Chaflin v. Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc.
- Analisa Torres
- 1:25-cv-00917
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 4
In Chaflin v. Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc., Judge Swain ordered Howard Chaflin to pay filing fees or submit an IFP application before the case proceeds.
Howard Chaflin, whose case cannot proceed until he pays the $405 fee or submits a completed and signed application to proceed without prepaying fees; the defendants are not required to answer at this stage.
What happened
In Chaflin v. Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc., Howard Chaflin submitted a civil action by email against Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc., and other defendants.
The court ordered Chaflin, within 30 days, either to pay $405 in fees or submit a completed and signed application to proceed without prepaying fees. Until one of those steps occurs, the court will take no further action, issue no summons, and require no answer.
If Chaflin does not comply or request more time, the action will be dismissed without prejudice to refiling. Judge Laura Taylor Swain also denied permission to appeal without prepaying fees, finding that any appeal would not be taken in good faith.
The detailed version
- Chaflin v. Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc. · No. 1:25-cv-00917
- Analisa Torres
- Feb. 6, 2025
Background
Howard Chaflin submitted this civil action to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by email. The opinion does not address the underlying claims against Taurus Technologies Electric, Inc., or the other named defendants.
Payment or Application Requirement
The court explained that a plaintiff proceeding with a civil action must either pay the required fees or request permission to proceed without prepaying them. The order states that the total fee is $405, consisting of a $350 filing fee and a $55 administrative fee, subject to possible updates to the fee schedule.
The court gave Chaflin 30 days from the date of the order to either pay the fees or complete, sign, and submit the attached application to proceed without prepaying fees. If the court grants that application, Chaflin may proceed without paying the fees in advance. The order states that no further action will be taken, no summons will issue, and no answer will be required until payment or a completed and signed application is received.
Effect of Noncompliance and Appeal
The order states that if Chaflin fails to comply within the allowed time, and does not seek an extension, the action will be dismissed without prejudice to refiling. The court also certified that any appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to proceed without prepaying fees for an appeal.
Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed and entered the order. This was a procedural order concerning filing fees and permission to proceed without prepayment; it did not decide the merits of the lawsuit.
Read the full 4-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.