JACKSON v. CITY OF HAMILTON

Filing 2

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER that Petitioner's IFP application is DENIED without prejudice; directing Clerk to supply Petitioner with a blank IFP application; that, if Petitioner wishes to proceed, he must notify the Court in writing within 30 days and include either a completed IFP application or the $350.00 filing fee; that the Clerk shall serve a copy of this Order upon Petitioner by regular mail. Signed by Judge Anne E. Thompson on 12/6/2010. (gxh)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY Sonny JACKSON Jr., Plaintiff, v. CITY OF HAMILTON, Defendant. THOMPSON, U.S.D.J. Plaintiff, Sonny Jackson Jr., an inmate presently confined at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Delmont, New Jersey, seeks to bring a 14th Amendment Due Process claim against the City of Hamilton for injuries arising out of an incident in which he was struck by a patrol car that was allegedly inoperable and driven in a reckless or negligent manner. Plaintiff has submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915, in the form of an affidavit claiming an entitlement to redress and stating the issues that he intends to present in the action. 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. Id. ' 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the appropriate official of each prison or institutional facility at which he was or is confined. Id. Civil No. 10-5353 MEMORANDUM & ORDER

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Even if the prisoner is granted in forma pauperis status, the prisoner must pay the full amount of the $455 filing fee. Id. ' 1915(b)(1). Specifically, in each month that the amount in the prisoner's account exceeds $10.00, 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 until the $350.00 filing fee is paid. Id. ' 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 law does not permit the prisoner to get his filing fee back. In this case, Plaintiff failed to submit a complete in forma pauperis application as required by 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(a)(1). In particular, Plaintiff's in forma pauperis application lacks a signed certification from an authorized officer of the correctional facility where he presently is confined and a six-month institutional account statement, as prescribed under 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(a)(2). IT IS, therefore, on this 6th day of December, 2010 ORDERED that Petitioner=s application to proceed in forma pauperis [docket # 1-1] is hereby DENIED without prejudice; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall supply to Petitioner a blank form Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis; and it is further -2-

ORDERED that if Petitioner wishes to proceed he is to 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; Petitioner=s writing shall include either (1) a complete in forma pauperis application, including an affidavit of indigence, and six-month prison account statement, signed and certified by an authorized officer of the institution where he is confined, and an affidavit stating the issues that he intends to present, or (2) the $350 filing fee; and it is further ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order upon Petitioner by regular U.S. mail.

__/s/ Anne E. Thompson_______ ANNE E. THOMPSON, U.S.D.J.

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