Mitchell v. Mills

Filing 3

ORDER directing the Clerk to send Plaintiff a prison calculation sheet. Plaintiff must, within thirty days of the entry of this Order, file his properly completed prison calculation sheet. Plaintiff is reminded that the failure to timely and properly comply with this Order will result in the dismissal of this case, without prejudice. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 11/15/2013. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION

KEVIN MARTIN MITCHELL, SR.,
ADC #500399
V.

PLAINTIFF

3:13CV00238 DPM/JTR

LARRY MILLS, Sheriff; and
DOYLE RAMEY, Officer,
Poinsett County Detention Center

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
Plaintiff, Kevin Martin Mitchell, Sr., is a prisoner in the Grimes Unit of the
Arkansas Department of Correction (“ADC”). He has recently filed a pro se1 § 1983
Complaint and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act provides that a prisoner who is permitted to

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Plaintiff is notified of his responsibility to comply with Local 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.”
Plaintiff is further notified of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which provides that a prisoner may not
proceed with a civil suit in forma pauperis “if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while
incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States
that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.”

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 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 filing fee
will be collected and no portion of this filing fee will be refunded to the prisoner.
Plaintiff has not provided the Court with a prison calculation sheet specifying
his average monthly deposits and average monthly balances. The Court must have
this information to: (1) determine whether he is entitled to proceed in forma pauperis;
and (2) assess an initial partial filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) (providing that
the initial partial filing fee must be “20% of the greater of the average monthly
deposits to the prisoner’s account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner’s
account”). Accordingly, the Court will give Plaintiff thirty days to file a prison
calculation sheet that is signed by an authorized prison official.
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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.

The Clerk is directed to send Plaintiff a prison calculation sheet.

2.

Plaintiff must, within thirty days of the entry of this Order, file his

properly completed prison calculation sheet.
3.

Plaintiff is reminded that the failure to timely and properly comply with

this Order will in the dismissal of this case, without prejudice, pursuant to Local Rule
5.5(c)(2).
Dated this 15th day of November, 2013.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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