Livingston v. Standard International Management, LLC

Background

Ron Livingston brought this civil action without a lawyer. To proceed in federal court, he had to pay $405 in filing and administrative fees or submit a signed application to proceed without paying those fees in advance. Livingston submitted a document labeled as an application, but it stated only that he was unable to pay the costs of the proceedings. It did not provide financial information for the court to evaluate his ability to pay.

Order

The court ordered Livingston, within 30 days of the order, to do one of two things: pay $405 in fees or submit an amended application. The amended application must answer all applicable questions and provide facts showing that he cannot pay the filing fees. The application must identify docket number 25-CV-4374 (LTS). The court stated that, if it grants the amended application, Livingston may proceed without paying the fees in advance.

The court directed that no summons issue at this time. It stated that the case will be processed under the Clerk’s Office procedures if Livingston complies with the order, but that the action will be dismissed if he does not comply within the allowed time. The court also certified that any appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied fee-waiver status for purposes of an appeal.

Result and Classification

This is a procedural order about payment of filing fees and an application to proceed without prepaying them. It does not decide the underlying claims against Standard International Management, LLC. Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed the order.