Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01329/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01329-63/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

FLOYD SCOTT,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. PALMER, M. H. LOPEZ, and

R. S. RIVERA,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:09-cv-01329-SKO (PC)

Appeal No. 15-17113

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR TRIAL 

TRANSCRIPT AT GOVERNMENT 

EXPENSE

(Doc. 263)

On July 29, 2009, Plaintiff Floyd Scott (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se, 

filed suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On October 6, 2015, jury trial commenced on Plaintiff’s 

Eighth Amendment excessive force claims against Defendants Palmer, Lopez, and Rivera. The 

jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendants on October 8, 2015, and on October 22, 2015, 

Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the trial transcript. 

Plaintiff was not proceeding in forma pauperis in this action and the provisions for 

transcripts at government expense require in forma pauperis status. Assuming this is a deficiency 

that is curable given Plaintiff’s incarceration, his request is still subject to denial. (Docs. 26, 267.)

A litigant who has been granted in forma pauperis status may move to have transcripts 

produced at government expense. Two statutes must be considered whenever the district court 

receives a request to prepare transcripts at the government’s expense. First, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c) 

Case 1:09-cv-01329-SKO Document 268 Filed 11/09/15 Page 1 of 2
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defines the limited circumstances under which the Court can direct payment the government to 

pay for transcripts for a litigant proceeding in forma pauperis.

(c) Upon the filing of an affidavit in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) and 

the prepayment of any partial filing fee as may be required under subsection (b), 

the court may direct payment by the United States of the expenses of (1) printing 

the record on appeal in any civil or criminal case, if such printing is required by the 

appellate court; (2) preparing a transcript of proceedings before a United States 

magistrate judge in any civil or criminal case, if such transcript is required by the 

district court, in the case of proceedings conducted under section 636(b) of this title 

or under section 3401(b) of title 18, United States Code; and (3) printing the record 

on appeal if such printing is required by the appellate court, in the case of 

proceedings conducted pursuant to section 636(c) of this title. Such expenses shall 

be paid when authorized by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United 

States Courts.

28 U.S.C. § 1915(c). 

Second, 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) allows the Court to order the government to pay for transcripts 

only if “the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the suit or appeal is not frivolous and that the 

transcript is needed to decide the issue presented by the suit or appeal.” A request for a transcript

at government expense should not be granted unless “the appeal presents a substantial issue.” 

Henderson v. United States, 734 F.2d 483, 484 (9th Cir. 1984). 

The Court does not find that Plaintiff’s appeal presents any substantial issues. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for the trial transcript at government expense is HEREBY 

DENIED, and the Clerk’s Office shall serve a copy of this order on the United States Court of 

Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 9, 2015 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:09-cv-01329-SKO Document 268 Filed 11/09/15 Page 2 of 2