Henderson v. State of Indiana, No. 2:2012cv00848 - Document 2 (D. Utah 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM DECISION and Order denying 1 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiff has 30 days to pay filing fee of $350 or his complaint will be dismissed. Signed by Judge Dale A. Kimball on 9/13/12. (jlw)
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IN THE UNITED·STj~TES DISTRICT COURT :·F&RTfflf,tiisTR~eff bF UTAH ZGiZ SEP I W A IU: 132 SHAWN HENDERSON, rrl:··; w_ Plaintiff, vs. I' ~." .' : ; ';-;'} :'1,1 "~';\l1 BY:_. _____._.................. _.---1-.DEt! TY ',:~i .. ~~f~;,\ I MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER Case No. 2:12-CV-848-DAK 1 STATE OF INDIANA, 1 District Judge Dale A. Kimball 1 Defendant. 1 ----------------------------------_I--------------------~------Plaintiff/inmate, Shawn Henderson, filed a civil rights complaint against State of Indiana., Henderson applies to proceed in forma pauperis. As discussed below, the Court concludes that Henderson must pay the filing fee before this case can proceed. The in forma pauperis statute allows an indigent prisoner to file a complaint in federal court without prepaying the filing fee.' But, it restricts those who have repeatedly filed complaints that are frivolous or fail to state a valid claim. In relevant part, the statute provides: In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action ... under this section if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury., "These fee provisions are intended 'to reduce frivolous prisoner litigation by making all prisoners seeking to bring lawsuits or appeals feel the deterrent effect created by liability for filing fees. "', lThe court construes these pro se filings liberally. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). 228 U.S.C.S. § 1915(a) (2012). 3Id. § 1915 (g). 4 Cosby v. Meadors, 351 F.3d 1324, 1327 (10th Cir. 2003)(quoting In re Smith, 114 F.3d 1247, 1249 (D.C.Cir. 1997)). The Court's review of Henderson's litigation history in the United States courts reveals that he has had cases dismissed under § 1915(g) because he "has had well over three previous civil rights complaints dismissed on the grounds that they were frivolous, malicious, or failed to state a claim. ,,5 Section 1915(g) applies here because (1) Henderson was a prisoner when he filed this complaint; (2) he has filed three or more prior cases in federal court that have been dismissed as frivolous or failing to state a claim; and (3) his allegations do not fall within the exception to 1915(g). The language of section 1915(g) is mandatory. Thus, a federal prisoner who falls within the three-strikes provision is required to prepay the entire filing fee before his claims may proceed. ORDER Henderson is not eligible to proceed without prepaying the filing fee in this case because he has filed three or more cases in federal court which have been dismissed as frivolous or failing to state a claim. Therefore, Henderson is DENIED leave to proceed without prepayment of fees. He is ORDERED to pay the entire $350 statutory filing fee within thirty days from the date of this order. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of the complaint. September~, 2012. BY THE COURT: .;) ~ a; J; . . f. . DAL"TI. KIMBAL United States District Judge 5 ~ See, e.g., Henderson v Unknown, No. 7:08-CV-303 TS (W.D. Va. June 30, 2008). t_,)
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