The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
AARON JEFFREY BROWN,
Plaintiff, Case No. 2:25-cv-618-JES-KCD
v.
RUSSELL THOMAS KIRSHY,
AMANDA LEVY REIS,
Defendants.
/
ORDER
Plaintiff Aaron Jeffrey Brown has filed a complaint (Doc. 1) but did not
pay the filing fee.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 1914, “[t]he clerk of each district court shall require
the parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in such court,
whether by original process, removal or otherwise, to pay a filing fee of $350.”
“To commence a civil lawsuit in federal district court, the general rule is that
initiating parties must prepay a filing fee.” Rivera v. Allin, 144 F.3d 719, 722
(11th Cir. 1998). Further, the Clerk of Court is permitted to collect from the
parties “such additional fees only as are prescribed by the Judicial
Conference of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1914(b). Under these rules,
Plaintiff is required to pay a filing fee of $405.
Alternatively, if Plaintiff is unable to pay the filing fee, he may request
leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Section 1915
provides that “any court of the United States may authorize the
commencement, prosecution or defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil
or criminal, or appeal therein, without prepayment of fees or security
therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of
all assets such prisoner possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees
or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).
The case cannot continue without payment of the filing fee or an
affidavit establishing that Plaintiff is indigent. The necessary forms may be
obtained from the Court’s website or the Clerk’s Office.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
Plaintiff must pay the $405 filing fee or move to proceed in forma
pauperis with supporting affidavits by August 14, 2025. Failing to
exercise one of these options may result in this case being dismissed
for failure to prosecute without further notice.
ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on July 15, 2025.
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* Kale C. Dudek
United States Magistrate Judge