Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00729/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00729-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KELVIN ALLEN, 

Plaintiff,

v.

MEYER, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:09-cv-00729-GBC (PC) 

ORDER FINDING THAT PLAINTIFF IS

ENTITLED TO PROCEED IN FORMA

PAUPERIS ON APPEAL FILED JULY 15,

2011

(ECF No. 40)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK’S OFFICE TO

SERVE COPY OF ORDER ON NINTH

CIRCUIT

ORDER

Kelvin Allen (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner and proceeded pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On July 1, 2011, the

Court dismissed Plaintiff’s action, without prejudice, for failure to exhaust administrative

remedies. (ECF No. 35.) On July 15, 2011, Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal and on July

21, 2011, the Ninth Circuit remanded for the limited purpose of determining whether in

forma pauperis status should continue for this appeal or whether the appeal is frivolous or

taken in bad faith. (ECF Nos. 37 & 40.)

Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, 

A party who was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the district-court

action . . . may proceed on appeal in forma pauperis without further

authorization, unless:

(A) the district court - before or after the notice of appeal is filed - certifies

that the appeal is not taken in good faith or finds that the party is not

otherwise entitled to proceed in forma pauperis and states in writing its

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reasons for the certification or finding;

or

(B) a statute provides otherwise.

Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3).

The district clerk must immediately notify the parties and the court of appeals

when the district court does any of the following:

(A) denies a motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis;

(B) certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith; or

(C) finds that the party is not otherwise entitled to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(4).

Because Plaintiff proceeded in forma pauperis in this action, Plaintiff is entitled to

proceed in forma pauperis on appeal unless the Court finds his appeal is not taken in good

faith or finds that he is not otherwise entitled to proceed in forma pauperis. As set forth

below by this Order, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to proceed in forma pauperis

on appeal. 

“An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing

that it is not taken in good faith.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). “In the absence of some evident

improper motive, the applicant’s good faith is established by the presentation of any issue

that is not plainly frivolous.” Ellis v. United States, 356 U.S. 674 (1958). An action is

frivolous “where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490

U.S. 319, 325 (1989). In other words, the term “frivolous”, as used in § 1915 and when

applied to a complaint, “embraces not only the inarguable legal conclusion, but also the

fanciful factual allegation.” Id.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, Plaintiff can appeal the Court’s July 1, 2011 Order 

dismissing the action as a final and appealable order. Here, Defendant filed a Motion to

Dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. (ECF No. 25.) Plaintiff filed his

Opposition to the Motion and Defendant replied. (ECF Nos. 32 & 33.) The Court found

that Plaintiff had not exhausted all available administrative remedies for this action. Thus,

the Motion was granted and Plaintiff’s action was dismissed without prejudice. 

Given that Plaintiff’s action was dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative

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remedies and the absence of improper motive, Plaintiff’s appeal is not plainly frivolous. It

does not appear to lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

Plaintiff’s appeal is taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Clerk’s Office

shall serve a copy of this order on the Ninth Circuit.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: July 26, 2011 

1j0bbc UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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