Crocker v. State of Nebraska

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (filing no. 5 ) is granted. Plaintiff shall pay an initial partial filing fee of $17.91 by May 12, 2014, unless an enlargemen t of time is granted in response to a written motion. If the initial partial filing fee is not received by the specified deadline, this case will be dismissed. After payment of the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff's institution shall col lect the additional monthly payments in the manner set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), quoted above, and shall forward those installments to the court. The Clerk of the court is directed to send a copy of this order to the appropriate official at Plaintiff's institution. The Clerk of the court is directed to set a pro se case management deadline in this case using the following text: May 12, 2014: initial partial filing fee payment due. Plaintiff shall keep the court informed of h is current address at all times, and all parties are bound by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by the court's Local Rules while this case is pending. Plaintiff's Motion for Issuance of Summons (filing no. 3 ) is denied. Plaintiff shall review the "Notice Regarding Summons Forms" attached to this Order. Ordered by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf. (Copy mailed to pro se party and as directed)(TCL )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
LONNIE CROCKER,
Plaintiff,
v.
STATE OF NEBRASKA,
Defendant.

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8:14CV102

MEMORANDUM
AND ORDER

This matter is before the court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in
Forma Pauperis (“IFP”). (Filing No. 5.) The court has received a certified copy of
Plaintiff’s trust account information. (Filing No. 6.) Plaintiff is permitted to proceed
IFP.
Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a prisoner plaintiff is 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). “[T]he PLRA
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. Accordingly, the court finds that the initial partial filing fee is $17.91,
based on an average monthly account balance of $89.55. Plaintiff must pay this initial
partial filing fee by May 12, 2014. If the court does not receive payment by this
deadline, this matter will be dismissed. Plaintiff may request an extension of time if
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,
the remaining installments shall be collected pursuant to this procedure.
The Clerk of the court shall send a copy of this Memorandum and Order to the
appropriate financial official at Plaintiff’s institution. Plaintiff 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.
is granted.

Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (filing no. 5)

2.
Plaintiff shall pay an initial partial filing fee of $17.91 by May 12, 2014,
unless an enlargement of time is granted in response to a written motion. If the initial
partial filing fee is not received by the specified deadline, this case will be dismissed.

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3.
After payment of the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff’s institution shall
collect the additional monthly payments in the manner set forth in 28 U.S.C. §
1915(b)(2), quoted above, and shall forward those installments to the court.
4.
The Clerk of the court is directed to send a copy of this order to the
appropriate official at Plaintiff’s institution.
5.
The Clerk of the court is directed to set a pro se case management
deadline in this case using the following text: May 12, 2014: initial partial filing fee
payment due.
6.
Plaintiff shall keep the court informed of his current address at all times,
and all parties are bound by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and by the court’s
Local Rules while this case is pending.
7.
Plaintiff’s Motion for Issuance of Summons (filing no. 3) is denied.
Plaintiff shall review the “Notice Regarding Summons Forms” attached to this Order.
DATED this 15th day of April, 2014.
BY THE COURT:
Richard G. Kopf
Senior United States District Judge

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NOTICE REGARDING SUMMONS FORMS
FOR PRO SE PRISONERS
PROCEEDING IN FORMA PAUPERIS
A prisoner who is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis as the plaintiff in a
civil case shall not provide the court with summons forms (or Form 285) for service
of process on the defendant(s) until notified to do so by the Clerk of the court.
The Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”) requires the court to screen
complaints brought by prisoners. Therefore, the court conducts “initial review” of a
complaint filed by a prisoner before any summons can be served on a defendant.
Generally, the court conducts “initial review” shortly after the Clerk of the court
receives the initial partial filing fee from the plaintiff. After the initial partial filing
fee has been paid, and initial review has been completed, the Clerk of the court
arranges for service of process as follows:
1.
The Clerk of the court will be directed by a District Judge or Magistrate
Judge to send the plaintiff a blank summons form for each defendant named in the
caption of the case, together with Form 285.
2.
The plaintiff shall thereafter complete the summons form(s) and Form
285, because without those forms, service of process cannot occur.
3.
The plaintiff shall then mail the completed summons form(s) and Form
285 to the Clerk of the court. Upon receipt of the completed forms from the plaintiff,
the Clerk of the court will sign the summons form(s) to be sent by the Clerk, together
with a copy of the complaint for each defendant, to the U.S. Marshal for service on
the defendant(s).
4.
Because the plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the plaintiff is not
responsible for copying the complaint or arranging for service of process.

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