Amos v. Bowen

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

DUBLIN DIVISION

EDDIE AMOS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CV 324-086 ) WARDEN TOMMY BOWEN, ) ) Defendant. ) _________

O R D E R _________

On February 19, 2025, the Court directed Plaintiff to pay an initial partial filing fee of $26.17 within thirty days of the date of the Order and advised him that all prisoners, even those proceeding in forma pauperis, must pay the filing fee of $350.00 in full. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The time for responding to the Court’s February 19th Order has now expired, yet Plaintiff has failed to pay the assessed initial partial filing fee as required by the relevant provisions of the United States Code. Plaintiff responded to the Court’s February 19th Order, however, and explained the initial partial filing fee was deducted from Plaintiff’s prison trust fund account on March 3, 2025. (Doc. no. 11.) Nonetheless, the Court has yet to receive the payment. Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), prisoners granted in forma pauperis status must, when funds are available, prepay at least a partial filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)-(2). Courts may not except indigent prisoners from prepaying this partial filing fee. See id.; see also Rivera v. Allin, 144 F.3d 719, 722 (11th Cir. 1998), abrogated on other grounds by Jones v. Bock, 549 U.S. 199 (2007); Martin v. United States, 96 F.3d 853, 856 (7th Cir. 1996) (insisting, whenever feasible, on payment in advance of initial filing fee in every civil action covered by the PLRA). Thus, Plaintiff shall have fourteen days from the date of this Order to inform the Court of his intentions regarding this case by complying with the Court’s Order directing payment of an initial filing fee of $26.17 or by showing the Court why he has not complied with the Order directing the payment. The CLERK is DIRECTED to immediately inform the Court of any payment of the initial filing fee which is received from Plaintiff. If Plaintiff notifies the Court that he has decided not to pursue his case and wishes to voluntarily dismiss his complaint at this time, then the case will not count as a “strike” which may later subject Plaintiff to the three-strike dismissal rule under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). It is important that Plaintiff communicate with the Court. SO ORDERED this 25th day of March, 2025, at Augusta, Georgia.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA