Hoskins v. Foster et al

Filing 7

ORDER signed by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 4/20/18. Within 21 days of the date of this order, plaintiff shall forward to the Clerk of Court the sum of $2.76 as an initial partial filing fee in this action. (cc: all counsel and via US Mail to Michael Hoskins and Warden)(Griesbach, William)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
MICHAEL S HOSKINS,
Plaintiff,

Case No. 18-C-574

v.
BRIAN FOSTER, et al.,
Defendants.

ORDER

The plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a complaint in the above captioned action.
The plaintiff has also filed a petition for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The total cost of filing
a civil action is $400.00, which includes the $350.00 statutory filing fee and a $50.00 administrative
fee. However, the $50.00 administrative fee does not apply to persons granted in forma pauperis
status. Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), the prisoner plaintiff proceeding in
forma pauperis is required to pay the full amount of the statutory filing fee, $350.00, for any civil
action. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).
Under the PLRA, which amended the in forma pauperis statute, the court must assess an
initial partial filing fee of twenty percent of the average monthly deposits to the plaintiff's account
or average monthly balance in the plaintiff's prison account for the six-month period immediately
preceding the filing of the complaint, whichever is greater. Id. After the initial fee is paid, the
prisoner must make monthly payments of twenty percent of the preceding month's income until the
filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). “The agency having custody of the prisoner shall
forward payments from the prisoner’s account to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in the
account exceeds $10 until the filing fees are paid.” Id. The obligation to pay the full filing fee

continues, even if the case is immediately dismissed as frivolous, malicious or for failure to
state a claim, or later on summary judgment or after trial. The amount of the filing fee can be
recovered as part of the costs of the action in the event the plaintiff ultimately prevails.
The plaintiff filed a certified copy of his prisoner trust account statement for the six-month
period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint as required under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).
A review of this information reveals that, for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing
of the instant complaint, the average monthly deposit in the plaintiff's prison account was $ 13.82
and the average monthly balance to the account was $ 11.23. Thus, in accordance with the
provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), the plaintiff is required to pay an initial partial filing fee of
$ 2.76. The plaintiff shall pay the initial partial filing fee of $ 2.76 to the Clerk of Court within 21
days of the date of this order or explain why he is unable to do so. Failure to pay the initial partial
filing fee within the specified time period may result in dismissal of the action with prejudice pursuant
to Civil Local Rule 41(c) (E.D. Wis.) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
The court will not consider motions seeking to pay the initial partial filing fee out of
the inmate’s release account unless there are insufficient funds in his regular trust account.
The PLRA also provides that if a prisoner files more than three actions or appeals which are
dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, the
prisoner will be prohibited from bringing any other actions in forma pauperis, unless the prisoner
is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In the event that his action
is later dismissed for any of the above reasons, it will have an impact on the prisoner's ability to bring
other actions in forma pauperis. This analysis of the complaint is not undertaken by the court until
after the initial partial filing fee is paid. Accordingly, the plaintiff will be afforded an opportunity to
voluntarily dismiss this action to avoid incurring a “strike” under § 1915(g). Once the plaintiff pays
-2-

the initial partial filing fee, the court will assess the merits of your claims. The plaintiff is advised that
if the complaint is dismissed because it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or for
any other reason, the court will not refund your initial partial filing fee, and you will still be required
to pay the entire $350 filing fee.
Notice to Plaintiff: If you do not wish to pay the filing fee as set forth in this Order or do
not wish to proceed with this action to avoid incurring a “strike” under §1915(g), you must notify
the court by filing a letter with the Clerk of Court within 21 days of the date of this order, stating
that you do not wish to prosecute this civil action. If you write such a letter, this case will be
dismissed without prejudice. Voluntary dismissal will not be counted as a “strike” under §1915(g).
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that within 21 days of the date of this
order, the plaintiff shall forward to the Clerk of Court the sum of $ 2.76 as an initial partial filing fee
in this action.
Upon payment of the initial partial filing fee, the court will determine whether the action can
continue to proceed in forma pauperis. The court will review the complaint to determine that the
action is not frivolous or malicious and that the complaint states a claim upon which relief can be
granted. If the complaint does not meet this standard, the action will be dismissed.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that copies of this order be sent to the officer in charge of the
agency where the inmate is confined.
Dated at Green Bay, Wisconsin this

20th

day of April, 2018.
BY THE COURT

s/ William C. Griesbach
William C. Griesbach, Chief Judge
United States District Court

-3-