holding that appellant demonstrates good faith when seeking review of a nonfrivolous issue
How later courts described this case
- holding that appellant demonstrates good faith when seeking review of a nonfrivolous issue
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
ANTHONY WINSTON HALL,
Plaintiff,
24-CV-02483 (LTS)
-against-
Order Directing Payment of Fee or Amended
IFP Application
NYC WATER BOARD, ET AL.,
Defendants.
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge:
Plaintiff brings this action pro se. To proceed with a civil action in this Court, a plaintiff
must either pay $405.00 in fees – a $350.00 filing fee plus a $55.00 administrative fee – or, to
request authorization to proceed without prepayment of fees, submit a signed IFP application.
See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914, 1915.
Plaintiff submitted an IFP application, but his responses do not establish that he is unable
to pay the filing fees. Plaintiff states that he is unemployed, and he does not answer the questions
about his last date of employment and his gross monthly wages at the time. Plaintiff further
states that he has no source of income, but he does not answer the question asking him to explain
how he pays his monthly expenses. Finally, with the exception of indicating that he has $100 in a
bank account, Plaintiff does not answer the questions on the application about money in cash or a
bank account, property owned, monthly expenses, dependents, and debts or financial obligations.
Because Plaintiff provides insufficient information about how he is able to pay his living
expenses without any source of income, the Court is unable to conclude, without additional
information, that he is unable to afford the filing fees.
Accordingly, within thirty days of the date of this order, Plaintiff must either pay the
$405.00 in fees or submit an amended IFP application. If Plaintiff submits the amended IFP
application, it should be labeled with docket number 24-CV-02483 (LTS), and address the
deficiencies described above by providing facts to establish that he is unable to pay the filing
fees. If the Court grants the amended IFP application, Plaintiff will be permitted to proceed
without prepayment of fees. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).
No summons shall issue at this time. If Plaintiff complies with this order, the case shall be
processed in accordance with the procedures of the Clerk’s Office. If Plaintiff fails to comply
with this order within the time allowed, the action will be dismissed.
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would
not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an
appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444–45 (1962) (holding that appellant
demonstrates good faith when seeking review of a nonfrivolous issue).
SO ORDERED.
Dated: April 3, 2024
New York, New York
/s/ Laura Taylor Swain
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN
Chief United States District Judge