FREEMAN v. MONMOUTH COUNTY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION COMMISSARY et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 5/9/2017. (seb)

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
DONELL FREEMAN,

Civil Action No. 17-2713-BRM-TJB

Plaintiff,
v.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

MONMOUTH COUNTY
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
COMMISSARY, et al.,
Defendants.

Before this Court are Plaintiff Donell Freeman’s (“Plaintiff”) complaint asserting claims
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (ECF No. 1) and application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No.
1-1). Plaintiff is a prisoner currently1 confined in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.
(ECF No. 1 at 4.) 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

1

Plaintiff indicated he was an inmate at the time he filed the complaint. (ECF No. 1 at 4.) However,
the mail sent to the Monmouth County Correctional Institutional address and inmate number
provided by Plaintiff was returned undeliverable. Pursuant to Loc.Civ.R. 10.1, Plaintiff must
provide this Court with any change in address within seven (7) days of such change. Nevertheless,
the clerk’s office will attempt delivery of this opinion and accompanying order to the address
provided by Plaintiff.
1

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
is denied, a prisoner must pay the full $400, including the $350 filing fee and $50 administrative
fee, before his 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 provided an affidavit of indigence
accompanied by a copy of his institutional account statement, Plaintiff’s account statement has not
been certified by the appropriate official at the Monmouth County Correctional institution as
required by § 1915(a)(2). Accordingly, Petitioner has failed to provide a complete in forma
pauperis application, and his application is denied without prejudice.

Dated: May 9, 2017
/s/Brian R. Martinotti
HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

2

3