JACOBS v. BERRIOS et al

Filing 22

ORDER directing Clerk not to authorize service and advising plaintiff to notify Clerk in writing of any change of address. Plaintiff has incurred a debt to the U.S.A. in the amount of $350. Motion granted: 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis; Motions denied: 21 Motion for Default Judgment as to Defendants and Motion for Relief Sought, filed by Nathan E. Jacobs. Signed by Magistrate Judge Paige J Gossett on 10/7/2015. (gmil)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Nathan E. Jacobs,

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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Berrios, Mr., Unit Manager; Vialapanda,
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Mr.,Unit Manager; Whalen, Mr., Case
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Manager,
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Defendants.
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_____________________________________ )

C/A No. 0:15-2514-SB-PJG

ORDER

This is a civil action filed by a federal prisoner. Therefore, in the event that a limitations
issue arises, Plaintiff shall have the benefit of the holding in Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988)
(prisoner’s pleading was filed at the moment of delivery to prison authorities for forwarding to
District Court). Under Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2) (D.S.C.), pretrial proceedings in this action
have been referred to the assigned United States Magistrate Judge.
By order issued on July 16, 2015 the court allowed Plaintiff an opportunity to bring this case
into proper form for initial review. (ECF No. 12.) Plaintiff partially complied with the court’s order.
MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND MOTION FOR RELIEF SOUGHT:
Plaintiff files a motion (ECF No. 21) seeking (1) a default judgment against the defendants
and (2) the relief sought in the Amended Complaint. Under Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to
plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk must enter
the party’s default.” In this case, the issuance and service of process has not been authorized and the
defendants have not been served with the Amended Complaint. Thus, Plaintiff’s motion for default
judgment is premature. Moreover, in a separately docketed Report and Recommendation, the court
recommends summary dismissal of this case. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment
and motion for relief sought are denied at this time. (ECF No. 21.)
PAYMENT OF THE FILING FEE:
By filing this case, Plaintiff has incurred a debt to the United States of America in the amount
of $350.1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1914. This debt is not dischargeable in the event Plaintiff seeks relief
1

Effective May 1, 2013, an administrative fee of $50 is added to the filing fee of $350. The
$50 administrative fee, however, is not applicable to in forma pauperis cases.
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under the bankruptcy provisions of the United States Code. See 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(17). The Prison
Litigation Reform Act, Pub. L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996), permits a prisoner to file a civil
action without prepayment of fees or security, but requires the prisoner “to pay the full amount of
the filing fee” as funds are available. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), (b). As the court grants Plaintiff
permission to proceed in forma pauperis below, the agency having custody of Plaintiff shall
collect payments from Plaintiff’s prisoner trust account in accordance with 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(b)(1) and (2), until the full $350 filing fee is paid. See Torres v. O’Quinn, 612 F.3d 237,
252 (4th Cir. 2010) (“We hold that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2) caps the amount of funds that may be
withdrawn from an inmate's trust account at a maximum of twenty percent regardless of the number
of cases or appeals the inmate has filed.”) (emphasis in original).
Plaintiff has submitted an Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees
or Costs (Form AO 240) and a Financial Certificate, which are construed as a Motion for Leave to
Proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), (2). A review of the Motion reveals that
Plaintiff may have some funds available to pay an initial installment of the filing fee. However, no
money has yet been received by the court. Therefore, the amount due from Plaintiff is currently
$350.
Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis is granted. (ECF No. 2.)
TO THE CLERK OF COURT:
This case is subject to summary dismissal based on an initial screening conducted pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §1915 and/or 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Therefore, the Clerk of Court shall not issue the
summonses or forward this matter to the United States Marshal for service of process at this time.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

____________________________________
Paige J. Gossett
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
October 7, 2015
Columbia, South Carolina

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