Anderson v. Sogn et al

Filing 5

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO PAY AN INITIAL PARTIAL FILING FEE granting #2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Initial Partial Filing Fee in the amount of 11.04 is due by 3/5/2024. Signed by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on 2/5/2024. (Mailed to Tristan Anderson and Minnehaha Cty Jail) (ARW)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
TRISTEN ANDERSON,
Plaintiff,
vs.
JON SOGN, Judge at Minnehaha
County; KOLN FINK, Attorney court
appointed at Minnehaha County; and
ROBIN HOUWMAN, Judge at
Minnehaha County,

4:24-CV-04020-KES
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED
IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND
REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO PAY AN
INITIAL PARTIAL FILING FEE

Defendants.
Plaintiff, Tristen Anderson, an inmate at the Minnehaha County Jail,
filed a pro se civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Docket 1. Anderson
moves to proceed in forma pauperis and has included his prisoner trust
account report. Dockets 2, 3.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, a prisoner who “brings a civil
action or files an appeal in forma pauperis . . . shall be required to pay the full
amount of a filing fee.” 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(b)(1). The court may, however, accept
partial payment of the initial filing fee where appropriate. Thus, “[w]hen an
inmate seeks pauper status, the only issue is whether the inmate pays the
entire fee at the initiation of the proceeding or over a period of time under an
installment plan.” Henderson v. Norris, 129 F.3d 481, 483 (8th Cir. 1997) (per
curiam) (alteration in original) (quoting McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601,
604 (6th Cir. 1997)).

The initial partial filing fee that accompanies an installment plan is
calculated according to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(b)(1), which requires a payment of 20
percent of the greater of:
(A)
(B)

the average monthly deposits to the prisoner’s account; or
the average monthly balance in the prisoner=s account for the
6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the
complaint or notice of appeal.

Anderson reports an average monthly deposit of $55.19 and an average
monthly balance of $27.67. Docket 3 at 1. Based on the information regarding
Anderson’s prisoner trust account, the court grants Anderson leave to proceed
in forma pauperis, but he must pay an initial partial filing fee of $11.04 (20
percent of his average monthly deposit). Anderson must pay the initial partial
filing fee of $11.04 by March 5, 2024. Failure to pay the filing fee by March 5,
2024, will result in dismissal without prejudice of Anderson’s complaint.
Thus, it is ORDERED:
1. That Anderson’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Docket 2)
is granted. Anderson must make a payment of $11.04 by March 5,
2024, made payable to the Clerk, U.S. District Court. If Anderson does
not pay the initial partial filing fee by March 5, 2024, his complaint will
be dismissed without prejudice. The court will conduct a 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915A screening after he pays his initial partial filing fee.
2. That the institution having custody of Anderson is directed that
whenever the amount in Anderson’s trust account, exclusive of funds
available to him in his frozen account, exceeds $10.00, monthly
payments that equal 20 percent of the funds credited the preceding
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month to Anderson’s trust account shall be forwarded to the U.S.
District Court Clerk’s Office under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1) until the $350
filing fee is paid in full.
Dated February 5, 2024.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Karen E. Schreier
KAREN E. SCHREIER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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