Leigh-Davis Glass v. Scottrade

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 08-3848
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Leigh-Davis Glass, *
*
Appellant, *
* Appeal from the United States
v. * District Court for the
* Eastern District of Missouri.
Scottrade, Inc., a SIPC Insured *
Brokerage Firm, also known as * [UNPUBLISHED]
Scottrade Brokerage, *
*
Appellee. *
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Submitted: November 6, 2009
Filed: December 10, 2009
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Before BYE, BOWMAN, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
California prisoner Leigh-Davis Glass appeals the District Court’s order
denying her motion under Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure seeking
to reopen her case, which the court dismissed without prejudice under Rule 41(b) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because a partial filing fee was not paid within
thirty days as ordered. Following careful review, we conclude that the District Court
abused its discretion in declining to reopen the case because Glass explained that she
acted promptly to attempt to comply with the Court’s order and that the $3.47
payment was late for reasons beyond her control. See In re Guidant Corp. Implantable
Defibrillators Prod. Liab. Litig., 496 F.3d 863, 866–68 (8th Cir. 2007) (standard of
review; factors which must be taken into account include (1) danger of prejudice to
non-moving party; (2) length of delay and its potential impact on judicial proceedings;
(3) whether movant acted in good faith; and (4) reason for delay, including whether
it was within movant’s reasonable control). It appears that Glass acted in good faith
and that the delay was neither lengthy nor prejudicial.
In addition, we reject Glass's argument on appeal that the filing-fee provisions
of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) do not apply to her action. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915 (addressing in forma pauperis procedures for the "commencement, prosecution
or defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil or criminal, or appeal therein"). The
filing-fee provisions of the PLRA apply to civil actions and are not limited solely to
prisoner-civil-rights actions. United States v. Jones, 215 F.3d 467, 469 (4th Cir.
2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1053 (2001). Accordingly, Glass is not entitled to a
waiver or refund of any filing fees.
We reverse the District Court’s order denying Rule 60(b) relief, and we remand
for further proceedings.
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