Razzoli v. Black Lives Matter & Members

Background

Kevin Razzoli brought this civil action without a lawyer. He submitted the complaint without paying the required fees and without submitting an application to proceed without prepaying fees.

The Court’s Order

The court explained that filing a civil action required either payment of $402—consisting of a $350 filing fee and a $52 administrative fee—or a signed application to proceed without prepayment of fees. The court gave Razzoli 30 days from the date of the order to take one of those steps. If he submitted the application, it had to identify docket number 21-CV-4145 (LTS).

The court stated that, if it granted the application, Razzoli would be allowed to proceed without prepaying the fees. No summons would issue at that time. The Clerk of Court was directed to mail Razzoli a copy of the order and record service on the docket. If Razzoli complied, the case would be processed under the Clerk’s Office procedures; if he did not comply within the allowed time, the action would be dismissed.

Ruling and Effect

Judge Laura Taylor Swain directed Razzoli to pay the fees or submit the application within 30 days. The order did not decide the claims against the defendants. The court also certified that an appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to appeal without prepaying fees.