Latimer v. Royce ( 2021 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK COREY A. LATIMER, SR., Plaintiff, -against- 21-CV-1275 (CM) THE STATE OF NEW YORK GREEN ORDER DIRECTING UPDATED HAVEN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; JOHN PRISONER AUTHORIZATION DOE SUPERINTENDENT; DET. SGT. ROSSI; SGT. MUZELLY; ACTING COMMISSIONER ANNUCCI, Defendants. COLLEEN McMAHON, Chief United States District Judge: Plaintiff, currently incarcerated in Green Haven Correctional Facility, brings this action pro se.1 To proceed with a civil action in this Court, a prisoner must either pay $402.00 in fees – a $350.00 filing fee plus a $52.00 administrative fee – or, to request permission to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees, submit a signed IFP application and a prisoner authorization. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914, 1915. If the Court grants a prisoner’s IFP application, the Prison Litigation Reform Act requires the Court to collect the $350.00 filing fee in installments deducted from the prisoner’s account.2 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). A prisoner seeking to proceed in this Court without prepayment of fees must therefore also authorize the Court to withdraw these payments from his account by filing a “prisoner authorization,” which directs the facility where the prisoner is incarcerated to deduct the $350.00 filing fee from the 1 Plaintiff originally filed this action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. See Latimer v. State of New York Green Haven Corr. Facility, No. 21-CV- 0394 (AMD) (LB) (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 10, 2021). By order dated February 10, 2021, the Eastern District transferred the action to this Court. 2 The $52.00 administrative fee for filing a civil action does not apply to persons granted IFP status under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. prisoner’s account in installments and to send to this Court certified copies of the prisoner’s account statements for the past six months. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2), (b). Plaintiff submitted an IFP application and a prisoner authorization, but the prisoner authorization only allows the Court to collect funds pursuant to New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules § 1101(f)(2), a state statute. Within thirty days of the date of this order, Plaintiff must either pay the $402.00 in fees or complete and submit the attached prisoner authorization. If Plaintiff submits the prisoner authorization, it should be labeled with docket number 21-CV-1275 (CM).> The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff and note service on the docket. No summons shall issue at this time. If Plaintiff complies with this order, the case shall be processed in accordance with the procedures of the Clerk’s Office. If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order within the time allowed, the Court will dismiss the action. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that appellant demonstrates good faith when seeking review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: February 23, 2021 , New York, New York hie. Iu Wyk Chief United States District Judge > Plaintiff is cautioned that if a prisoner files a federal civil action that is dismissed as frivolous or malicious, or for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted, the dismissal is a “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). A prisoner who receives three “strikes” cannot file federal civil actions IFP as a prisoner, unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury, and must pay the filing fees at the time of filing any new federal civil action.