Sheets v. Davoult

• Court: District Court, M.D. Florida
• Decided: February 20, 2025
• Docket: 2:25-cv-00130
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION

ANDREW B SHEETS,

Plaintiff, Case No. 2:25-cv-130-JLB-KCD v.

JUSTIN T DAVOULT, IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY; AND CITY OF PUNTA GORDA,

Defendants, /

ORDER Plaintiff Andrew Sheets, proceeding without a lawyer, filed a complaint (Doc. 1) but did not pay the filing fee. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1914, “[t]he clerk of each district court shall require the parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in such court, whether by original process, removal or otherwise, to pay a filing fee of $350.” “To commence a civil lawsuit in federal district court, the general rule is that initiating parties must prepay a filing fee.” Rivera v. Allin, 144 F.3d 719, 722 (11th Cir. 1998). Further, the Clerk of Court is permitted to collect from the parties “such additional fees only as are prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b). Under these rules, Plaintiff is required to pay a filing fee of $405. Alternatively, if Plaintiff is unable to pay the filing fee, he may request leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Section 1915 provides that “any court of the United States may authorize the commencement, prosecution or defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil

or criminal, or appeal therein, without prepayment of fees or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such prisoner possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees

or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The case cannot continue without payment of the filing fee or an affidavit establishing that Plaintiff is indigent. The necessary forms may be obtained from the Court’s website or the Clerk’s Office. Accordingly, it is ORDERED: Plaintiff must pay the $405 filing fee or move to proceed in forma pauperis with supporting affidavits by March 13, 2025. Failing to exercise

one of these options may result in this case being dismissed for failure to prosecute without further notice. ENTERED in Fort Myers, Florida on February 20, 2025.

Lyte 6 Label * Waele C. Dudek United States Magistrate Judge