Benjamin v. Hobbs et al
Filing
4
ORDER directing the Clerk to mail to plaintiff an ifp application with calculation sheet. The plaintiff should complete the application within 30 days from the date of this Order and submit it to the Clerk. Signed by Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on 7/9/12. (kpr)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
MICHAEL BENJAMIN,
ADC #139727
V.
PLAINTIFF
5:12CV00237 JLH/JTR
RAY HOBBS, Director,
Arkansas Department of Correction, et al.
DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Plaintiff, Michael Benjamin, is a prisoner in the Maximum Security Unit of the
Arkansas Department of Correction. He has filed a pro se1 § 1983 Complaint and an
Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) provides that a prisoner who is
1
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 must 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 must 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.”
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.
Plaintiff has filed a handwritten Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis that
does not contain the necessary financial information. See docket entry #1. Thus, the
Court will send Plaintiff the necessary forms, and give him thirty days to complete
them.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1.
The Clerk is directed to send Plaintiff an Application to Proceed In
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Forma Pauperis, along with a prisoner calculation sheet.2
2.
Plaintiff must, within thirty days of the entry of this Order, file a fully
and properly completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and a prisoner
calculation sheet.
3.
Plaintiff is reminded that if he fails to timely and properly do so, this case
will be dismissed, without prejudice, pursuant to Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).
Dated this 9th day of July, 2012.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
2
Plaintiff must complete and sign the Application to Proceed In Forma
Pauperis. In contrast, an authorized ADC official must complete and sign the prisoner
calculation sheet.
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