Sykes v. Rausch
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER, Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed without submitting the required documents #3 is DENIED. Plaintiff SHALL HAVE thirty (30) days from the date of entry of this order to pay the full filing fee or to submit the necessary documents. Signed by District Judge Travis R. McDonough on 11/18/21. (c/m Tywan Sykes BLOUNT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 920 E LAMAR ALEXANDER PARKWAY MARYVILLE, TN 37804 ) (ADA)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
TYWAN SYKES,
Plaintiff,
v.
DAVID B. RAUSCH,
Defendant.
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Case No. 3:21-cv-384
Judge Travis R. McDonough
Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
The Court is in receipt of a pro se prisoner’s complaint for violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983
[Doc. 1], a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. 2], and a motion seeking
exemption from the in forma pauperis filing requirements due to the alleged uncooperativeness of
Plaintiff’s custodians [Doc. 3].
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, a prisoner who files a complaint in a
district court must tender the full filing fee or he must file (1) an application to proceed in forma
pauperis without prepayment of fees and (2) a certified copy of his inmate trust account for the
previous six-month period (or institutional equivalent). 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). Plaintiff has not
paid the required $400.00 filing fee, nor has be submitted the proper documents to proceed in
forma pauperis. Specifically, Plaintiff has not filed a certified copy of his inmate trust account for
the previous six-month period.
Due to these statutory requirements, Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed without
submitting the required documents [Doc. 3] is DENIED. Given Plaintiff’s allegations, however,
Plaintiff is DIRECTED to show this order to the custodian of trust accounts at his current facility,
who is DIRECTED to timely make a copy of Plaintiff’s inmate trust account statement, to
complete and sign the certificate, and to provide Plaintiff with the certified copy of his inmate trust
account statement for the six-month period preceding Plaintiff’s complaint. Plaintiff SHALL
HAVE thirty (30) days from the date of entry of this order to pay the full filing fee or to submit
the necessary documents.
Plaintiff is hereby NOTIFIED that if he fails to fully timely comply with this order, the
Court shall presume that Plaintiff is not a pauper, shall assess the full amount of fees, and shall
order the case dismissed for want of prosecution.
Further, Plaintiff is NOTIFIED that the Court WILL NOT consider any amendments
and/or supplements to the complaint or any other kind of motion for relief until after the Court has
screened the complaint pursuant to the Prison Reform Litigation Act, see, e.g., 28 U.S.C. §§
1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A, which the Court will do as soon as practicable. Accordingly, the Court
will automatically deny any requests to amend or supplement the complaint and/or motions filed
before the Court has completed this screening.
Plaintiff is ORDERED to immediately inform the Court and Defendants of any address
changes in writing. Pursuant to Local Rule 83.13, it is the duty of a pro se party to promptly notify
the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to monitor
the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. E.D. Tenn. L.R. 83.13.
Failure to provide a correct address to this Court within fourteen (14) days of any change in address
may result in the dismissal of this action.
SO ORDERED.
/s/Travis R. McDonough
TRAVIS R. MCDONOUGH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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