Costs assessed under Section 1915(f) must be apportioned equally among prisoner plaintiffs.
A prisoner appealed a district court's grant of summary judgment and the assessment of costs following a civil rights complaint alleging denial of access to the courts and cruel and unusual punishment. The court reviewed the summary judgment de novo and determined that the plaintiff failed to establish any injury, as the timing of the alleged mail refusal did not coincide with the dismissal of his cases. Regarding the assessment of costs under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the court held that when a district court imposes fees and costs upon multiple participating prisoners, those costs must be equally divided among them.
At page 886 Grant of summary judgment for lack of injury or constitutional violation206 citing cases“the prisoner's ability to pay the costs is no longer an issue.”
- Wade, No. 1:26-cv-00948 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 25, 2026).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999). “[A] prisoner’s right to access the courts extends to direct appeals, habeas corpus applications, and civil rights claims only.” Thad…
- Brown, No. 1:25-cv-01596 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 18, 2026).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508, 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop v. Johnson, 977 F.2d 996, 1000 (6th Cir. 1992).
- Brown, No. 2:25-cv-00318 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 2, 2026).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508, 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop v. Johnson, 977 F.2d at 996, 1000 (6th Cir. Oct. 16, 1992).
- Goben, No. 1:25-cv-01846 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 13, 2026).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Ice, No. 1:25-cv-01615 (W.D. Mich. July 10, 2026).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Ali 175762 v. Ault, No. 1:25-cv-00827 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 24, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Gardner 770380 v. Pants, No. 1:25-cv-00529 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 18, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley- Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Watts v. Kalamazoo, Cnty. of, No. 1:24-cv-01151 (W.D. Mich. July 7, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000.
- Williams 373703 v. Blough, No. 1:25-cv-00240 (W.D. Mich. June 9, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Cortez 320358 v. Washington, No. 2:25-cv-00025 (W.D. Mich. May 22, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
Show 190 more citing cases
- Walker 720647 v. Hardenberg, No. 1:24-cv-00726, 2025 WL 683626 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 4, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Abdias 836389 v. Macauley, No. 1:24-cv-00776 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 24, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Mims 285091 v. Macauley, No. 1:24-cv-01289 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 12, 2025).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Mitchell v. Elum, No. 2:23-cv-11347 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 3, 2025).In order to state a viable claim for interference with his access to the courts, a plaintiff must show an “actual injury.” Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349 (1996); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Turner 925863 v. Schroeder, No. 2:24-cv-00098 (W.D. Mich. July 8, 2024).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Keel-Haywood 958405 v. Toogood, No. 1:24-cv-00303 (W.D. Mich. June 18, 2024).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Keel-Haywood 958405 v. Toogood, No. 1:24-cv-00303 (W.D. Mich. June 6, 2024).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Jones 529086 v. Juarez, No. 1:24-cv-00256 (W.D. Mich. May 17, 2024).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- McKerchie 632622 v. Wrigglesworth, No. 1:23-cv-01319 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 21, 2024).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Miles 237011 v. Michigan, State of, No. 2:23-cv-00031 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 21, 2023).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Rollins v. Lane, No. 4:22-cv-00162 (W.D. Ky. Aug. 10, 2023).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Mashburn v. Henderson Cnty., No. 4:22-cv-00007 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 23, 2023).In order to state a viable claim for interference with access to the courts, a plaintiff must show “actual injury.” Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349, 356 (1996) (advising that no actual injury occurs without a showing that such a claim “h…
- Adams 823706 v. Kemp, No. 2:23-cv-00027 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 15, 2023). Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Smith 267009 v. Otto, No. 1:22-cv-01028 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 17, 2023).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Burley 502426 v. Weller, No. 1:22-cv-00628 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 3, 2023).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Burrell 383328 v. Kienitz, No. 2:22-cv-00097 (W.D. Mich. Nov. 23, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Rice 490612 v. Bryce, No. 1:22-cv-00462 (W.D. Mich. Oct. 17, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Hardrick 606507 v. Bush, No. 2:22-cv-00139 (W.D. Mich. Sept. 20, 2022). Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop v. Johnson, 977 F.2d 996, 1000 (6th Cir. 1992).
- Sicurello 594701 v. Michigan Dep't of Corr., No. 1:22-cv-00220 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 22, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Thomas 254903 v. Stevens, No. 1:22-cv-00160 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 16, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Nguyen v. Floyd, 618 F. Supp. 3d 629 (E.D. Mich. 2022).publishedA. In order to state a viable claim for interference with his access to the courts, however, Plaintiff must demonstrate an “actual injury.” Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349 (1996); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); K…
- White 225440 v. Newcomb, No. 2:21-cv-00249, 2022 WL 2763305 (W.D. Mich. July 15, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Hanes v. Frakes, No. 8:22-cv-00156 (D. Neb. July 6, 2022). Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Smith 267009 v. Brock, No. 1:22-cv-00149 (W.D. Mich. June 8, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Brown v. Gennrich, No. 2:16-cv-00241 (E.D. Wis. May 4, 2022).The agency must clearly identify the payments by the case name 1 Subsection (f)(2)(B) provides: “The prisoner shall be required to make payments for costs under this subsection in the same manner as is provided for filing fee under subsect…
- Prescott 245738 v. Gruizenga, No. 1:22-cv-00176 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 17, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Jackson 748757 v. Davids, No. 1:21-cv-01060 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 23, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Smith 267009 v. Schiebner, No. 1:21-cv-00878 (W.D. Mich. Jan. 25, 2022).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Sanders 244852 v. Scanlon, No. 1:21-cv-00292 (W.D. Mich. Oct. 7, 2021).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Olar 484342 v. Ritter, No. 1:20-cv-01159 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 15, 2021).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Griffith 165268 v. Michigan Dep't of Corr., No. 2:20-cv-00062 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 10, 2020). Lewis, 518 U.S. at 351 ; Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Kensu v. Haigh, 87 F.3d 172, 175 (6th Cir. 1996); Pilgrim v. Littlefield, 92 F.3d 413, 416 (6th Cir. 1996); Walker v. Mintzes, 771 F.2d 920, 932 (6th Cir. 198…
- Welte v. McKinley, No. 4:19-cv-00177 (W.D. Ky. Apr. 23, 2020).Id. at 351 ; Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d, 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Kensu v. Haigh, 87 F.3d 172, 175 (6th Cir. 1996); Pilgrim v. Littlefield, 92 F.3d 413, 416 (6th Cir. 1996); Walker v. Mintzes, 771 F.2d 920, 932 (6th Cir. 1985).
- Smith 267009 v. Burk, No. 1:19-cv-01018 (W.D. Mich. Mar. 4, 2020).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Eidam 266232 v. Berrien, Cnty. of, No. 1:19-cv-00978, 2019 WL 7343354 (W.D. Mich. Dec. 31, 2019).Corp. of Am., 257 F.3d 508 , 511 (6th Cir. 2001); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999); Knop, 977 F.2d at 1000 .
- Green v. Tudor, 685 F. Supp. 2d 678 (W.D. Mich. 2010).publishedSee Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 349 , 116 S.Ct. 2174 , 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996); see also Boswell v. Mayer, 169 F.3d 384, 387 (6th Cir.1999); Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir.1999).
- Proctor v. Applegate, 661 F. Supp. 2d 743 (E.D. Mich. 2009).published
- Couch v. Brooks, No. 4:20-cv-00199 (W.D. Ky. Jan. 26, 2021).
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At page 887 Apportionment of costs among multiple prisoner plaintiffs59 citing casesholding that costs assessed under Section 1915(f) must be apportioned equally among prisoner plaintiffs
- Topaz Johnson v. H.D.S.P., No. 23-15299 (9th Cir. July 24, 2025).published (Thus, any fees and costs that a district court or that we may impose must be equally divided among all the participating prisoners.)
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- Hanes v. Frakes, No. 8:22-cv-00156 (D. Neb. July 6, 2022). Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 886 (6th Cir. 1999).
- Glenewinkel v. Carvajal, No. 3:20-cv-02256 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 14, 2020).(concluding that district court properly permitted two prisoner-plaintiffs proceeding jointly to share the cost of the filing fee)
- John Draper v. D. Rosario, 836 F.3d 1072 (9th Cir. 2016).published The payment process is actually located in § 1915(b)(2).” Talley-Bey v. Knebl, 168 F.3d 884, 887 (6th Cir. 1999). 30 DRAPER V.
- Hagan v. Rogers, 570 F.3d 146 (3d Cir. 2009).published
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Show 48 more citing cases
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- Azor-El v. New York City Dep't of Corr., No. 1:20-cv-03650 (S.D.N.Y. May 18, 2020).
- Truell v. John/Jane Doe, No. 1:20-cv-00839 (S.D.N.Y. July 22, 2020).
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- Vogel v. Ginty, No. 7:20-cv-06349 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 11, 2020).
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- Lind v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06903 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Brown v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06056 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Roque v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06906 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Louime v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06898 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
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- Dennis v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06899 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
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- Campbell v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06915 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Overton v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06908 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Bussey v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06913 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Seabrooks v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06919 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Reed v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06918 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Scott v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06921 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Ramos v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06916 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Robinson v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06924 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Haymon v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06922 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Jones v. Annucci, No. 1:23-cv-06917 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Price v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06925 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Howard v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06923 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Scott v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06911 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Pinson v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, No. 1:24-cv-01312 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 16, 2024).
- Zaragosa-Solis v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, No. 1:24-cv-02901 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 16, 2024).
- Masa v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, No. 1:24-cv-02902 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 19, 2024).
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- Brown v. Macon Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't, No. 2:21-cv-00009 (M.D. Tenn. May 13, 2021).
- DeJesus v. Annucci, No. 7:23-cv-06905 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 7, 2023).
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- Perkins Sr. v. Davidson Cnty., No. 3:23-cv-00730 (M.D. Tenn. Apr. 8, 2024).
- Taylor v. Brun, No. 1:24-cv-00082 (M.D. Tenn. Sept. 13, 2024).
- Topaz Johnson v. H.D.S.P., 127 F.4th 123 (9th Cir. 2025).published
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At page 885 Proportionally assessing fees and costs among multiple prisoners12 citing casesWe . . . take this occasion to affirm the position that, for the purposes of the [PLRA], when a district court imposes fees and costs upon multiple prisoners, the fees and costs are to be pro- portionally assessed among the prisoners
- Johnson v. High Desert State Prison, No. 25-457 (U.S. Mar. 2, 2026).(We . . . take this occasion to affirm the position that, for the purposes of the [PLRA], when a district court imposes fees and costs upon multiple prisoners, the fees and costs are to be pro- portionally assessed amon…)
- Ruiz Rivera v. Dept. of Educ., 209 F.3d 24 (1st Cir. 2000).published
- Charlotte Mays v. Buckeye Rural Elec. Coop., Inc., 277 F.3d 873 (6th Cir. 2002).published
- Hagan v. Rogers, 570 F.3d 146 (3d Cir. 2009).published
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- Lasalle Bank Nat. v. Middlebelt Plymouth Venture, 221 F. Supp. 2d 792 (E.D. Mich. 2002).published
- Omnipoint Holdings, Inc. v. City of Southfield, 203 F. Supp. 2d 804 (E.D. Mich. 2002).published
- Velasco v. Lamanna, 16 F. App'x 311 (6th Cir. 2001).unpublished
- A've v. Serv. Employees Int'l Union, 24 F. App'x 326 (6th Cir. 2001).unpublished
- Post v. Taft, 97 F. App'x 562 (6th Cir. 2004).unpublished
Show 1 more citing case
- LaSalle Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Middlebelt Plymouth Venture, L.L.C., 221 F. Supp. 2d 792 (E.D. Mich. 2002).published
v.
Paul KNEBL, Et Al., Defendants-Appellees
OPINION
BOYCE F. MARTIN, JR., Chief Judge.Randolph Muhammed Talley-Bey, Jr., a Michigan state prisoner, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (No. 97-1208) and the subsequent award of costs (No. 97-1849). We have consolidated the appeals to take this occasion to affirm the position that, for the purposes of the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Pub.L. No. 104-134, §§ 801-10, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996) (PLRA), when a district court imposes fees and costs upon multiple prisoners, the fees and costs are to be proportionally assessed among the prisoners.
Talley-Bey and fellow prisoner Robert F. Nelson, Jr., sued Paul Knebl, a case manager at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Eastlake, Michigan, and Timothy Bellinger, who is a corrections officer at Oaks. Talley-Bey and Nelson claimed that they were denied access to the courts. They alleged that on April 25, 1995, Nelson handed Knebl a grievance that was to be forwarded to Talley-Bey for Talley-Bey’s signature. Talley-Bey stated that he and Nelson had entered into an approved legal assistance agreement where Nelson would provide Talley-Bey with legal assistance in multiple legal actions. Despite the existence of this agreement, Knebl refused to forward the grievance because Knebl did not feel that the grievance constituted legal documents within the scope of the agreement. Knebl therefore returned the grievance to Nelson.
Nelson then asked for grievance forms from an individual named Russell, who we presume is a prison official engaged in the prison grievance process. Nelson claimed that Russell refused to provide the forms because Knebl had instructed Russell to withhold the forms. Finally, on May 2,1995, Talley-Bey alleged that defendant Bellinger refused to accept Talley-Bey’s legal mail based on Knebl’s orders. Talley-Bey claimed that as a result of this refusal, three of his pending court cases were dismissed.
The district court dismissed the complaint under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(b), noting that there was no genuine issue of material fact and that the defendants were entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The district court subsequently taxed Nelson and Talley-Bey $41 for costs in proportional amounts.
Talley-Bey filed a notice of appeal as to the district court’s judgment only as to himself. Talley-Bey subsequently filed a second notice of appeal as to the cost assessment, attempting to appeal the assessment on behalf of Nelson and himself. As Talley-Bey is the only plaintiff to sign the notice of appeal, Nelson cannot be considered an appellant. See Fed.App. P. 3(c).
We will construe Talley-Bey’s brief as arguing that he was entitled to have the allegations in the complaint taken as true under Rule 12(b)(6), that a genuine issue of material fact prevents the grant of summary judgment for Knebl and Bellinger, that he was denied access to the courts, that he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and that he should not have been taxed costs.
As documentation was presented outside the pleadings and was considered by the district court, the district court’s judgment will be construed as granting summary judgment for Knebl and Bellinger. See Employers Ins. of Wausau v. Petroleum Specialties, Inc., 69 F.3d 98, 104 (6th Cir.1995). Therefore, our review of the district court’s decision is de novo. See Elaine’s Cleaning Serv., Inc. v. United States Dep’t of Labor, 106 F.3d 726, 728 (6th Cir.1997).
[*886] Upon review, we conclude that Knebl and Bellinger were entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Despite Talley-Bey’s assertions to the contrary, there is no genuine issue of material fact. In his complaint, Talley-Bey states that Bellinger’s refusal to accept his outgoing legal mail resulted in the dismissal of two district court cases and an appeal before this court. Further, Knebl refused to forward the grievance form to Talley-Bey. Because of their actions, Bellinger and Knebl denied Talley-Bey access to the courts and subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment.
Talley-Bey stated that the refusal occurred on May 2,1995. However, the docket sheets of this court show that Talley-Bey’s appeal was not filed until December 15,1995, and was subsequently dismissed on August 21, 1996. Further, one district court case was dismissed on January 27, 1995, long before the alleged incident even occurred. The second district court case was not filed until July 13, 1995, and was subsequently dismissed on August 7,1995. Thus, contrary to Talley-Bey’s own admissions, the alleged refusal to mail his legal documents could not possibly have led to the dismissal of his three civil cases. Because Talley-Bey failed to establish any injury, see Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 348-52, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996), the district court properly granted summary judgment for Knebl and Belling-er as to Talley-Bey’s First Amendment claim.
We also note that Talley-Bey’s cruel and unusual punishment argument is meritless. In order to constitute a claim under the Eighth Amendment, the offending conduct must reflect an “ ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’ ” Ingraham v. Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 670, 97 S.Ct. 1401, 51 L.Ed.2d 711 (1977) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)). Such a claim has both an objective and subjective component. See Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298, 111 S.Ct. 2321, 115 L.Ed.2d 271 (1991). The objective component of an Eighth Amendment claim requires that the pain be serious. Id. The Supreme Court addressed the objective component in Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347-49, 101 S.Ct. 2392, 69 L.Ed.2d 59 (1981), noting that although double celling of inmates may be painful, it did not concern the deprivation of the “minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities.”
The subjective component, in contrast, constitutes the deliberate indifference standard of Estelle. See Wilson, 501 U.S. at 302-03, 111 S.Ct. 2321. The subjective component provides that the offending, non-penal conduct be wanton. Id.
The refusal to mail the documents does not satisfy Wilson. The mere act of not mailing a prisoner’s correspondence cannot be construed as causing the deprivation of the minimal necessities of life, nor can the denial be construed as wanton. Talley-Bey’s arguments do not establish a claim of cruel and unusual punishment.
Talley Bey’s argument regarding costs must be examined under the PLRA. The district court granted Knebl’s and Bellinger’s request for costs in the sum of $41. The district court then pro-rated the amount between Nelson and Talley-Bey and assessed each prisoner $20.50. The court directed that the costs be paid in accordance with the mathematical formula set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2). Talley-Bey appealed the assessment to this court. In Weaver v. Toombs, 948 F.2d 1004, 1013 (6th Cir.1991), we held that courts have discretion in assessing costs against an unsuccessful prisoner who prosecuted his or her case in forma pauperis. We noted that the courts were required to make a determination of the prisoner’s capacity to pay the assessed costs. Id. at 1013-14. We found that should costs be assessed against a prisoner, the assessment would be subject to challenge and a showing that the prisoner was incapable of paying the costs. Id. at 1014. The PLRA has superceded the procedures of Weaver. See Hampton v. Hobbs, 106 F.3d 1281, 1285 (6th Cir.1997). When judgment is entered against a prisoner and costs against the prisoner are assessed, § 1915(f)(2)(A) now requires that the prisoner pay the costs either in full, or in accordance with the payment process set forth in § 1915(b)(2). See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(B). The prisoner’s ability to pay the costs is no longer an issue. Sec[*887] tion 1915(f)(2)(B) mistakenly refers to § 1915(a)(2) as the authoritative subsection for the payment process. However, as we have previously noted, see McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 603 (6th Cir.1997), § 1915(a)(2) does not contain a payment procedure. The payment process is actually located in § 1915(b)(2).
Because a prisoner can no longer challenge the assessment of fees from the district court on the grounds that the prisoner is unable to pay the assessment, see Hampton, 106 F.3d at 1285, if a court chooses to tax a prisoner costs, the prisoner is required to pay the assessment in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(f)(2)(A). Therefore, Talley-Bey was properly taxed costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1920, and his inability to immediately pay the amount is of no consequence.
We also conclude that the district court’s pro-rated assessment of the costs between Nelson and Talley-Bey was correct. A panel of this court has not had the opportunity to decide how a district court is to assess costs in light of § 1915(f)(2) when the case involves multiple prisoners. The statute does not specify how fees are to be assessed when multiple prisoners constitute the plaintiffs or appellants. Because each prisoner chose to prosecute the case, we hold that each prisoner should be proportionately liable for any fees or costs that may be assessed. Thus, any fees and costs that a district court or that we may impose must be equally divided among all the participating prisoners.
We wish to make clear, however, that in cases involving class actions, district courts are not to assess fees and costs to each member of the class. As a class action certification is normally made long after the complaint is filed, the responsibility of paying the required fees and costs rests with the prisoner or prisoners who signed the complaint. In class actions on appeal, the prisoner or prisoners signing the notice of appeal are obligated to pay all appellate fees and costs. Therefore, the district court’s assessment of Talley-Bey for half of the subsequent $41.00 in costs was appropriate.
Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s grant of summary judgment for Knebl and Bellinger. Further, we AFFIRM the taxation of costs to Talley-Bey in the sum of $20.50.