Parker v. Cagle et al

Filing 4

ORDER granting 3 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by William Parker. Signed by Judge Billy Roy Wilson on 11/10/2015. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
ROBERT BAKER and
WILLIAM PARKER
v.

PLAINTIFFS

3:15CV00338-BRW-JJV

DOES; et al.

3:15-cv-00365 BRW/BD

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
I.

APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF FEES AND
AFFIDAVIT
William Parker (“Plaintiff”), is incarcerated at the Greene County Detention Center, and filed

this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action jointly with Robert Baker. (Doc. No. 8.) He also filed an Application
to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit (“Application”) (Doc. No. 10).1 Plaintiff has
made a proper showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) and his Application is GRANTED.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), a prisoner who is permitted to file a civil
action in forma pauperis still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350.2 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

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At the time of this Order’s entry Mr. Parker’s co-Plaintiff, Robert Baker, has not yet
submitted either his share of the statutory filing fee or his own completed Application. This case will
not proceed until Mr. Baker either complies with the Court’s Order (Doc. No. 9) or his deadline for
doing so has passed, at which time the Court will recommend his dismissal without prejudice.
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Effective May 1, 2013, the cost for filing a new civil case is $400. The increase is due to
a new $50 administrative fee, which does not apply to persons granted in forma pauperis status
under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
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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.
Based on information contained in a certified copy of Plaintiff’s Application and Calculation
Sheet, the Court shall not assess an initial partial filing fee. Plaintiff will be obligated to make
monthly payments in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month's income credited
to his prison trust account each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00. Plaintiff’s custodian
is requested to send to the Clerk of the Court the monthly payments from his prison trust account
when the amount exceeds $10.00, until the statutory filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
II.

PLEADINGS
The Court is sensitive to the fact that pro se litigants like Plaintiff are not trained in the law

and will give deference to a pro se plaintiff where the law requires. However, all parties, including
pro se litigants, must comply with substantive and procedural law. Brown v. Frey, 806 F.2d 801,
804 (8th Cir. 1986). Accordingly, the Court will only consider claims properly pled in a complaint
or in a superseding amended complaint. Additionally, the Court will not consider claims stated in
notices or other pleadings not filed in compliance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
III.

LOCAL RULE
Plaintiff must also comply with the Local Rules of the Court. Of particular note to pro se

plaintiffs is Rule 5.5(C)(2), which states:
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Parties appearing pro se. 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.
Loc. R. 5.5(C)(2).
IV.

CONCLUSION
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:
1.

Plaintiff William Parker’s Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and

Affidavit (Doc. No. 10) is GRANTED.
2.

Plaintiff Parker’s custodian or his designee, or any future custodian, shall collect from

Plaintiff’s institutional account the $350.00 filing fee by collecting monthly payments equal to 20%
of the preceding month's income credited to Plaintiff’s account each time the amount in the account
exceeds $10.00, and forward the payments to the Clerk of the Court in accordance with 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(b)(2), until a total of $350.00 has been collected and forwarded to the Clerk. The payments
forwarded on Plaintiff’s behalf shall be clearly identified by the name and number assigned to this
action.
3.

The Clerk of the Court shall send a copy of this Order to the Sheriff of Greene

County at 1809 North Rocking Chair Road, Paragould, AR 72450.
DATED this 10th day of November, 2015.

JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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