AZCONA v. FLORES et al
Filing
2
MEMORANDUM OPINION filed. Signed by Judge Freda L. Wolfson on 4/6/2018. (mps)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
_________________________________________
DANIEL AZCONA,
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
Civ. No. 18-5108 (FLW) (LHG)
:
v.
:
:
P.O. ALEX FLORES et al.,
:
MEMORANDUM OPINION
:
Defendants.
:
_________________________________________ :
FREDA L. WOLFSON, U.S.D.J.
Plaintiff, Daniel Azcona (“Plaintiff”), a pretrial detainee, filed pro se with the Court a
Complaint alleging claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (ECF No. 1.) He accompanied his
Complaint with an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 1-2.)
A Complaint must generally include either a $400.00 fee (a $350.00 filing fee plus a
$50.00 administrative fee) or an application to proceed in forma pauperis. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a),
1915(a). A prisoner who seeks to proceed in forma pauperis must submit an affidavit, including
a statement of all assets, stating that the prisoner is unable to pay the applicable filing fee. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The prisoner must also submit a certified copy of his inmate trust fund
account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of his Complaint.
See id. § 1915(a)(2). The prisoner must obtain this statement from the appropriate official of
each prison at which he was or is confined. 1 See id.
1
Even if a prisoner is granted in forma pauperis status, he must pay the full amount of the filing
fee of $350.00. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). 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. See id. § 1915(b)(2). The deductions will
continue until the $350.00 filing fee is paid.
Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is incomplete, as it fails to include a
certified copy of his inmate trust fund account. (See ECF No. 1-2.) Therefore, the application
will be denied without prejudice. Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court will be ordered to
administratively close the case. Plaintiff may reopen this action, however, by either paying the
filing fee or submitting a complete in forma pauperis application.
DATED: April 6, 2018
/s/ Freda L. Wolfson
FREDA L. WOLFSON
United States District Judge
Even if the necessary fees are paid and the complaint is accepted for filing, the Court may
nevertheless immediately dismiss the case. The Court must review the complaint and dismiss it
if it finds that the action (1) is 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.
See id. § 1915(e)(2)(B); see also id. § 1915A(b).
If the plaintiff 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. See
id. § 1915(g).
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