Blake v. Silber et al

Filing 4

ORDER. It is therefore ordered that Plaintiffs motion for an extension of time #1 -2 is granted. It is further ordered that Plaintiff has until April 8, 2024, to either pay the full $405 filing fee or file with the Court a completed financial certificate that is signed both by the inmate and the prison or jail official and a copy of the inmates trust fund account statement for the previous six-month period. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Plaintiff Javis Blake (1) the approved form application to proceed in forma pauperis for an inmate and instructions for the same and (2) the approved form application to proceed in forma pauperis for non- inmates and instructions for the same. The Clerk of the Court is further directed to retain the complaint #1 -1 but not file it at this time. Payment of filing fees due 4/8/2024. Signed by Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts on 2/6/2024. (Attachments: #1 IFP Packet Non-inmate, #2 IFP Packet Inmate)(Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - CAH)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA
JAVIS BLAKE,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No.: 2:24-cv-00200-MMD-DJA
ORDER

BRANDON SILBER, et al.,
Defendants.
On January 29, 2024, pro se plaintiff Javis Blake, an inmate in the custody of the
Nevada Department of Corrections, submitted a complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and
applied to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (ECF Nos. 1-1, 1). Plaintiff’s IFP application
is incomplete because he failed to include a financial certificate and an inmate trust fund
account statement for the previous six-month period with it. Plaintiff, however, filed a
motion seeking to extend the deadline for him to file his missing financial documents,
arguing they are delayed because of prison staffing issues. (ECF No. 1-2). Plaintiff also
states that he is scheduled to be released from prison on February 14, 2024. (Id. at 2).
The Court grants Plaintiff’s motion and extends the deadline for him to either pay the full
filing fee or properly apply for in forma pauperis status depending on his circumstances.
I.

DISCUSSION
This Court must collect filing fees from parties initiating civil actions. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1914(a). As of December 1, 2023, the fee for filing a civil-rights action is $405, which
includes the $350 filing fee and the $55 administrative fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b). “Any
person who is unable to prepay the fees in a civil case may apply to the court for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis.” Nev. L.R. LSR 1-1. For a non-inmate to apply for in forma
pauperis status, he or she must submit an application to proceed in forma pauperis on
the Court’s approved form for non-inmates. But for an inmate to apply for in forma
pauperis status, the inmate must submit all three of the following documents to the Court:
(1) a completed Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis for Inmate, which is pages

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1–3 of the Court’s approved form, that is properly signed by the inmate twice on page 3;

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(2) a completed Financial Certificate, which is page 4 of the Court’s approved form, that
is properly signed by both the inmate and a prison or jail official; and (3) a copy of the
inmate’s prison or jail trust fund account statement for the previous six-month
period. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1)–(2); Nev. L.R. LSR 1-2.
II.

CONCLUSION
It is therefore ordered that Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time (ECF No. 1-2)

is granted.
It is further ordered that Plaintiff has until April 8, 2024, to either pay the full $405
filing fee or file with the Court a completed financial certificate that is signed both by the
inmate and the prison or jail official and a copy of the inmate’s trust fund account
statement for the previous six-month period; or, alternatively if Plaintiff has been released
from custody, file with the Court a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis for
non-inmates.
Plaintiff is cautioned that under Nevada Local Rule IA 3-1, a “pro se party must
immediately file with the court written notification of any change of mailing address, email
address, telephone number, or facsimile number.” “The notification must include proof of
service on each opposing party or the party’s attorney.” Nev. L.R. IA 3-1. And “[f]ailure to
comply with this rule may result in the dismissal of the action, entry of default judgment,
or other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the court.” Id.
Plaintiff is further cautioned that this action will be subject to dismissal without
prejudice if he fails to timely comply with this order. A dismissal without prejudice allows
Plaintiff to refile the case with the Court, under a new case number, when he can file a
complete application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the required filing fee.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Plaintiff Javis Blake (1) the approved
form application to proceed in forma pauperis for an inmate and instructions for the same
and (2) the approved form application to proceed in forma pauperis for non-inmates and
instructions for the same.
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The Clerk of the Court is further directed to retain the complaint (ECF No. 1-1) but
not file it at this time.
DATED this 6th day of February 2024.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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