HARPER v. FAYETTE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER et al

Filing 7

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND ASSESSING $350 FILING FEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLRA. Signed by Judge James D. Todd on 8/21/2014. (Todd, James)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
WESTERN DIVISION
PERRY HARPER,
Plaintiff,
VS.
FAYETTE COUNTY DETENTION
CENTER, ET AL.,
Defendants.

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No. 14-2650-JDT-dkv

ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
AND ASSESSING $350 FILING FEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLRA

On July 21, 2014, Perry Harper, who is incarcerated at the Fayette County Detention Center
in Somerville, Tennessee, submitted a pro se civil complaint and a motion to proceed in forma
pauperis to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. (ECF Nos. 1 & 2.) United
States District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly subsequently issued an order transferring the case to
this district (ECF No. 3), where it was opened on August 21, 2014 (ECF No. 4).
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 only 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 in which the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
As the Court is granting leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this case pursuant to the terms of the PLRA, Plaintiff
is not 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. In this case,
Plaintiff has properly submitted an in forma pauperis affidavit and an inmate trust account
statement, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2). The motion to proceed in forma pauperis is
GRANTED in accordance with the terms of the PLRA.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), it is ORDERED that Plaintiff cooperate fully with prison
officials in carrying out this order. It is further ORDERED that the trust account officer at
Plaintiff’s prison shall calculate a partial initial filing fee equal to twenty percent (20%) of the
greater of the average balance in or deposits to Plaintiff’s trust account for the six months
immediately preceding the completion of the affidavit. When the account contains any funds, the
trust account officer shall collect them and pay them directly to the Clerk of the Court. If the funds
in Plaintiff’s account are insufficient to pay the full amount of the initial partial filing fee, the prison
official is instructed to withdraw all of the funds in the Plaintiff’s account and forward them to the
Clerk of the Court.
On each occasion that funds are subsequently credited to Plaintiff’s account the prison
official shall immediately withdraw those funds and forward them to the Clerk of Court, until the
initial filing fee is paid in full.
It is further ORDERED that after the initial partial filing fee is fully paid, the trust fund
officer shall withdraw from Plaintiff’s account and pay to the Clerk of this Court monthly payments
equal to twenty percent (20%) of all deposits credited to Plaintiff’s account during the preceding
month, but only when the amount in the account exceeds $10, until the $350 filing fee is paid.
Each time the trust account officer makes a payment to the Court as required by this order,
he shall print a copy of the prisoner’s account statement showing all activity in the account since the

last payment under this order and submit it to the Clerk along with the payment. All payments and
accounts statements shall be sent to:
Clerk, United States District Court, Western District of Tennessee
167 N. Main St., Rm. 242, Memphis, TN 38103
and shall clearly identify Plaintiff’s name and the case number as included on the first page of this
order.
If Plaintiff is transferred to a different prison or released, he is ORDERED to notify the Court
immediately, in writing, of his change of address. If still confined, he shall provide the officials at
the new facility with a copy of this order. If Plaintiff fails to abide by these or any other
requirements of this order, the Court may impose appropriate sanctions, up to and including
dismissal of this action, without any additional notice or hearing by the Court.
The Clerk shall mail a copy of this order to the prison official in charge of prison trust fund
accounts at Plaintiff’s prison. The Clerk is further ORDERED to forward a copy of this order to the
Sheriff of Fayette County to ensure that the custodian of Plaintiff’s inmate trust account complies
with that portion of the PLRA pertaining to the payment of filing fees.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ James D. Todd
JAMES D. TODD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE