Melvin James v. Aimee Smith; Michael A. Oldham; Vanessa Sassano; and Hayward...

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA AUGUSTA DIVISION MELVIN JAMES, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CV 125-304 ) AIMEE SMITH; MICHAEL A. OLDHAM; ) VANESSA SASSANO; and HAYWARD ) ALTMAN, ) ) Defendants. )

MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Plaintiff, detained at Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Augusta, Georgia, commenced the above-captioned case pro se and requested permission to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). On December 31, 2025, the Court directed Plaintiff to return his Prisoner Trust Fund Account Statement and Consent to Collection of Fees forms within thirty days and advised Plaintiff all prisoners, even those proceeding IFP, must pay the filing fee of $350.00 in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). (See doc. no. 3, pp. 1-3.) Plaintiff was cautioned failure to respond would be an election to have this case voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. (Id. at 4.) The time to respond has passed, and Plaintiff has not submitted the IFP documents as required by the Court’s December 31st Order. In particular, Plaintiff did not return his Prisoner Trust Fund Account Statement and has not provided the Court with any explanation as to why he has not complied.

Plaintiff cannot proceed IFP unless he submits the requisite Trust Fund Account Statement and consents to collection of the entire $350.00 filing fee in installments. Wilson v. Sargent, 313 F.3d 1315, 1319, 1321 (11th Cir. 2002) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915). Plaintiff has been warned that failing to return the necessary IFP papers would be an election to have his case voluntarily dismissed. As Plaintiff has neither fulfilled the requirements for proceeding IFP, nor paid the full filing fee, the Court REPORTS and RECOMMENDS this case be DISMISSED without prejudice and this civil action be CLOSED.

SO REPORTED and RECOMMENDED this 9th day of February, 2026, at Augusta, Georgia.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA