CAMPBELL v. BERRY et al

Filing 4

ORDER (); granting #2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. A copy of this ORDER has been sent to the business manager of the facility in which Plaintiff is detained. Ordered by US MAGISTRATE JUDGE CHARLES H WEIGLE on 01/10/2022. (hdw) Modified on 1/10/2022 to add docket text (hdw).

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
MACON DIVISION
DAVID LANE CAMPBELL,
Plaintiff,
V.
WARDEN WALTER BERRY, et al.,
Defendants.
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NO. 5:21-cv-00445-MTT-CHW

ORDER
Plaintiff David Lane Campbell, an inmate currently housed in Baldwin State Prison in
Hardwick, Georgia, has filed a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Compl.,
ECF No. 1. Plaintiff has also filed a motion for leave to proceed in this action in forma
pauperis. Mot. for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, ECF No. 2. As set forth below,
Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this case is GRANTED, and
Plaintiff is ORDERED to pay an initial partial filing fee of $29.00.
I. Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
The district courts may authorize the commencement of a civil action without
prepayment of the normally required filing fee if the plaintiff shows that he is indigent and
financially unable to pay the filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. §1915(b). A prisoner seeking to
proceed in forma pauperis under this section must provide the district court with both (1) an
affidavit in support of his claim of indigence and (2) a certified copy of his prison “trust fund
account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the 6-month period immediately preceding
the filing of the complaint.” Id. As it appears from Plaintiff’s documentation that Plaintiff
is unable to prepay the entire cost of commencing this action, his application to proceed in

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forma pauperis is hereby GRANTED.
A. Initial Partial Filing Fee
Even if a prisoner is allowed to proceed in forma pauperis, he must nevertheless pay
the full amount of the $350.00 filing fee in installments based on funds in the prisoner’s
account. When a prisoner has funds in his account, he must pay an initial partial filing fee of
twenty percent of the greater of (1) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner’s account, or
(2) the average monthly balance in the prisoner’s account for the six-month period immediately
preceding the filing of the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). A review of Plaintiff’s
account certification shows the average monthly deposits to Plaintiff’s account for the six
months before he filed the complaint equaled $145.00. Twenty percent of $145.00 is $29.00.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff pay an initial partial filing fee of $29.00.
B. Remainder of the Filing Fee
Additionally, Plaintiff is obligated to pay the remainder of the $350.00 filing fee, in
installments, as provided in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) and explained below. The CLERK shall
therefore forward a copy of this ORDER to the business manager of the facility in which
Plaintiff is detained so that withdrawals from his account may commence as payment towards
the filing fee. The district court’s filing fee is not refundable, regardless of the outcome of the
case, and must therefore be paid in full even if Plaintiff’s complaint (or any part thereof) is
dismissed prior to service.
1. Directions to Plaintiff’s Custodian
Because Plaintiff has now been granted leave to proceed IFP, it is hereby ORDERED
that the warden of the institution wherein Plaintiff is incarcerated, or the sheriff of any county
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wherein he is held in custody, and any successor custodians, each month cause to be remitted
to the Clerk of this Court twenty percent (20%) of the preceding month’s income credited to
Plaintiff’s account at said institution until the $350.00 filing fee has been paid in full. In
accordance with the provisions of the PLRA, Plaintiff’s custodian is hereby authorized to
forward payments from the prisoner’s account to the Clerk of Court each month until the filing
fee is paid in full, provided the amount in the account exceeds $10.00.

It is further

ORDERED that collection of monthly payments from Plaintiff’s trust fund account shall
continue until the entire $350.00 has been collected, notwithstanding the dismissal of
Plaintiff’s lawsuit or the granting of judgment against him prior to collection of the full filing
fee.
2. Plaintiff’s Obligations Upon Release
An individual’s release from prison does not excuse his prior noncompliance with the
provisions of the PLRA. Thus, in the event Plaintiff is hereafter released from the custody of
the State of Georgia or any county thereof, he shall remain obligated to pay those installments
justified by the income to his prisoner trust account while he was still incarcerated. The Court
hereby authorizes collection from Plaintiff of any balance due on these payments by any means
permitted by law in the event Plaintiff is released from custody and fails to remit such
payments. Plaintiff’s Complaint may be dismissed if he is able to make payments but fails to
do so or if he otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of the PLRA.
II. Conclusion
Thus, as set forth above, Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is
GRANTED, and Plaintiff is ORDERED to pay an initial partial filing fee of $29.00. While
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Plaintiff’s custodian is ordered herein to make subsequent payments on Plaintiff’s behalf,
Plaintiff should note that it is his responsibility to pay the initial partial filing fee. Thus,
Plaintiff must make arrangements with the appropriate official to ensure that the initial partial
filing fee is paid in accordance with this order.
Plaintiff shall have FOURTEEN (14) DAYS from the date shown on this order to pay
the required initial partial filing fee to the Clerk of the Court. Thereafter, Plaintiff’s custodian
shall remit monthly payments as set forth above. Plaintiff’s failure to fully and timely comply
with this order may result in the dismissal of Plaintiff’s complaint. If Plaintiff’s circumstances
have materially changed, such that he cannot afford to pay the initial partial filing fee ordered
herein, Plaintiff may file a renewed motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, supported
by a new account statement and an explanation of how any change in circumstances prevents
Plaintiff from paying the fee.
There shall be no service in this case pending further order of the Court.
SO ORDERED, this 10th day of January, 2022.
s/ Charles H. Weigle
Charles H. Weigle
United States Magistrate Judge

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