Waheed v. MLMIC Insurance Company
- Laura Swain
- 1:25-cv-06504
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 3
In Sehra Waheed v. MLMIC Insurance Company, Judge Swain denied, without prejudice, requests to waive PACER fees and allow electronic filing.
Sehra Waheed’s requests for a PACER-fee exemption and permission to file documents electronically were denied without prejudice; the defendants’ underlying dispute was not decided in this order.
What happened
Sehra Waheed asked the court to waive fees for accessing the federal court’s electronic records system, known as PACER, and to let her file documents electronically. The court also identified her as representing herself.
The court said she already receives certain free PACER access, including one free electronic copy of documents filed in her case. It found that she offered no facts showing that paying for additional access would create an unreasonable burden or that free PACER access was necessary to obtain information about the case. The court also said she could not use electronic filing while her PACER account was blocked because of an unpaid balance.
Judge Laura Taylor Swain denied both motions without prejudice. She allowed Waheed to renew the fee request if she later shows a need for a waiver and to renew the electronic-filing request if she later shows that she can access her PACER account and file documents.
The detailed version
- Waheed v. MLMIC Insurance Company · No. 1:25-cv-06504
- Laura Swain
- Sept. 8, 2025
Background
Sehra Waheed, representing herself, filed two motions. First, she requested an exemption from fees for accessing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), the federal courts’ electronic records system. Second, she requested permission to file documents electronically.
PACER-fee motion
The court explained that the Judicial Conference’s fee schedule provides several automatic exemptions. Among them, an account holder owes no PACER fee until quarterly charges exceed $30; parties and attorneys receive one free electronic copy of documents filed electronically when receipt is required or directed; judicial opinions are free; and case information and documents may be viewed without charge at courthouse public-access terminals.
The fee schedule also permits courts to grant discretionary exemptions in limited circumstances. A party cannot obtain such an exemption based only on inability to pay court fees. The party must show that the additional exemption is necessary to avoid unreasonable burdens and promote public access to information.
The court found that Waheed was entitled, as a self-represented party, to one free electronic copy of documents filed in her case. But, apart from referring to her inability-to-pay status, she alleged no facts showing that she would face an unreasonable burden without free PACER access or that she needed free PACER access to obtain information about the case.
Electronic-filing motion
The court denied permission for electronic filing because Waheed had stated that PACER blocked her account over a previously unpaid balance. The court reasoned that she could not participate in electronic filing while she could not access her PACER account.
Ruling
The court denied Waheed’s motion for an exemption from PACER fees without prejudice to renewal if she later demonstrates a need for a fee waiver. It also denied her motion to participate in electronic filing without prejudice to renewal if she later demonstrates that she can file documents using her PACER account. The court directed the Clerk of Court to terminate both motions. Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed the order.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.