Childress v. Conley
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. 2 , is DENIED without prejudice. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is given through Friday, March 14, 2025, to file a renewed Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, along with a certified copy of his inmate account statement. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall send Plaintiff a copy of the Court's "Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs" form (MOED-0046).IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall send Plaintiff three (3) copies of this Memorandum and Orde r so that Plaintiff may provide copies to the appropriate jail officials to assist him in obtaining a certified copy of his account statement in compliance with federal law. Plaintiff's failure to comply with this Memorandum and Order will result in the dismissal of this action without prejudice and without further notice. ( Response to Court due by 3/14/2025.). Signed by District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on 1/28/2025. (JMC)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
ALAN MAURICE CHILDRESS,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNKNOWN CONLEY,
Defendant.
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No. 1:25-cv-00017-MTS
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff Alan Maurice Childress’s Application
to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. Doc. [2]. For the reasons
set forth below, the Court will deny the Application and give Plaintiff forty-five (45) days
to file a renewed Application that complies with the requirements of 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a)(2).
Congress has mandated that federal courts collect a filing fee from a party instituting
any civil action, suit, or proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 1914. Courts may waive this fee for
individuals who demonstrate an inability to pay. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). When a court
grants such a waiver, the plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). To obtain IFP
status, a non-prisoner litigant must file a motion and an affidavit demonstrating their
inability to pay. If the Court determines that the litigant lacks sufficient financial resources,
it will waive the filing fee entirely.
Different rules apply to prisoner litigants under the Prison Litigation Reform Act
(“PLRA”). In addition to the standard IFP affidavit, prisoners must submit a certified copy
of their inmate account statement reflecting the six-month period immediately preceding
the filing of the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). A “certified copy” is one that has been
certified by an authorized prison official to be true and correct. Williams v. City of St.
Louis, 4:23-cv-00917-MTS, 2023 WL 6381436, at *1 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 29, 2023).
If the Court finds that the prisoner lacks sufficient funds, it will assess an initial
partial filing fee equal to 20% of either the prisoner’s average monthly deposits or average
monthly balance, whichever is greater. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). After this initial payment,
the prisoner must make monthly payments equal to 20% of their income until the $405 fee
is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The prison will forward these payments to the
Court whenever the prisoner’s account balance exceeds $10. Id. Even if the Court grants
IFP status, a prisoner litigant must pay the entire filing fee over time. See Crawford-El v.
Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 596 (1998) (explaining the PLRA “requires all inmates to pay filing
fees”); Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715, 716 (8th Cir. 1998) (“The purpose of the Act was
to require all prisoner-litigants to pay filing fees in full[.]”).
Plaintiff is an inmate at the Pemiscot County Jail. Doc. [1]. In support of his
Application, he has submitted a document titled “Spending History,” which appears to
reflect his transaction activity at the jail. Doc. [2]. Although Plaintiff himself signed the
document, it is not certified by an authorized prison official. Further, the account statement
does not reflect the entire six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the
complaint. For these reasons, the Court will deny Plaintiff’s Application and give him
forty-five (45) days to file a renewed Application that complies with the requirements of
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). If Plaintiff has not been incarcerated for the entire six-month
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period immediately preceding the filing of this action, he must provide a certified account
statement reflecting all transaction activity from the start of his current incarceration
through the filing of this action.
The Court is confident that jail officials will provide Plaintiff with the necessary
certified copy. For Plaintiff’s benefit, the Court will instruct the Clerk of Court to send
three copies of this Memorandum and Order to Plaintiff so that he may provide copies to
the appropriate jail officials to assist him in obtaining a certified copy of his account
statement.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in District
Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. [2], is DENIED without prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is given through Friday, March 14,
2025, to file a renewed Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees
or Costs, along with a certified copy of his inmate account statement. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(a)(2).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall send Plaintiff a copy
of the Court’s “Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs”
form (MOED-0046).
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall send Plaintiff three (3)
copies of this Memorandum and Order so that Plaintiff may provide copies to the
appropriate jail officials to assist him in obtaining a certified copy of his account statement
in compliance with federal law.
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Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this Memorandum and Order will result in the
dismissal of this action without prejudice and without further notice.
Dated this 28th day of January 2025.
MATTHEW T. SCHELP
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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