Opinion
Case No. 20-cv-20391-BLOOM/Reid
01-29-2020
GAYNETT POWELL, Plaintiff, v. DOCTOR BERMUDEZ, of Dade Correctional Institution, et al., Defendants.
ORDER ON APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short Form), ECF No. [3] ("Motion"). The Court has carefully considered the Motion, the record in this case, and is otherwise fully advised. For the reasons that follow, Plaintiff's Motion is denied without prejudice.
Plaintiff, a pro se litigant, has not paid the required filing fee and has moved to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. [3]. Fundamental to our system of justice is that the courthouse doors will not be closed to persons based on their inability to pay a filing fee. Congress has provided that a court "may authorize the commencement, prosecution, or defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil or criminal, or appeal therein, without prepayment of fees . . . therefore, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such [person] possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees. . . ." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1); see Martinez v. Kristi Kleaners, Inc., 364 F.3d 1305, 1306 n.1 (11th Cir. 2004) (interpreting statute to apply to all persons seeking to proceed in forma pauperis). Section 1915(a) requires a determination as to whether "the statements in the [applicant's] affidavit satisfy the requirement of poverty." Watson v. Ault, 525 F.2d 886, 891 (5th Cir. 1976). An applicant's "affidavit will be held sufficient if it represents that the litigant, because of his poverty, is unable to pay for the court fees and costs, and to support and provide necessities for himself and his dependents." Martinez, 364 F.3d at 1307; see also Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948) (In forma pauperis status is demonstrated when, because of poverty, one cannot "pay or give security for the costs and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life."). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines are central to an assessment of an applicant's poverty. See Taylor v. Supreme Court of New Jersey, 261 F. App'x 399, 401 (3d Cir. 2008) (using HHS Guidelines as basis for section 1915 determination); Lewis v. Ctr. Mkt., 378 F. App'x 780, 784 (10th Cir. 2010) (affirming use of HHS guidelines); see also Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, 85 Fed. Reg. 3060 (Jan. 17, 2020). Further, the section 1915 analysis requires "comparing the applicant's assets and liabilities in order to determine whether he has satisfied the poverty requirement." Thomas v. Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, 574 F. App'x 916, 917 (11th Cir. 2014). Ultimately, permission to proceed in forma pauperis is committed to the sound discretion of the Court. Camp v. Oliver, 798 F.2d 434, 437 (11th Cir. 1986) ("[P]ermission to proceed [IFP] is committed to the sound discretion of the court.").
Pursuant to Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981), opinions of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued prior to October 1, 1981, are binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit.
The Court is unable to determine from Plaintiff's application to proceed without prepaying fees or costs whether he satisfies the requirements of poverty because the application is incomplete. In particular, Plaintiff has not attached his inmate account statement to his Motion, as required. See ECF No. [3] at 1, ¶ 1. Thus, the Court cannot make a determination that Plaintiff qualifies as indigent under § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis based on the application submitted.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1. Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short Form), ECF No. [3], is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
2. Plaintiff must re-submit the Application to Proceed In District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs along with all required documentation or pay the required filing fee no later than February 20, 2020. Failure to comply with this Order will result in dismissal without prejudice and without further notice.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, on January 29, 2020.
/s/ _________
BETH BLOOM
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies to: Gaynett Powell
L07899
Northwest Florida Reception Center
Inmate Mail/Parcels
4455 Sam Mitchell Drive
Chipley, FL 32428