Phillips v. Ronald Higgs et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER, the Clerk is DIRECTED to file this action without the prepayment of costs or fees or security therefor as of the date the complaint was received. The Clerk is DIRECTED to send the plaintiff a service packet for each defendant named in this action. The plaintiff is ORDERED to complete the service packets and return them to the Clerk's Office within twenty (20) days of the date of receipt of this Memorandum and Order. Because the plaintiff is in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction, he is herewith ASSESSED the civil filing fee of $350.00 and shall submit payments as set forth. Signed by District Judge Pamela L Reeves on 5/20/14. (c/m, cc Warden of the Morgan County Correctional Complex, the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction, and the Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, and the Court's financial deputy)(ADA)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE

PRENTISS PHILLIPS #131499,
Plaintiff,
v.

No.: 3:14-cv-200-PLR-HBG

RONALD HIGGS, GARY BLAIR,
PORTIA HUTCHINSON, LISA YOUNG,
And SHANA CABLE,
Defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

The Court is in receipt of a pro se prisoner's civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 and an application to proceed in forma pauperis. It appears from the application
that the plaintiff lacks sufficient financial resources to pay the $350.00 filing fee.
Accordingly, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the Clerk is DIRECTED to file this action
without the prepayment of costs or fees or security therefor as of the date the complaint
was received.
The Clerk is DIRECTED to send the plaintiff a service packet (a blank summons
and USM 285 form) for each defendant named in this action.

The plaintiff is

ORDERED to complete the service packets and return them to the Clerk's Office within
twenty (20) days of the date of receipt of this Memorandum and Order. At that time the
summonses will be signed and sealed by the Clerk and forwarded to the U.S. Marshal for

service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4. The plaintiff is forewarned that failure to return the completed
service packets within the time required could jeopardize his prosecution of this action.
Defendants shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint within twenty-one
(21) days from the date of service. Defendants' failure to timely respond to the complaint
may result in entry of judgment by default against defendants.
Plaintiff is ORDERED to inform the Court in writing, and the defendants or their
counsel of record, immediately of any address changes. Failure to provide a correct
address to this Court within ten (10) days following any change of address may result in
the dismissal of this action.
Because the plaintiff is in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction,
he is herewith ASSESSED the civil filing fee of $350.00. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915(b)(1)(A) and (B), the custodian of the plaintiff's inmate trust account at the
institution where he now resides is directed to submit to the Clerk, U.S. District Court,
800 Market Street, Suite 130, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902, as an initial partial payment,
whichever is greater of:
(a)

twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly deposits to the plaintiff's

inmate trust account; or
(b)

twenty percent (20%) of the average monthly balance in the plaintiff's

inmate trust account for the six-month period preceding the filing of the complaint.
Thereafter, the custodian shall submit twenty percent (20%) of the plaintiff's
preceding monthly income (or income credited to the plaintiff's trust account for the
2

preceding month), but only when such monthly income exceeds ten dollars ($10.00),
until the full filing fee of three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) as authorized under 28
U.S.C. § 1914(a) has been paid to the Clerk. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
The Clerk is DIRECTED to send a copy of this Memorandum and Order to the
Warden of the Morgan County Correctional Complex, the Commissioner of the
Tennessee Department of Correction, and the Attorney General for the State of
Tennessee to ensure that the custodian of the plaintiff's inmate trust account complies
with that portion of the Prison Litigation Reform Act relating to payment of the filing fee.
The Clerk is further DIRECTED to forward a copy of this Memorandum and Order to
the Court's financial deputy.

ENTER:

3