JONES v. NASTASI et al

Filing 2

MEMORANDUM OPINION filed. Signed by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 2/7/2017. (km)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

LA’SHAWN JONES,

Civil Action No. 16-9521 (BRM-TJB)

Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM OPINION
v.
PETER NASTASI, et al.,
Defendants.

Before this Court is a complaint asserting claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and
application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) filed by Plaintiff La’Shawn Jones
(“Plaintiff”), a prisoner confined at East Jersey State Prison. For the reasons set forth below,
Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED without prejudice
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), which amends 28 U.S.C. § 1915,
establishes certain financial requirements for prisoners who are attempting to bring a civil action
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, stating the prisoner is unable to pay the filing fee
for the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The prisoner also must submit a certified copy of his
inmate trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of
his complaint.

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the

appropriate official of each prison at which he was or is confined. Id.
The entire fee to be paid in advance of filing a civil complaint is $400. That fee includes a
filing fee of $350 plus an administrative fee of $50, for a total of $400. If in forma pauperis status

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is denied, the prisoner must pay the full $400, including the $350 filing fee and the $50
administrative fee, before the complaint will be filed. If the prisoner is granted in forma pauperis
status, he will only be assessed the $350 filing fee and will not be responsible for the $50
administrative fee. The full amount of the $350 filing fee is paid pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)
as follows: In each month that the amount in the 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).
In this action, Plaintiff failed to submit a complete in forma pauperis application as
required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) and (2). Although Plaintiff has provided an affidavit of
indigence accompanied by an inmate account statement, that statement has not been certified by
the appropriate official at each facility in which Plaintiff has been incarcerated during the last six
months as required by § 1915(a)(2). Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to provide a complete in
forma pauperis application, and his application is denied without prejudice.
/s/Brian R. Martinotti
_____
HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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