McQuay v. Hall et al

Filing 2

ORDER that Plaintiff must submit either (1) the statutory filing fee of $400; or (2) a properly completed Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, with the required calculation sheet signed by an authorized official of the detention center at which he is confined within 30 days of the entry date of this order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on 3/8/2016. (lej)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
STEVEN ALEX MCQUAY
v.

PLAINTIFF
3:16CV00078-BSM-JJV

MATTHEW HALL, Jail Administrator,
Craighead County Detention Center; et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Plaintiff, Steven Alex McQuay, filed a pro se Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983,
without prepayment of the $400.001 filing fee or an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of
Fees and Affidavit. (Doc. No. 1.)
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. 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.

1

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.
1

The PLRA requires that Plaintiff submit a completed Application to Proceed Without
Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, along with calculation sheets, prepared and signed by an
authorized officer of the Detention Center.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff must submit either (1) the statutory filing fee
of $400; or (2) a properly completed Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and
Affidavit, with the required calculation sheet signed by an authorized official of the detention
center at which he is confined within thirty (30) days of the entry date of this Order.2
The Clerk shall send to Plaintiff an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and a filing
fee calculation sheet.
DATED this 8th day of March, 2016.

JOE J. VOLPE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

2

Plaintiff is hereby notified of his responsibility to comply with the Local Rules of the Court.
Of particular note to pro se plaintiffs is Rule 5.5(c)(2), which states:
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).
2