Griffin v. United States

Background

Joseph Griffin filed a civil action against the United States while incarcerated at FCI Otisville. He is representing himself. He submitted the complaint without paying the required fees and without submitting a completed application to proceed without prepaying fees, commonly called an IFP application, or a prisoner authorization.

Fees and required filings

The court explained that a prisoner starting a civil action must either pay $405 in fees—a $350 filing fee and a $55 administrative fee—or submit a signed IFP application and prisoner authorization. The administrative fee does not apply to a person who is granted permission to proceed without prepaying fees under the applicable statute. Even if a prisoner receives that permission, the $350 filing fee must be collected in installments from the prisoner's account. The prisoner authorization allows the facility to make those deductions and requires certified account statements for the previous six months to be sent to the court.

Order

The court ordered Griffin to comply within 30 days of the order by either paying the $405 in fees or submitting the attached IFP application and prisoner authorization, labeled with docket number 25-CV-6783 (LTS). No answer from the United States was required at that time. The court stated that the case would be processed under the Clerk's Office procedures if Griffin complied and that the action would be dismissed if he did not comply within the permitted period.

Appeal and scope of the ruling

The court certified that an appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied IFP status for purposes of an appeal. This order addresses payment of fees and the required filings; the opinion does not decide the underlying claims in Griffin's complaint.