaint on the court-approved

24

form.

25
26

Complaint.” Any amended complaint must be retyped or rewritten in its entirety on the

27

court-approved form and may not incorporate any part of the original Complaint by

28
JDDL

Plaintiff must clearly designate on the face of the document that it is a “First Amended

reference. Plaintiff may include only one claim per count.
-2-

1

An amended complaint supersedes the original Complaint. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963

2

F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992); Hal Roach Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542,

3

1546 (9th Cir. 1990).

4

nonexistent. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262. Any cause of action that was raised in the original

5

Complaint is waived if it is not raised in the amended complaint. King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d

6

565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987).

7

IV.

After amendment, the original Complaint will be treated as

Motions

8

Plaintiff has filed the following Motions:

9

(1)

September 11, 2012 Motion to Amend (Doc. 3) and September 14, 2012
Amended Motion to Amend (Doc. 4);

10
11

(2)

September 18, 2012 Motion for Medical Attention (Doc. 5);

12

(3)

September 18, 2012 Motion for Injunctive Protective Order (Doc. 6);

13

(4)

September 21, 2012 Second Amended Motion to Amend (Doc. 7);

14

(4)

September 25, 2012 Motion for Declaratory Judgment (Doc. 8); and

15

(5)

September 25, 2012 Motion for Injunctive Relief (Doc. 9).1

16

Plaintiff has granted leave to file an amended complaint on the court-approved form.

17

The Court will therefore deny as moot the Motions to Amend. Plaintiff must include all his

18

claims for relief in an amended complaint.

19

Plaintiff’s Motions for Medical Attention and Injunctive Relief will also be denied.

20

A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary and drastic remedy and will not be granted

21

absent a clear showing of likely success in the underlying claim and possible irreparable

22

injury. See Mazurek v. Armstrong, 520 U.S. 968, 972 (1997) (per curiam). A party seeking

23

preliminary injunctive relief “must necessarily establish a relationship between the injury

24

claimed in the party’s motion and the conduct asserted in the complaint.” Devose v.

25

Herrington, 42 F.3d 470, 471 (8th Cir. 1994) (per curiam) (Eighth Amendment claim cannot

26
1

27
28
JDDL

Plaintiff has placed four case numbers on each Motion indicating that he wishes each
Motion to be filed in four cases. This is unacceptable. In the future, Plaintiff must file a
separate Motion in each case. Any future Motion filed with more than one case number will
be stricken.
-3-

1

provide basis for preliminary injunction against alleged acts in retaliation for filing claim).

2

In other words, Plaintiff must seek injunctive relief related to the merits of his underlying

3

claim. Because there presently is no Complaint pending, Plaintiff’s requests are not properly

4

before the Court at this time and will be denied.

5

Finally, Plaintiff’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment is premature. Plaintiff argues

6

that judgment should be entered in his favor because Defendants have not responded to his

7

Complaint. The Court has not yet ordered service on Defendants or required Defendants to

8

file an answer. Moreover, over in light of the Court’s dismissal of Plaintiff’s Complaint,

9

there is presently no Complaint before the Court.

10

Declaratory Judgment.

11

V.

The Court will deny the Motion for

Warnings

12

A.

Address Changes

13

Plaintiff must file and serve a notice of a change of address in accordance with Rule

14

83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff must not include a motion for other

15

relief with a notice of change of address. Failure to comply may result in dismissal of this

16

action.

17

B.

Copies

18

Plaintiff must submit an additional copy of every filing for use by the Court. See

19

LRCiv 5.4. Failure to comply may result in the filing being stricken without further notice

20

to Plaintiff.

21

C.

22

If Plaintiff fails to timely comply with every provision of this Order, including these

23

warnings, the Court may dismiss this action without further notice. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at

24

1260-61(a district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the

25

Court).

26

...

27

...

28
JDDL

Possible Dismissal

IT IS ORDERED:
-4-

1

(1)

Within 30 days of the date this Order is filed, Plaintiff must either pay the

2

$350.00 filing fee or file a completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and a

3

certified six-month trust account statement.

4

(2)

If Plaintiff fails to either pay the $350.00 filing fee or file a completed

5

Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis within 30 days, the Clerk of Court must enter a

6

judgment of dismissal of this action without prejudice and without further notice to Plaintiff.

7
8
9

(3)

The Complaint (Doc. 1) is dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff has 30 days

from the date this Order is filed to file a first amended complaint on the court-approved form.
(4)

If Plaintiff fails to file a first amended complaint within 30 days, the Clerk of

10

Court must, without further notice, enter a judgment of dismissal of this action without

11

prejudice.

12

(5)

13

Plaintiff’s September 11, 2012 Motion to Amend (Doc. 3) and September 14,

2012 Amended Motion to Amend (Doc. 4) are denied.

14

(6)

September 18, 2012 Motion for Medical Attention (Doc. 5) is denied.

15

(7)

September 18, 2012 Motion for Injunctive Protective Order (Doc. 6) is denied.

16

(8)

September 21, 2012 Second Amended Motion to Amend (Doc. 7) is denied.

17

(9)

September 25, 2012 Motion for Declaratory Judgment (Doc. 8) is denied.

18

(10)

September 25, 2012 Motion for Injunctive Relief (Doc. 9) is denied.

19

(11)

The Clerk of Court must mail Plaintiff a court-approved form for filing a civil

20

rights complaint by a prisoner and a form for filing an Application to Proceed In Forma

21

Pauperis (Non-Habeas).

22

DATED this 9th day of October, 2012.

23
24
25
26
27
28
JDDL

-5-

Instructions for a Prisoner Filing a Civil Rights Complaint
in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona
1. Who May Use This Form. The civil rights complaint form is designed to help incarcerated
persons prepare a complaint seeking relief for a violation of their federal civil rights. These
complaints typically concern, but are not limited to, conditions of confinement. This form
should not be used to challenge your conviction or sentence. If you want to challenge a state
conviction or sentence, you should file a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for a writ of habeas
corpus by a person in state custody. If you want to challenge a federal conviction or sentence,
you should file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate sentence in the federal court that
entered the judgment.
2. The Form. Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.4(a) provides that complaints by
incarcerated persons must be filed on the court-approved form. The form must be typed or
neatly handwritten. The form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. All
questions must be answered clearly and concisely in the appropriate space on the form. If
needed, you may attach additional pages, but no more than fifteen additional pages, of standard
letter-sized paper. You must identify which part of the complaint is being continued and
number all pages. If you do not fill out the form properly, you will be asked to submit additional
or corrected information, which may delay the processing of your action. You do not need to
cite law.
3. Your Signature. You must tell the truth and sign the form. If you make a false statement of
a material fact, you may be prosecuted for perjury.
4. The Filing Fee. The filing fee for this action is $350.00. If you are unable to immediately
pay the filing fee, you may request leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Please review the
“Information for Prisoners Seeking Leave to Proceed with a (Non-Habeas) Civil Action in
Federal Court In Forma Pauperis Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915” for additional instructions.
5. Original and Judge’s Copy. You must send an original plus one copy of your complaint and
of any other documents submitted to the Court. You must send one additional copy to the Court
if you wish to have a file-stamped copy of the document returned to you. All copies must be
identical to the original. Copies may be legibly handwritten.
6. Where to File. You should file your complaint in the division where you were confined
when your rights were allegedly violated. See LRCiv 5.1(a) and 77.1(a). If you were confined
in Maricopa, Pinal, Yuma, La Paz, or Gila County, file in the Phoenix Division. If you were
confined in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, or Yavapai County, file in the Prescott
Division. If you were confined in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, or Greenlee County, file
in the Tucson Division. Mail the original and one copy of the complaint with the $350 filing
fee or the application to proceed in forma pauperis to:

Revised 3/9/07

1

Phoenix & Prescott Divisions:
OR
U.S. District Court Clerk
U.S. Courthouse, Suite 130
401 West Washington Street, SPC 10
Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2119

Tucson Division:
U.S. District Court Clerk
U.S. Courthouse, Suite 1500
405 West Congress Street
Tucson, Arizona 85701-5010

7. Change of Address. You must immediately notify the Court and the defendants in writing
of any change in your mailing address. Failure to notify the Court of any change in your
mailing address may result in the dismissal of your case.
8. Certificate of Service. You must furnish the defendants with a copy of any document you
submit to the Court (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis).
Each original document (except the initial complaint and application to proceed in forma
pauperis) must include a certificate of service on the last page of the document stating the date
a copy of the document was mailed to the defendants and the address to which it was mailed.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a), (d). Any document received by the Court that does not include a
certificate of service may be stricken. A certificate of service should be in the following form:
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed
this
(month, day, year) to:
Name:
Address:
Attorney for Defendant(s)
(Signature)
9. Amended Complaint. If you need to change any of the information in the initial complaint,
you must file an amended complaint. The amended complaint must be written on the courtapproved civil rights complaint form. You may file one amended complaint without leave
(permission) of Court before any defendant has answered your original complaint. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 15(a). After any defendant has filed an answer, you must file a motion for leave to
amend and lodge (submit) a proposed amended complaint. LRCiv 15.1. In addition, an
amended complaint may not incorporate by reference any part of your prior complaint. LRCiv
15.1(a)(2). Any allegations or defendants not included in the amended complaint are
considered dismissed. All amended complaints are subject to screening under the Prison
Litigation Reform Act; screening your amendment will take additional processing time.
10. Exhibits. You should not submit exhibits with the complaint or amended complaint.
Instead, the relevant information should be paraphrased. You should keep the exhibits to use
to support or oppose a motion to dismiss, a motion for summary judgment, or at trial.
11. Letters and Motions. It is generally inappropriate to write a letter to any judge or the staff
of any judge. The only appropriate way to communicate with the Court is by filing a written
pleading or motion.
2

12. Completing the Civil Rights Complaint Form.
HEADING:
1. Your Name. Print your name, prison or inmate number, and institutional mailing
address on the lines provided.
2. Defendants. If there are four or fewer defendants, print the name of each. If you
name more than four defendants, print the name of the first defendant on the first line,
write the words “and others” on the second line, and attach an additional page listing the
names of all of the defendants. Insert the additional page after page 1 and number it “1A” at the bottom.
3. Jury Demand. If you want a jury trial, you must write “JURY TRIAL DEMANDED”
in the space below “CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT BY A PRISONER.” Failure to do
so may result in the loss of the right to a jury trial. A jury trial is not available if you are
seeking only injunctive relief.
Part A. JURISDICTION:
1. Nature of Suit. Mark whether you are filing the complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 for state, county, or city defendants; “Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics
Agents” for federal defendants; or “other.” If you mark “other,” identify the source of
that authority.
2. Location. Identify the institution and city where the alleged violation of your rights
occurred.
3. Defendants. Print all of the requested information about each of the defendants in the
spaces provided. If you are naming more than four defendants, you must provide the
necessary information about each additional defendant on separate pages labeled “2-A,”
“2-B,” etc., at the bottom. Insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part B. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS:
You must identify any other lawsuit you have filed in either state or federal court while
you were a prisoner. Print all of the requested information about each lawsuit in the spaces
provided. If you have filed more than three lawsuits, you must provide the necessary
information about each additional lawsuit on a separate page. Label the page(s) as “2-A,” “2B,” etc., at the bottom of the page and insert the additional page(s) immediately behind page 2.
Part C. CAUSE OF ACTION:
You must identify what rights each defendant violated. The form provides space to
allege three separate counts (one violation per count). If you are alleging more than three
counts, you must provide the necessary information about each additional count on a separate
page. Number the additional pages “5-A,” “5-B,” etc., and insert them immediately behind page
5. Remember that you are limited to a total of fifteen additional pages.
3

1. Counts. You must identify which civil right was violated. You may allege the
violation of only one civil right per count.
2. Issue Involved. Check the box that most closely identifies the issue involved in your
claim. You may check only one box per count. If you check the box marked “Other,”
you must identify the specific issue involved.
3. Supporting Facts. After you have identified which civil right was violated, you must
state the supporting facts. Be as specific as possible. You must state what each
individual defendant did to violate your rights. If there is more than one defendant, you
must identify which defendant did what act. You also should state the date(s) on which
the act(s) occurred, if possible.
4. Injury. State precisely how you were injured by the alleged violation of your rights.
5. Administrative Remedies. You must exhaust any available administrative remedies
before you file a civil rights complaint. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e. Consequently, you
should disclose whether you have exhausted the inmate grievance procedures or
administrative appeals for each count in your complaint. If the grievance procedures
were not available for any of your counts, fully explain why on the lines provided.
Part D. REQUEST FOR RELIEF:
Print the relief you are seeking in the space provided.
SIGNATURE:
You must sign your name and print the date you signed the complaint. Failure to sign
the complaint will delay the processing of your action. Unless you are an attorney, you may not
bring an action on behalf of anyone but yourself.

FINAL NOTE
You should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your
complaint being stricken or dismissed. All questions must be answered concisely in the proper
space on the form. If you need more space, you may attach no more than fifteen additional
pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent applicable. If you attach
additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued and
number the pages.

4

Name and Prisoner/Booking Number

Place of Confinement

Mailing Address

City, State, Zip Code

(Failure to notify the Court of your change of address may result in dismissal of this action.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

(Full Name of Plaintiff)

Plaintiff,
vs.

(1)
(Full Name of Defendant)

(2)
(3)
(4)
Defendant(s).

G

Check if there are additional Defendants and attach page 1-A listing them.

)
, )
)
)
) CASE NO.
)
(To be supplied by the Clerk)
, )
)
, )
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT
)
, )
BY A PRISONER
)
, )
G Original Complaint
G First Amended Complaint
)
)
G Second Amended Complaint

A. JURISDICTION
1.

2.

This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to:
G 28 U.S.C. § 1343(a); 42 U.S.C. § 1983
G 28 U.S.C. § 1331; Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
G Other:

.

Institution/city where violation occurred:

.

Revised 3/9/07

1

550/555

B. DEFENDANTS
1.

Name of first Defendant:
at

. The first Defendant is employed as:
.

(Position and Title)

2.

(Institution)

Name of second Defendant:
at

. The second Defendant is employed as:
.

(Position and Title)

3.

(Institution)

Name of third Defendant:
at

. The third Defendant is employed as:
.

(Position and Title)

4.

(Institution)

Name of fourth Defendant:
at

. The fourth Defendant is employed as:
.

(Position and Title)

(Institution)

If you name more than four Defendants, answer the questions listed above for each additional Defendant on a separate page.

C. PREVIOUS LAWSUITS
1.

Have you filed any other lawsuits while you were a prisoner?

2.

If yes, how many lawsuits have you filed?

G Yes

G No

. Describe the previous lawsuits:

a. First prior lawsuit:
1. Parties:
v.
2. Court and case number:
3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?)

.
.

b. Second prior lawsuit:
v.
1. Parties:
2. Court and case number:
3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?)

.
.

c. Third prior lawsuit:
1. Parties:
v.
2. Court and case number:
3. Result: (Was the case dismissed? Was it appealed? Is it still pending?)

.
.

If you filed more than three lawsuits, answer the questions listed above for each additional lawsuit on a separate page.

2

D. CAUSE OF ACTION

1.

COUNT I
State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated:
.

2.

Count I. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts.
G Basic necessities
G Mail
G Access to the court
G Medical care
G Disciplinary proceedings
G Property
G Exercise of religion
G Retaliation
G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other:

.

3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count I. Describe exactly what
each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without
citing legal authority or arguments.

.
4.

Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).

.
5.

Administrative Remedies:
a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available
G Yes G No
at your institution?
b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count I?
G Yes G No
c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count I to the highest level?
G Yes G No
d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why
you did not.
.
3

1.

COUNT II
State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated:
.

2.

Count II. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts.
G Basic necessities
G Mail
G Access to the court
G Medical care
G Disciplinary proceedings
G Property
G Exercise of religion
G Retaliation
G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other:

.

3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count II. Describe exactly what
each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without
citing legal authority or arguments.

.
4.

Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).

.
5.

Administrative Remedies.
a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available
at your institution?
G Yes G No
b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count II?
G Yes G No
c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count II to the highest level?
G Yes G No
d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why
you did not.
.
4

1.

COUNT III
State the constitutional or other federal civil right that was violated:
.

2.

Count III. Identify the issue involved. Check only one. State additional issues in separate counts.
G Basic necessities
G Mail
G Access to the court
G Medical care
G Disciplinary proceedings
G Property
G Exercise of religion
G Retaliation
G Excessive force by an officer G Threat to safety G Other:

.

3. Supporting Facts. State as briefly as possible the FACTS supporting Count III. Describe exactly what
each Defendant did or did not do that violated your rights. State the facts clearly in your own words without
citing legal authority or arguments.

.
4.

Injury. State how you were injured by the actions or inactions of the Defendant(s).

.
5.

Administrative Remedies.
a. Are there any administrative remedies (grievance procedures or administrative appeals) available
G Yes G No
at your institution?
b. Did you submit a request for administrative relief on Count III?
G Yes G No
c. Did you appeal your request for relief on Count III to the highest level?
G Yes G No
d. If you did not submit or appeal a request for administrative relief at any level, briefly explain why
you did not.
.

If you assert more than three Counts, answer the questions listed above for each additional Count on a separate page.

5

E. REQUEST FOR RELIEF
State the relief you are seeking:

.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on
DATE

SIGNATURE OF PLAINTIFF

(Name and title of paralegal, legal assistant, or
other person who helped prepare this complaint)

(Signature of attorney, if any)

(Attorney’s address & telephone number)

ADDITIONAL PAGES
All questions must be answered concisely in the proper space on the form. If you need more space, you may
attach no more than fifteen additional pages. But the form must be completely filled in to the extent
applicable. If you attach additional pages, be sure to identify which section of the complaint is being continued
and number all pages.

6

Instructions for Prisoners Applying for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 in a Civil Action (Non-habeas) in Federal Court
You must pay the full filing fee of $350.00 for a civil action. If you later file an appeal,
you will be obligated to pay the $455.00 filing fee for the appeal.
If you have enough money to pay the full filing fee, you should send a cashier’s check
or money order payable to the Clerk of the Court with your complaint, petition, or notice of
appeal.
If you do not have enough money to pay the full filing fee, you can file the action
without prepaying the filing fee. However, the court will assess an initial partial filing fee. The
initial partial filing fee will be the greater of 20% of the average monthly deposits or 20% of the
average monthly balance in your prison or jail account for the six months immediately
preceding the filing of the lawsuit. The court will order the agency that has custody of you to
withdraw the initial partial filing fee from your prison or jail account as soon as funds are
available and to forward the money to the court.
After the initial partial filing fee has been paid, you will owe the balance of the filing fee.
Until the filing fee is paid in full, each month you will owe 20% of your preceding month's
income. The agency that holds you in custody will collect that money and forward it to the
court any time the amount in your account exceeds $10.00. The balance of the filing fee may
be collected even if the action is later dismissed, summary judgment is granted against you, or
you fail to prevail at trial.
To file an action without prepaying the filing fee, and to proceed with an action in forma
pauperis, you must complete the attached form and return it to the court with your complaint.
You must have a prison or jail official complete the certificate on the bottom of the form and
attach a certified copy of your prison or jail account statement for the last six months. If you
were incarcerated in a different institution during any part of the past six months, you must
attach a certificate and a certified copy of your account statement from each institution at which
you were confined. If you submit an incomplete form or do not submit a prison or jail account
statement with the form, your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied.
Even if some or all of the filing fee has been paid, the court is required to dismiss your
action if: (1) your allegation of poverty is untrue; (2) the action is frivolous or malicious; (3)
your complaint does not state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (4) your complaint
makes a claim against a defendant for money damages and that defendant is immune from
liability for money damages.
If you file more than three actions or appeals which are dismissed as frivolous or
malicious or for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted, you will be prohibited
from filing any other action in forma pauperis unless you are in imminent danger of serious
physical injury.

Revised 4/9/06

Name and Prisoner/Booking Number

Place of Confinement

Mailing Address

City, State, Zip Code

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Plaintiff,
vs.

Defendant(s).

)
, ) CASE NO.
)
)
)
APPLICATION TO PROCEED
)
IN FORMA PAUPERIS
, )
BY A PRISONER
)
CIVIL (NON-HABEAS)
)

I,
, declare, in support of my request to proceed in the above
entitled case without prepayment of fees under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, that I am unable to pay the fees for these
proceedings or to give security therefor and that I believe I am entitled to relief.
In support of this application, I answer the following questions under penalty of perjury:
1.

Have you ever before brought an action or appeal in a federal court while you were incarcerated or detained?
GYes GNo If "Yes," how many have you filed?
.
Were any of the actions or appeals dismissed because they were frivolous, malicious, or failed to state a
If "Yes," how many of them?
.
claim upon which relief may be granted? GYes GNo

2.

Are you currently employed at the institution where you are confined?
If "Yes," state the amount of your pay and where you work.

GYes

GNo

3.

Do you receive any other payments from the institution where you are confined?
If "Yes," state the source and amount of the payments.

GYes

GNo

Revised 4/9/06

1

4.

Do you have any other sources of income, savings, or assets either inside or outside of the institution where
you are confined?
GYes
GNo
If "Yes," state the sources and amounts of the income, savings, or assets.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the above information is true and correct.

DATE

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

CONSENT TO COLLECTION OF FEES FROM TRUST ACCOUNT
I,
, hereby consent to having the designated correctional officials at this
institution release to the Court my trust account information. I further consent to having the designated
correctional officials at this institution withdraw from my trust account the funds required to comply with the
order of this Court for the payment of filing fees in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).
My consent includes withdrawal from my account by correctional officials of partial initial payments to this
Court equal to 20% of the greater of:
(A) the average monthly deposits to my account for the six-month period preceding my filing of this
action, or
(B) the average monthly balance in my account for the six-month period preceding my filing of this
action.
My consent also includes monthly withdrawals from my account by correctional officials of an amount equal
to 20% of each month’s income. Whenever the amount in my account reaches $10.00, correctional officials will
withdraw that amount and forward it to the Court until the required filing fee is paid in full. I understand that I
am liable for paying the entire fee, even if my case is dismissed by the Court before the fee is fully paid.

DATE

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICIAL
AS TO STATUS OF APPLICANT’S TRUST ACCOUNT
I,

, certify that as of the date applicant signed this application:

(Printed name of official)
The applicant’s trust account balance at this institution is:
$
The applicant’s average monthly deposits during the prior six months is:
$
The applicant’s average monthly balance during the prior six months is:
$
The attached certified account statement accurately reflects the status of the applicant’s account.

DATE

Revised 4/9/06

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

TITLE/ID NUMBER

2

INSTITUTION