Clark v. Roy et al

Filing 205

ORDER granting 204 Application on Proceed In Forma Pauperis on Appeal (Written Opinion) Signed by Judge Susan Richard Nelson on 02/10/2017. (SMD) cc: Courtney Bernard Clark. Modified text on 2/10/2017 (ACH).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Courtney Bernard Clark,

Case No. 13-cv-2849 (SRN/HB)

Plaintiff,
v.

ORDER

Commissioner Tom Roy et al.,
Defendants.

Plaintiff Courtney Bernard Clark, a prisoner, seeks to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”)
on appeal of the dismissal of this action. See Docket No. 204. Because Clark is a prisoner, his
IFP application is subject to the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). This statute provides that:
(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), if a prisoner brings a civil
action or files an appeal in forma pauperis, the prisoner shall be
required to pay the full amount of a filing fee. The court shall
assess and, when funds exist, collect, as a partial payment of any
court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent
of the greater of —
(A) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner’s account; or
(B) the average monthly balance in the prisoner’s
account for the 6-month period immediately
preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of
appeal.
(2) After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner shall
be required to make monthly payments of 20 percent of the
preceding month’s income credited to the prisoner’s account. The
agency having custody of the prisoner shall forward payments
from the prisoner’s account to the clerk of the court each time the
amount in the account exceeds $10 until the filing fees are paid.

(3) In no event shall the filing fee collected exceed the amount of
fees permitted by statute for the commencement of a civil action or
appeal of a civil action . . . .
(4) In no event shall a prisoner be prohibited from bringing a civil
action or appealing a civil or criminal judgment for the reason that
the prisoner has no assets and no means by which to pay the initial
partial filing fee.
According to this statute — which is part of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(“PLRA”) — prisoners who are granted IFP status on appeal are not excused from paying the
appellate filing fee altogether, as is the case for non-prisoner IFP appellants. Instead, a prisoner
who is granted IFP status is merely granted permission to pay the appellate filing fee in
installments, rather than paying the entire amount in advance. See Henderson v. Norris, 129
F.3d 481, 484-85 (8th Cir. 1997); cf. Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715, 716 (8th Cir. 1998).
Section 1915(b)(1) requires prisoner IFP applicants to pay an initial partial filing fee at the outset
of the appeal, and § 1915(b)(2) requires that the remaining balance be paid in installments
through regular deductions from the prisoner’s trust account.
In this case, the “Certificate” section of Clark’s IFP application provides information
derived from his inmate trust account and shows that the amount of his average monthly deposits
during the preceding six-month period was $94.57, while his average monthly balance during the
same period was $12.57. See Doc. No. 204 at 6. Because the average monthly deposits exceeds
the average balance, Clark’s initial partial filing fee for his appeal will be 20% of the average
monthly deposits, or $18.91. This initial partial filing fee is due immediately. If Clark elects to
pursue his appeal, the remaining balance of the $505.00 appellate filing fee will have to be paid
in later installments, and prison officials will be authorized to deduct funds from Clark’s trust
account, as provided by § 1915(b)(2). Clark will be required to pay this filing fee regardless of
the outcome of his appeal.
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Finally, although the Court remains satisfied that this action was properly dismissed,
Clark’s current appeal is not “frivolous” as that term has been defined by the Supreme Court.
Accordingly, Clark’s appeal is found to be taken “in good faith” for purposes 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a)(3) and Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3), and his IFP application will be granted — subject to
his payment of the $18.91 initial partial filing fee.
ORDER
Based on the foregoing, and on all of the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1.

Plaintiff Courtney Bernard Clark’s initial partial filing fee for the appeal in this
matter is calculated to be $18.91. That amount is due immediately.

2.

The remaining balance of the $505.00 filing fee for Clark’s appeal must be paid in
the manner prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

3.

Subject to these requirements, Clark’s application to proceed in forma pauperis
on appeal [Doc. No. 204] is GRANTED.

Dated: February 10, 2017

s/Susan Richard Nelson
SUSAN RICHARD NELSON
United States District Judge

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