The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
LEE ANTHONY BROWN,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No. 23-CV-497
WARDEN CHERYL EPLETT, et al.,
Defendants.
DECISION AND ORDER
On January 17, 2024, the court dismissed the case because pro se plaintiff Lee
Anthony Brown failed to identify the Doe defendants, entering judgment accordingly.
(ECF Nos. 18, 19.) Brown filed a notice of appeal on February 16, 2024. (ECF No. 22.)
On March 5 2024, the court entered an order granting Brown’s motion to proceed in
forma pauperis on appeal and requiring Brown to pay $6.61 as an initial partial filing
fee. (ECF No. 28.) On May 30, 2024, Brown filed a motion to pay the appellate initial
partial filing fee out of his release account. (ECF No. 29.)
The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires collection of filing fees from a
“prisoner’s account.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). The term “prisoner’s account” encompasses
both a prisoner’s release account and his general account. Spence v. McCaughtry, 46 F.
Supp. 2d 861, 862 (E.D. Wis. 1999). “A release account is a restricted account
maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to be used upon the prisoner’s
release from custody upon completion of his sentence.” Wilson v. Anderson, Case No. 14-
C-798, 2014 WL 3671878 at *3 (E.D. Wis. July 23, 2014) (citing Wis. Adm. Code § DOC
309.466). While the PRLA does not prohibit the use of release accounts, leaving it to the
discretion of the court, given the purpose of the release account, federal courts do not
deem it prudent to focus on that account as the source of funds to satisfy the PRLA’s
filing fee payment requirements. Smith v. Huibregtse, 151 F. Supp. 2d 1040, 1042 (E.D.
Wis. 2001). However, where there are insufficient funds available in a prisoner’s regular
account, a prisoner’s release account may be invaded to satisfy an initial partial filing
fee. See Carter v. Bennett, 399 F. Supp. 2d 936, 936-37 (W.D. Wis. 2005).
As such, the court GRANTS Brown’s motion (ECF No. 29) and will allow him to
use his release account to pay his appellate initial partial filing fee.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that a copy of this order be sent to the officer in charge
of the agency where Brown is confined.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that a copy of this order be electronically provided to
PLRA Attorney, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, through the
court’s electronic case filing system.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 5th day of June, 2024.
BY THE COURT
WILLIAM E. DUFFI
United States Magistrate Judge