SHULER v. MONMOUTH COUNTY JAIL

Filing 2

MEMORANDUM & ORDER denying pltf's application to proceed IFP; directing the clerk to mail pltf. a blank IFP application; administratively terminating this case; & directing the pltf. to either submit the $350.00 filing fee or a complete IFP. Signed by Judge Mary L. Cooper on 7/23/07. (ck )

SHULER v. MONMOUTH COUNTY JAIL

Doc. 2

Case 3:07-cv-03230-MLC-JJH

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Filed 07/23/2007

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY LEONARD C. SHULER, Plaintiff, v. MONMOUTH COUNTY JAIL, Defendant. : : : : : : : : : : :

Civil Action No. 07-3230 (MLC) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Plaintiff, Leonard C. Shuler, a New Jersey state inmate currently confined at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, New Jersey, seeks to bring this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff failed to pay the $350.00

filing fee and did not submit a complete application to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (the "Act"), which amends 28 U.S.C. § 1915, establishes certain financial requirements for prisoners who are attempting to bring a civil action or file an appeal in forma pauperis. Under the Act, a prisoner bringing a civil action in forma pauperis must submit an affidavit, including a statement of all assets, which states that the prisoner is unable to pay the fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The prisoner also must submit a

certified copy of his inmate trust fund account statement for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of his complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement

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Case 3:07-cv-03230-MLC-JJH

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from the appropriate official of each prison at which he was or is confined. Id.

Even if the prisoner is granted in forma pauperis status, the prisoner must pay the full amount of the $350 filing fee. U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). In each month that the amount in the 28

prisoner's account exceeds $10.00, until the $350.00 filing fee is paid, the agency having custody of the prisoner shall assess, deduct from the prisoner's account, and forward to the Clerk of the Court payment equal to 20% of the preceding month's income credited to the prisoner's account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).

Plaintiff may not have known when he submitted his complaint that he must pay the filing fee, and that even if the full filing fee, or any part of it, has been paid, the Court must dismiss the case if it finds that the action is: (1) frivolous or malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). If the Court dismisses

the case for any of these reasons, the Act does not permit the prisoner to get his filing fee back. If the prisoner has, on three or more prior occasions while incarcerated, brought an action or appeal in a court that was dismissed on any of the grounds listed above, he cannot bring another action in forma pauperis unless he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

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In this case, Plaintiff failed to either pay the $350.00 filing fee, or submit a complete in forma pauperis application as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), namely, his application did not include Plaintiff's six-month institutional account statement as prescribed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2) and his signature and signature of an authorized official at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. THEREFORE, it is on this 23rd day of July, 2007;

ORDERED that Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED, without prejudice; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall supply to Plaintiff a blank form Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall ADMINISTRATIVELY TERMINATE this case, without filing the complaint or assessing a filing fee; Plaintiff is informed that administrative termination is not a "dismissal" for purposes of the statute of limitations, and that if the case is reopened, it is not subject to the statute of limitations time bar if it was originally filed timely, see Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988)(prisoner mailbox rule); McDowell v. Del. State Police, 88 F.3d 188, 191 (3d Cir. 1996); see also Williams-Guice v. Board of Educ., 45 F.3d 161, 163 (7th Cir. 1995); and it is further

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ORDERED that if Plaintiff wishes to reopen this case, he shall so notify the Court, in writing addressed to the Clerk of the Court, 402 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08608, within 30 days of the date of entry of this Order; Plaintiff's writing shall include either (1) a complete in forma pauperis application, including an affidavit of indigence, with his signature, and his six-month prison account statement, or (2) the $350 filing fee; and it is further ORDERED that upon receipt of a writing from Plaintiff stating that he wishes to reopen this case, and either a complete in forma pauperis application or filing fee within the time allotted by this Court, the Clerk of the Court will be directed to reopen this case; and it is finally ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon Plaintiff by regular U.S. mail.

s/ Mary L. Cooper MARY L. COOPER United States District Judge

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