Jacobs v. Reno Police Department et al

Filing 4

ORDER - The Clerk shall SEND Plaintiff a copy of the instructions and application to proceed IFP for an inmate to both the WCDF and the address at Record Street in Reno (mailed 9/16/2022). Plaintiff has a one-time extension to file a fully complete application to proceed IFP containing all of the required documents: 1) a completed application to proceed IFP for an inmate; 2) a financial certificate; and 3) a copy of the inmate's jail account statement for the previous six-month period. the court DENIES Plaintiff's current application to proceed IFP (ECF No. #1 ) WITHOUT PREJUDICE because it is not complete. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date of this Order to either file his completed IFP application or pay the full $402 filing fee (by 10/15/2022). Signed by Magistrate Judge Craig S. Denney on 9/15/2022. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - HKL)

Case 3:22-cv-00351-ART-CSD Document 4 Filed 09/15/22 Page 1 of 3

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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ERV JACOBS,

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Plaintiff

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v.

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Case No.: 3:22-cv-00351-ART-CSD
Order
Re: ECF No. 1

RENO POLICE DEPARTMENT, et al.,

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Defendants

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Plaintiff is an inmate within the Washoe County Detention Facility (WCDF), and filed

10 his civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (ECF No. 1-1.) 1
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The Local Rules of Practice for the District of Nevada provide: “Any person who is

12 unable to prepay the fees in a civil case may apply to the court for authority to proceed in forma
13 pauperis (IFP). The application must be made on the form provided by the court and must
14 include a financial affidavit disclosing the applicant’s income, assets, and liabilities.” LSR 1-1.
15 When a prisoner seeks to proceed without prepaying the filing fee, in addition to filing the
16 affidavit, the prisoner is required to submit a certified copy of the trust fund account statement
17 (or institutional equivalent) for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the
18 complaint. The statement must be obtained from the appropriate official at the prison or
19 detention facility where the prisoner is or was confined. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).
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Plaintiff lists the WCDF as well as an address on Record Street in Reno; however, the
documents were mailed from the WCDF and Plaintiff did not file a change of address to indicate
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he was no longer in custody at the WCDF. If Plaintiff is no longer in custody, he must
immediately file a notice of change of address with the court indicating his current address.

Case 3:22-cv-00351-ART-CSD Document 4 Filed 09/15/22 Page 2 of 3

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When a prisoner brings a civil action IFP, the prisoner is still required to pay the full

2 amount of the filing fee. The court is required to assess, and when funds exist, collect an initial
3 partial payment of 20 percent of the greater of: (A) the average monthly deposits in the
4 prisoner’s account or (B) the average monthly balance in the prisoner’s account for the six5 month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint. Thereafter, whenever the
6 prisoner’s account exceeds $10, the prisoner must make monthly payments of 20 percent of the
7 preceding month’s income credited to the prisoners account until the filing fees are paid. The
8 funds are to be forwarded by the agency having custody of the prisoner. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1),
9 (2).
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The regular filing fee is $402, consisting of the $350 filing fee and a $52 administrative

11 fee. If an inmate does not qualify for IFP status, he must pay the full $402 filing fee. If the
12 inmate qualifies for IFP status, the $52 administrative fee is waived, and the inmate will only pay
13 the $350 filing fee over time.
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Plaintiff has filed an IFP application, but it is not complete as it does not contain the

15 required inmate account statement.
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The Clerk shall SEND Plaintiff a copy of the instructions and application to proceed IFP

17 for an inmate to both the WCDF and the address at Record Street in Reno. Plaintiff has a one18 time extension to file a fully complete application to proceed IFP containing all of the required
19 documents.
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Plaintiff’s submission must contain:

21 (1) a completed Application to Proceed IFP for an Inmate on the court’s approved form (i.e.,
22 pages 1 through 3 with the inmate’s two signatures on page 3);
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Case 3:22-cv-00351-ART-CSD Document 4 Filed 09/15/22 Page 3 of 3

1 (2) a Financial Certificate properly signed by both the inmate and a prison or jail official (i.e.,
2 page 4 of the court’s approved form), and
3 (3) a copy of the inmate’s jail account statement for the previous six-month period.
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Accordingly, the court DENIES Plaintiff’s current application to proceed IFP (ECF No.

5 1) WITHOUT PREJUDICE because it is not complete. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date of
6 this Order to either file his completed IFP application or pay the full $402 filing fee. If Plaintiff
7 fails to do so, this case will be subject to dismissal without prejudice for Plaintiff to file a new
8 case with the court when Plaintiff is able to submit a fully complete application to proceed IFP or
9 pay the full $402 filing fee.
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Once Plaintiff has filed his completed IFP application and financial certificate or paid the

11 filing fee, the court will screen the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or 28 U.S.C.
12 § 1915A, or both. Both require dismissal of a complaint, or any portion thereof, that is frivolous
13 or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief
14 against a defendant who is immune from such relief. If the complaint is dismissed on screening,
15 there will be no refund of the filing fee, and an inmate proceeding IFP is still required to pay the
16 $350 filing fee over time.
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19 IT IS SO ORDERED.
20 Dated: September 15, 2022
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_________________________________
Craig S. Denney
United States Magistrate Judge

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