Goff v. Pickens

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE EASTERN DIVISION

GREGORY ARNEZ GOFF, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) ) VS. ) No. 19-1093-JDT-cgc ) ) JODY PICKENS, ET AL., ) ) Defendants. )

ORDER DIRECTING ENTRY OF JUDGMENT, CERTIFYING AN APPEAL WOULD NOT BE TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH AND NOTIFYING PLAINTIFF OF APPELLATE FILING FEE

On October 3, 2019, the Court issued an order dismissing Plaintiff Gregory Arnez Goff’s pro se complaint and granting leave to file an amended complaint. (ECF No. 9.) Goff was warned that if he failed to file an amended complaint within twenty-one days, the Court would assess a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and enter judgment. (Id. at PageID 36.) Goff has not filed an amended complaint, and the time within which to do so has expired. Therefore, judgment will be entered in accordance with the October 3, 2019, order dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim. Goff is assessed his first strike under § 1915(g). This strike shall take effect when judgment is entered. See Coleman v. Tollefson, 135 S. Ct. 1759, 1763-64 (2015). It is CERTIFIED, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) and Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 24(a), that any appeal in this matter by Goff would not be taken in good faith. The Court must also address the assessment of the $505 appellate filing fee if Goff

nevertheless appeals the dismissal of this case. A certification that an appeal is not taken in good faith does not affect an indigent prisoner plaintiff’s ability to take advantage of the installment procedures in the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a)-(b). See McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 610-11 (6th Cir. 1997), partially overruled on other grounds by LaFountain v. Harry, 716 F.3d 944, 951 (6th Cir.

2013). McGore sets out specific procedures for implementing the PLRA. Therefore, Goff is instructed that if he wishes to take advantage of the installment method for paying the appellate filing fee, he must comply with the PLRA and McGore by filing an updated in forma pauperis affidavit and a current, certified copy of his inmate trust account statement for the last six months.

The Clerk is directed to prepare a judgment. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ James D. Todd JAMES D. TODD UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE