Tcheumani v. JP Morgan Chase Bank

Background

Gerard C. Tcheumani, Jr. brought this action pro se, meaning without a lawyer. To begin a civil action in the Southern District of New York, a plaintiff must either pay the required fees or ask to proceed without prepaying them. The total fees identified by the court were $402: a $350 filing fee and a $52 administrative fee.

Tcheumani submitted an application to proceed without prepaying fees, commonly called an IFP application. The application reported no sources of income, resources, expenses, or debts. The court found that the application did not explain how Tcheumani pays for his living expenses, so it could not determine that he lacks sufficient funds to pay the fees.

Order

The court ordered Tcheumani, within 30 days of the order, either to pay the $402 in fees or submit an amended IFP application. The amended application must be labeled with docket number 22-CV-7812 (LTS) and provide facts explaining how he supports himself and establishing that he cannot pay the fees.

The court did not decide the underlying claims against JP Morgan Chase Bank or the other defendants. No summons will issue at this time. If Tcheumani complies, the Clerk’s Office will process the case under its procedures; if he does not comply within the allowed time, the action will be dismissed. The court also certified that an appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and denied IFP status for purposes of an appeal.