IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA NORTHERN DIVISION

DEVIN PUGH, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CASE NO. 2:25-cv-555-ECM-JTA ) (WO) STATE OF ALABAMA, ) ) Defendant. )

ORDER Pro se Plaintiff Devin Pugh filed this action on July 21, 2025. (Doc. No. 1.) As Plaintiff is aware from his numerous previous cases in this District,1 when filing a new action, he must either file an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis or submit the $350.00 filing fee and $55.00 administrative fee. He did neither. Accordingly, and for good cause, it is ORDERED as follows: 1. On or before August 25, 2025, Plaintiff shall either pay the $350.00 filing fee and $55.00 administrative fee or file an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this action.

1 Since December 11, 2024, Plaintiff has filed 54 cases in the Middle District of Alabama. In many of them, he failed to pay the filing fee or file a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, despite numerous court orders to correct the deficiencies. This pattern of conduct “wastefully diverts significant judicial resources and substantially burdens the court’s docket.” Smith v. Thomas, No. 2:25-cv-311-RAH-JTA,

, at *1 (M.D. Ala. June 23, 2025), report and recommendation adopted, No. 2:25-cv-00311-RAH,

(M.D. Ala. July 14, 2025) 2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Plaintiff form AO 240 (the short form application for requesting in forma pauperis status).” Plaintiff is expressly cautioned that failure to comply with this Order will result in_a recommendation of dismissal with or without prejudice for failure to pay the filing fee and failure to comply with a court order. Plaintiff is further expressly cautioned that failure to comply with this Order may result in a recommendation that he be declared a vexatious litigant and that appropriate measures be instituted to protect against his persistent failure to either file_a_motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the filing and administrative fee. DONE this Ist day of August, 2025.

, SHA T. ADAMS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

? Form AO 240 may be found on the court’s website at https://www.almd.uscourts.gov/forms.