Facts
- Plaintiff James L. Wayne filed a Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (IFP) in his lawsuit against multiple defendants, including Wellpath and Douglas County Corrections Department [lines="4-8"].
- The Court received a certified copy of Plaintiff’s trust account information and granted the request to proceed IFP [lines="1-4"].
- Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, prisoner plaintiffs are required to pay the full $350.00 filing fee through monthly payments [lines="19-22"].
- The Court calculated the initial partial filing fee to be $12.52 based on Plaintiff’s average monthly account balance of $62.60 [lines="27-32"].
- Plaintiff was informed that he remains responsible for the full filing fee despite the case's outcome, including any potential dismissal [lines="52-54"].
Issues
- Whether the Court should grant Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP [lines="14"].
- Whether Plaintiff complied with the requirements regarding payment of the initial partial filing fee [lines="33-37"].
Holdings
- The Court granted Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP, allowing him to pursue the case without prepayment of the filing fee [lines="62"].
- Plaintiff must pay the initial partial filing fee of $12.52 within 30 days or risk case dismissal, with conditions for subsequent monthly payments thereafter [lines="63-67"].
OPINION
Case Information
*1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA JAMES L. WAYNE,
Plaintiff, 8:24CV373
vs.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER WELLPATH, Medical Provider; SMART
COMMUNICATIONS, Inmate Tablet
Provider; DOUGLAS COUNTY
CORRECTIONS DEPT, Jail/Medical Dept.;
and CITY OF OMAHA, Department of
Commerce;
Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (“IFP”). Filing No. 2. The Court has received a certified copy of Plaintiff’s trust account information. Filing No. 6. Plaintiff is permitted to proceed IFP.
Prisoner plaintiffs are required to pay the full amount of the Court’s $350.00 filing fee by making monthly payments to the Court, even if the prisoner is proceeding IFP. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). The Prison Litigation Reform Act “makes prisoners responsible for their filing fees the moment the prisoner brings a civil action or files an appeal.” In re Tyler , 110 F.3d 528, 529–30 (8th Cir. 1997) ; Jackson v. N.P. Dodge Realty Co. , 173 F. Supp. 2d 951 (D. Neb. 2001) .
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), Plaintiff must pay an initial partial filing fee in the amount of 20 percent of the greater of Plaintiff’s average monthly account balance or average monthly deposits for the six months preceding the filing of the Complaint. Here, the Court finds the initial partial filing fee is $12.52, based on an average monthly account *2 balance of $62.60. Plaintiff must pay this initial partial filing fee within 30 days, or his case will be subject to dismissal. Plaintiff may request an extension of time if one is needed.
In addition to the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff must “make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income credited to the prisoner’s account.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). The statute places the burden on the prisoner’s institution to collect the additional monthly payments and forward them to the Court as follows:
After payment of the initial partial filing fee, the prisoner shall be required to make monthly payments of 20 percent of the preceding month’s income credited to the prisoner’s account. 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.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). Therefore, after payment in full of the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff’s institution must collect the remaining installments of the filing fee and forward the payments to the Court.
Plaintiff is advised he will remain responsible for the entire filing fee, as long as he is a prisoner, even if the case is dismissed at some later time. See In re Tyler , 110 F.3d at 529–30; Jackson , 173 F. Supp. 2d at 951.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed IFP, Filing No. 2, is granted. Plaintiff must pay an initial partial filing fee of $12.52 within 30 days unless the Court extends the time in which he has to pay in response to a written motion. After payment of the initial partial filing fee, Plaintiff’s institution must collect the additional monthly payments in the manner set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), quoted above, and forward those payments to the Court. *3 The Clerk’s office is directed to send a copy of this order to the appropriate
official at Plaintiff’s institution. The Clerk’s office is directed to set a pro se case management deadline in
this case using the following text: December 9, 2024 : initial partial filing fee payment due. Plaintiff is advised that, following payment of the initial partial filing fee, the next step in Plaintiff’s case will be for the Court to conduct an initial review of Plaintiff’s claims to determine whether summary dismissal is appropriate under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The Court will conduct this initial review in its normal course of business.
Dated this 7th day of November, 2024.
BY THE COURT: Joseph F. Bataillon Senior United States District Judge
