Perez v. Osceola, City of et al
Filing
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ORDER directing the Clerk of the Court to forward an in forma pauperis application, calculation sheet, and certificate, to Mr. Perez. Mr. Perez must submit the full $400.00 filing fee or a fully completed and signed in forma pauperis application within thirty days after the entry date of this Order. Service is not appropriate at this time. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 5/8/2014. (jak)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
TOMMY PEREZ, JR.
v.
PLAINTIFF
Case No. 3:14-cv-00070-KGB
OSCEOLA, CITY OF et al.
DEFENDANTS
ORDER
On March 17, 2014, plaintiff Tommy Perez, Jr., currently held at the Mississippi County
Detention Facility, filed a pro se complaint (Dkt. No. 1). Effective May 1, 2013, a $50.00
administrative fee in addition to the $350.00 filing fee has been imposed for parties who are not
granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Mr. Perez did not pay the $400.00 filing and
administrative fees or file an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, a prisoner who is permitted to file a
civil action in forma pauperis still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350.00. 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 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)(1), (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 filing and any
applicable administrative fees will be collected and no portion of the fees will be refunded
to the prisoner.
So that the Court can determine how the fees will be paid, Mr. Perez is required to
submit, no later than 30 days after this order’s entry date, either the full $400.00 filing and
administrative fees or a fully completed and signed application for leave to proceed in forma
pauperis, including a trust fund calculation sheet and certificate signed by an authorized official.
If Mr. Perez is granted in forma pauperis status, the Court will assess an initial partial filing fee
if sufficient funds exist, and will also direct the future collection of monthly installment
payments from Mr. Perez’s account until the $350.00 filing fee is paid in full. Id. § 1915(b)(1),
(2). However, Mr. Perez will not be prohibited from bringing a civil action because he “has no
assets and no means by which to pay the initial partial filing fee.” Id. § 1915(b)(4).
Mr. Perez also is notified of his responsibility to comply with the Local Rules of the
Court, including 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.
It is therefore ordered that:
1.
The Clerk of the Court shall forward an in forma pauperis application, calculation
sheet, and certificate, to Mr. Perez.
2.
No later than 30 days after the entry date of this order, Mr. Perez must submit the
full $400.00 filing and administrative fees or file a fully completed and signed in forma pauperis
application, along with the trust fund calculation sheet and certificate, signed by an authorized
official. Mr. Perez’s failure to do so will result in the dismissal of his complaint.
3.
Service is not appropriate at this time.
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SO ORDERED this 8th day of May, 2014.
________________________________
KRISTINE G. BAKER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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