Drain v. Officer #1 et al

Filing 14

ORDER. Based on the current record, the Court construes Plaintiff's response to the order to show cause as a request to extend the deadline for paying the initial partial filing fee of $28. As so construed, the request is GRANTED and that deadline is EXTENDED to March 31, 2025. Signed by Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe on 1/29/2025. (For Distribution by law library.)(Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - CAH)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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AARON DRAIN,

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Plaintiff(s),

Case No. 2:24-cv-01397-GMN-NJK
ORDER

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v.

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JOHN DOE #1, et al.,

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Defendant(s).

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Plaintiff is required by statute to pay an initial partial filing fee of $28. See Docket No. 11;

13 see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Plaintiff has not made that partial payment, resulting in issuance
14 of an order to show cause why the case should not be dismissed. Docket No. 12. Plaintiff filed a
15 response indicating that he lacks the funds to make the partial payment. Docket No. 13. Plaintiff
16 also argues that he should be permitted to provide updated documentation as to his current financial
17 status. See id.
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The governing statute requires the collection of the partial filing fee “when funds exist,”

19 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), and further mandates that “[i]n no event shall a prisoner be prohibited
20 from bringing a civil action or appealing a civil or criminal judgment for the reason that the
21 prisoner has no assets and no means by which to pay the initial partial filing fee,” 28 U.S.C. §
22 1915(b)(4). Nonetheless, there are important policy reasons behind the requirement to pay the
23 partial filing fee and courts routinely make clear that a prisoner cannot avoid the partial filing fee
24 by choosing to spend down his account: “when a prisoner has the means to pay an initial partial
25 filing fee and instead spends his money on amenities at the prison canteen or commissary, he
26 should not be excused for failing to pay the initial partial filing fee.” Baker v. Suthers, 9 Fed.
27 Appx. 947, 949 (10th Cir. 2001); see also, e.g., Thomas v. Butts, 745 F.3d 309, 312 (7th Cir. 2014)
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Plaintiff’s response to the order to show cause does not provide an elaborated reason for

2 his lack of funds. Based on the papers already in the record, however, it appears that the funds
3 were depleted in large part by Plaintiff’s purchases at the commissary. See Docket No. 1 at 5
4 (identifying $122.55 in commissary purchases over the course of 11 days). To the extent Plaintiff’s
5 discretionary spending is exceeding his monthly deposits, then Plaintiff will need to spend less so
6 that he can make the required payment.
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Based on the current record, the Court construes Plaintiff’s response to the order to show

8 cause as a request to extend the deadline for paying the initial partial filing fee of $28. As so
9 construed, the request is GRANTED and that deadline is EXTENDED to March 31, 2025. If
10 Plaintiff is unable to pay the $28 at that time, he must make a factual showing supported by account
11 records that his inability does not derive from his discretionary spending. Cf. Wilson v. Sargent,
12 313 F.3d 1315, 1321 n.7 (11th Cir. 2002). Failure to comply with this order may result in a
13 recommendation of dismissal.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: January 29, 2025
______________________________
Nancy J. Koppe
United States Magistrate Judge

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