Scales v. Zelle
- Laura Swain
- 1:25-cv-07454
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 2
In William Scales v. Zelle, Judge Swain ordered payment of the $405 filing fees, pausing the case and warning of dismissal without prejudice if unpaid.
William Scales and Taskem, whose case will not proceed until the required fees are paid; failure to pay or seek an extension will result in dismissal without prejudice to refiling.
What happened
In William Scales; Taskem v. Zelle, the plaintiffs filed their complaint without paying the required fees or submitting the paperwork needed to ask to proceed without paying fees in advance. The court explained that only a natural person—not an artificial entity—can make that request.
The plaintiffs have 30 days to pay $405. Until payment is made, the court will take no further action, and no summons or answer is required. If the plaintiffs do not pay or request more time, the action will be dismissed without prejudice to refiling.
Judge Laura Taylor Swain also ruled that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to appeal without paying fees. The order does not decide the underlying claims against Zelle.
The detailed version
- Scales v. Zelle · No. 1:25-cv-07454
- Laura Swain
- Sept. 12, 2025
Background
William Scales and Taskem filed a civil complaint without paying the required fees. The court stated that proceeding without prepaying fees requires a signed application and that only a natural person—not an artificial entity—may use that procedure. The opinion also states that Taskem, as an artificial entity, cannot proceed without a lawyer.
Fee Order
The court ordered the plaintiffs to pay $405 within 30 days: a $350 filing fee and a $55 administrative fee. The order gives instructions for paying by mail or in person. No further action will be taken, and no summons will issue or answer will be required, until the fees are paid. If the plaintiffs comply, the Clerk’s Office will process the case under its usual procedures.
Consequences and Disposition
If the plaintiffs do not comply within the allowed time, or do not request an extension, the action will be dismissed without prejudice to refiling. The court also certified that an appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to appeal without prepaying fees. This order addresses filing fees and case processing; it does not decide the merits of the claims against Zelle.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.