Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-00955/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-00955-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DURRELL ANTHONY PUCKETT, 

Plaintiff,

v.

JEROME J. MACK, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:18-cv-00955-SKO (PC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

SHOULD NOT BE DENIED 

(Docs. 10, 13)

21-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff, Durrell Anthony Puckett, a state inmate proceeding pro se, filed a motion to 

proceed in forma pauperis along with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. 

It appears that it may be inappropriate to grant Plaintiff’s motion because the statement 

report of Plaintiff’s inmate account provided by the CDCR indicates that less than a month before 

filing this action, Plaintiff had over $500 at his disposal to pay the filing fee. Instead of paying 

the filing fee, however, Plaintiff chose to spend nearly $400 the day he signed the Complaint and 

the day before his action was filed. (Compare, Doc. 1, p. 12 & Doc. 13, p. 2.)

Proceeding “in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 

116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP, Adkins v. E.I. 

DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948), “the same even-handed care must be 

employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, either 

frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material 

part, to pull his own oar.” Doe v. Educ. Enrichment Sys., No. 15cv2628-MMA (MDD), 2015 

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2015) (citing Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. 

Case 1:18-cv-00955-JLT-SKO Document 14 Filed 12/03/18 Page 1 of 2
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Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). “[T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court 

determines the allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A). It appears that 

Plaintiff has had sufficient funds over the last several months to be required to pay the filing fee 

in full to proceed in this action, but chose to spend his money elsewhere.

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that, within 21 days of the date of service of 

this order, Plaintiff must show cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be 

denied and this action dismissed without prejudice to refiling with prepayment of the filing fee; 

alternatively, Plaintiff may file a notice of voluntary dismissal.

Failure to respond to this order will result in recommendation of dismissal for 

Plaintiff’s failure to obey a court order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 30, 2018 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:18-cv-00955-JLT-SKO Document 14 Filed 12/03/18 Page 2 of 2