Global Media Network; William Scales v. Sirius XM Radio

Background

An earlier order barred William Scales from filing future civil actions in the Southern District of New York without paying filing fees, either in his own name or in the names of his companies, including Global Media Network, unless he first obtained permission from the court. The earlier order applied to civil actions filed on or after July 23, 2025.

The court stated that Scales filed this action on July 24, 2025, in his own name and in Global Media Network’s name. He did not pay the filing fees or file an application to proceed without paying them. The court understood that Scales and Global Media Network were attempting to proceed without paying filing fees, but Scales had not sought the required permission.

Ruling

The court dismissed the action without prejudice because Scales failed to comply with the earlier filing restriction. A dismissal without prejudice does not itself bar a later filing, but the opinion specifically based this dismissal on noncompliance with the earlier order. The court directed the Clerk of Court to enter a judgment dismissing the action.

The court also certified under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to appeal without paying filing fees. Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed the order on October 2, 2025.