Case ID: br_411/html/0263-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re: Maryse Mac TRUONG and Mac Truong, Debtors Mac Truong, Appellant.
    No. 08-3365.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or Summary Action
    Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 June 11, 2009.
    Opinion filed: June 25, 2009.
    
      Maryse Mactruong, New York, NY, pro se.
    Mac Truong, New York, NY, pro se.
    Bruce S. Etterman, Esq., Hellring, Lindeman, Goldstein & Siegal, Newark, NJ, for Steven P. Kartzman.
    Before: McKEE, FISHER and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Mac Truong appeals from the District Court’s order denying, among other things, his motion to reopen his bankruptcy appeal. The District Court had initially dismissed the appeal for failure to designate the record on appeal and for failure to pay the required filing fees. Truong then moved to reopen his appeal, proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), and stay proceedings “pending adjudication of other related appeals.” The District Court, while not addressing the IFP motion directly, denied relief and noted that the Bankruptcy Court had not granted IFP status, nor had Truong paid the required filing fees. This appeal followed.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and review the District Court’s denial of Truong’s motion to proceed IFP, dismissal for failure to pay fees and motion to reopen his appeal for abuse of discretion. See Max’s Seafood Café ex rel. Lou Ann, Inc. v. Quinteros, 176 F.3d 669, 673 (3d Cir.1999); Jones v. Zimmerman, 752 F.2d 76, 78 (3d Cir.1985). Having granted Truong leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, we must dismiss his appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)© if it is frivolous, i.e., if it has no arguable basis in law. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989).

IFP determinations are to be made solely on the basis of indigence. See Deutsch v. United States, 67 F.3d 1080, 1084 n. 5 (3d Cir.1995); Roman v. Jeffes, 904 F.2d 192, 194 n. 1 (3d Cir.1990). In the IFP application that Truong submitted to the District Court, he indicated that he had rental income of $3000 a month, two cars (though one had its “title in litigation”), “less than $500 average” in a bank account, and an IRA account worth $6000. Given that information, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion when it dismissed Truong’s appeal and denied his subsequent motions.

Accordingly, the appeal is devoid of legal merit and we will dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)®. 
      
      . We incorporate hereinafter the facts and procedural history of this case as set forth in our opinion disposing of Truong’s related appeal, In re Truong, CA No. 08-3365.
     
      
      . The IRA account’s worth has apparently dropped by $2000 since Truong last 2 applied for IFP status.