Decker v. Frakes et al
Filing
10
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiff Christopher Decker shall pay an initial partial filing fee of $27.90 by 11/2/2015, unless an enlargement of time is granted in response to a written mo tion. The clerk's office is directed to send a copy of this order to the appropriate official at Plaintiff's institution. Pro Se Case Management Deadline set for 11/2/2015: initial partial filing fee payment due. Ordered by Judge John M. Gerrard. (Copy mailed to pro se party and to institution as directed)(GJG)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
CHRISTOPHER DECKER,
Plaintiff,
v.
SCOTT FRAKES, MARIO PEART,
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, and
JEFF MILLER,
Defendants.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
4:15CV3113
MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER
This matter is before the court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in
Forma Pauperis (“IFP”). (Filing No. 2.) The court has received a certified copy of
Plaintiff’s trust account information. (Filing No. 9.) Plaintiff is permitted to proceed
IFP.
Prisoner plaintiffs are required to pay the full amount of the court’s $350.00
filing fee by making monthly payments to the court, even if the prisoner is proceeding
IFP. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). The Prison Litigation Reform Act “makes prisoners
responsible for their filing fees the moment the prisoner brings a civil action or files
an appeal.” In re Tyler, 110 F.3d 528, 529-30 (8th Cir. 1997); Jackson v. N.P. Dodge
Realty Co., 173 F. Supp. 2d 951 (D. Neb. 2001).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff must pay an initial partial filing
fee in the amount of 20 percent of the greater of Plaintiff’s average monthly account
balance or average monthly deposits for the six months preceding the filing of the
Complaint. Here, the court finds the initial partial filing fee is $27.90, based on
average monthly deposits in the amount of $139.47. Plaintiff must pay this initial
partial filing fee within 30 days or his case will be subject to dismissal. Plaintiff may
request an extension of time if one is needed.
In addition to the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff must “make monthly
payments of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income credited to the prisoner’s
account.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The statute places the burden on the prisoner’s
institution to collect the additional monthly payments and forward them to the court
as follows:
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.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). Therefore, after payment in full of the initial partial filing fee,
Plaintiff’s institution must collect the remaining installments of the filing fee and
forward the payments to the court.
Plaintiff is advised he will remain responsible for the entire filing fee, as long
as he is a prisoner, even if the case is dismissed at some later time. See In re Tyler,
110 F.3d at 529-30; Jackson, 173 F. Supp. 2d at 951.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that:
1.
Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP (Filing No. 2) is granted.
2.
Plaintiff must pay an initial partial filing fee of $27.90 within 30 days,
unless the court extends the time in which he has to pay in response to a written
motion.
2
3.
After payment of the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff’s institution must
collect the additional monthly payments in the manner set forth in 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(b)(2), quoted above, and forward those payments to the court.
4.
The clerk’s office is directed to send a copy of this order to the
appropriate official at Plaintiff’s institution.
5.
The clerk’s office is directed to set a pro se case management deadline
in this case using the following text: November 2, 2015: initial partial filing fee
payment due.
6.
Plaintiff is advised that, following payment of the initial partial filing fee,
the next step in Plaintiff’s case will be for the court to conduct an initial review of
Plaintiff’s claims to determine whether summary dismissal is appropriate under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2). The court will conduct this initial review in its normal course of business.
DATED this 1st day of October, 2015.
BY THE COURT:
s/ John M. Gerrard
United States District Judge
*This opinion may contain hyperlinks to other documents or Web sites. The U.S. District Court for the District
of Nebraska does not endorse, recommend, approve, or guarantee any third parties or the services or products they
provide on their Web sites. Likewise, the court has no agreements with any of these third parties or their Web sites. The
court accepts no responsibility for the availability or functionality of any hyperlink. Thus, the fact that a hyperlink ceases
to work or directs the user to some other site does not affect the opinion of the court.
3
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?