Shabazz v. Centurion, Private Health Care Provider under contract with the Tennessee Department of Correction; (hereinafter "TDOC") et al

Filing 3

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO COMPLY WITH 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1)-(2) OR PAY THE $400 CIVIL FILING FEE. Signed by Judge James D. Todd on 3/23/17. (Todd, James)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN DIVISION
OMOWALE ASHANTI SHABAZZ a/k/a
FRED DEAN,
Plaintiff,
VS.
CENTURION, ET AL.,
Defendants.

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No. 17-1051-JDT-cgc

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO COMPLY WITH
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1)-(2) OR PAY THE $400 CIVIL FILING FEE

On March 20, 2017, Plaintiff Omowale Ashanti Shabazz a/k/a Fred Dean, who is
incarcerated at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, filed a pro se civil
complaint. (ECF No. 1.) However, Plaintiff neglected to submit either the $400 civil filing fee
required by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a)-(b) or an application to proceed in forma pauperis.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a)-(b), a prisoner
bringing a civil action must pay the filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a).1 Although the
obligation to pay the fee accrues at the moment the case is filed, see McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114
F.3d 601, 605 (6th Cir. 1997), partially overruled on other grounds by LaFountain v. Harry, 716

1

Twenty-eight U.S.C. § 1914(a) requires a civil filing fee of $350. However, pursuant to
§ 1914(b), “[t]he clerk shall collect from the parties such additional fees . . . as are prescribed by
the Judicial Conference of the United States.” The Judicial Conference has prescribed an
additional administrative fee of $50 for filing any civil case, except for cases seeking habeas
corpus and cases in which the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28
U.S.C. § 1915. Thus, if Plaintiff is ultimately granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, he
will not be liable for the additional $50 fee.

F.3d 944, 951 (6th Cir. 2013), the PLRA provides the prisoner the opportunity to make a “down
payment” of a partial filing fee and pay the remainder in installments. Id. at 604. However, in order
to take advantage of the installment procedures, the prisoner must complete and submit to the district
court, along with the complaint, an in forma pauperis affidavit and a certified copy of his inmate
trust account statement for the last six months. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).
Therefore, Plaintiff is ORDERED to submit, within 30 days after the date of this order, either
the entire $400 civil filing fee or a properly completed and executed application to proceed in forma
pauperis and a certified copy of his inmate trust account statement for the last six months. The
Clerk is directed to mail Plaintiff a copy of the prisoner in forma pauperis affidavit form along with
this order. If Plaintiff needs additional time to submit the necessary documents, he may, within 30
days after the date of this order, file a motion for an extension of time.
If Plaintiff timely submits the necessary documents and the Court finds that he is indeed
indigent, the Court will grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis and assess only a $350 filing fee
in accordance with the installment procedures of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). However, if Plaintiff fails to
comply with this order in a timely manner the Court will deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis,
assess the entire $400 filing fee from his inmate trust account without regard to the installment
payment procedures, and dismiss the action without further notice for failure to prosecute, pursuant
to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). McGore, 114 F.3d at 605.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ James D. Todd
JAMES D. TODD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

2

Even a voluntary dismissal by Plaintiff will not eliminate the obligation to pay the filing
fee. McGore, 114 F.3d at 607; see also In re Alea, 286 F.3d 378, 381 (6th Cir. 2002).
2