Leon Jovani Banks Ordered to Pay $1.57 Inmate Filing Fee by May 11, 2026
Summary
US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin assessed inmate plaintiff Leon Jovani Banks an initial partial filing fee of $1.57 under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The court ordered Banks to submit a check or money order payable to the clerk of court by May 11, 2026, or advise the court in writing why payment cannot be made. Failure to comply by the deadline will result in dismissal without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i), with the possibility of reopening within 30 days of dismissal if the fee is paid.
“Plaintiff must submit a check or money order payable to the clerk of court by May 11, 2026 or advise the court in writing why plaintiff is not able to make the initial partial payment.”
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GovPing monitors US District Court WDWI Docket Feed for new courts & legal regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 8 changes logged to date.
What changed
The court entered an order assessing Leon Jovani Banks a $1.57 initial partial filing fee based on the plaintiff's certified inmate trust fund account statement, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The plaintiff must submit the fee by May 11, 2026 or provide written justification for non-payment. If the fee is not paid and no cause is shown, the case will be dismissed without prejudice. The court will not reopen the case after 30 days from dismissal unless the plaintiff demonstrates entitlement to relief under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).
Inmate litigants in federal court should be aware that even when granted indigent status, they must still pay a partial filing fee calculated from their trust fund account. Prison officials will draw funds first from the regular inmate account, then from any release account for the remaining portion. Failure to comply with court-ordered fee deadlines can result in dismissal of the case.
What to do next
- Submit a check or money order payable to the clerk of court for $1.57 by May 11, 2026
- Advise the court in writing if unable to make the initial partial payment
Penalties
Case will be dismissed without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i) if plaintiff fails to make the initial partial payment by May 11, 2026 or fails to show cause why payment could not be made.
Archived snapshot
Apr 27, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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April 17, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note
Leon Jovani Banks v. Lohman, et al
District Court, W.D. Wisconsin
- Citations: None known
- Docket Number: 3:26-cv-00197
Precedential Status: Unknown Status
Trial Court Document
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
LEON JOVANI BANKS,
Plaintiff, ORDER
v.
Case No. 26-cv-197-wmc
LOHMAN, et al,
Defendants.
Plaintiff Leon Jovani Banks has submitted a certified inmate trust fund account
statement in support of a motion for leave to proceed without prepaying the filing fee. The
court must now determine whether plaintiff qualifies for indigent status and, if so, calculate an
initial partial payment of the filing fee.
Even when a prisoner litigant qualifies for indigent status, the litigant must pay a
portion of the filing fee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (b)(1). Using information from plaintiff's
trust fund account statement, I have calculated plaintiff's initial partial payment to be $1.57.
For this case to proceed, plaintiff must submit this amount on or before May 11, 2026.
If plaintiff does not have sufficient funds in a regular inmate account to make the initial
partial payment, then plaintiff should arrange with prison officials to make the payment from
a release account. However, prison officials will draw funds first from plaintiff's regular account
and any portion of the initial partial payment remaining from plaintiff's release account. Carter
v. Bennett, 399 F. Supp. 2d 936, 937 (W.D. Wis. 2005).
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff Leon Jovani Banks is assessed an initial partial payment of $1.57.
Plaintiff must submit a check or money order payable to the clerk of court by May 11, 2026
or advise the court in writing why plaintiff is not able to make the initial partial payment.
2. No further action will be taken in this case until the clerk’s office receives the
initial partial payment as directed above and the court has screened the complaint as required
by the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e)(2). Once the screening process is
complete, the court will issue a separate order.
2. If plaintiff fails to make the initial partial payment by May 11, 2026, or fails to
show cause why the payment could not be made, then I will assume that plaintiff wishes to
withdraw this action voluntarily. In that event, the case will be dismissed without prejudice
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i). If plaintiff submits the initial partial
payment within 30 days of dismissal, the case will be reopened. The court will not reopen the
case after 30 days unless plaintiff makes a showing that they are entitled to relief under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b).
Entered this 17th day of April, 2026.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
ANDREW R. WISEMAN
United States Magistrate Judge
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