Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01516/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01516-39/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

ANTWOINE BEALER,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER S. RIOS

and SERGEANT R. BRANNUM,

 Defendants.

1:12-cv-01516-DAD-EPG-PC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR PREPARATION OF TRANSCRIPT AT 

GOVERNMENT’S EXPENSE

(ECF NO. 219)

I. RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Antwoine Bealer (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis with this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. District Judge Dale A. 

Drozd presided over a jury trial in this case. On August 11, 2016, the jury returned a 

unanimous verdict, finding that defendants R. Brannum and S. Rios did not use excessive force 

against Plaintiff on November 1, 2010, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (ECF No. 206). 

R. Brannum and S. Rios (“Defendants”) were the only remaining defendants in the case, and 

the excessive force claim was the only remaining claim in the case. (ECF No. 33). 

On September 6, 2016, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal. (ECF No. 215). On 

September 19, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion for preparation of transcript at government’s 

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expense (the “Motion”). (ECF No. 219). On September 26, 2016, Defendants filed opposition 

to the Motion. (ECF No. 222).

II. LEGAL STANDARD FOR PREPARATION OF A TRANSCRIPT AT 

THE GOVERNMENT’S EXPENSE

28 U.S.C. § 1915(c) states, in relevant part, “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....” Section 1915(a) states:

(1) Subject to subsection (b), any court of the United States may authorize the 

commencement, prosecution or defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil or 

criminal, or appeal therein, without prepayment of fees or security therefor, by a 

person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such 

prisoner possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security 

therefor. Such affidavit shall state the nature of the action, defense or appeal and 

affiant's belief that the person is entitled to redress.

(2) A prisoner seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action 

or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security therefor, in addition to filing 

the affidavit filed under paragraph (1), shall submit a certified copy of the trust 

fund account statement (or institutional equivalent) for the prisoner for the 6-

month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of 

appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each prison at which the prisoner 

is or was confined.

28 U.S.C. § 753(f) states, in relevant part, “[f]ees for transcripts furnished in 

[civil] proceedings to persons permitted to appeal in forma pauperis shall also be paid by 

the United States if the trial judge or a circuit judge certifies that the appeal is not 

frivolous (but presents a substantial question).” See also Maloney v. E. I. DuPont de 

Nemours & Co., 396 F.2d 939, 940 (D.C. Cir. 1967); Henderson v. United States, 734 

F.2d 483, 484 (9th Cir. 1984).

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III. ANALYSIS OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PREPARATION OF 

TRANSCRIPT AT GOVERNMENT’S EXPENSE

Plaintiff asks the Court to order transcripts of the trial and the verdict proceedings at the 

government’s expense. (ECF No. 219) The transcripts will be used to support an appeal. 

According to Plaintiff he is incarcerated, and so is without a significant source of income. 

Additionally, while Plaintiff’s mother was willing to pay for some of Plaintiff’s litigation 

expenses, Plaintiff does not believe her ability to contribute should be taken into account when 

determining Plaintiff’s indigent status.1

Defendants oppose the Motion. They point out that Plaintiff’s motion contains no 

affidavit showing that he lacks the assets to pay for the transcripts himself. They also argue 

that Plaintiff’s mother’s willingness to pay for Plaintiff’s litigation expenses should be taken 

into account. Finally, they argue that Plaintiff has not shown that the appeal presents a 

substantial issue. 

Plaintiff does not raise any issue for appeal, nor argue that his appeal presents a 

substantial issue. The Motion simply states that Plaintiff will use the transcripts to support an

appeal, and explains why he cannot afford to pay for the transcripts himself. Without identified 

issue for appeal, Plaintiff does not meet the standard of presenting a substantial, non-frivolous, 

question for appeal. Accordingly, the Court will deny Plaintiff’s request.

V. CONCLUSION

Based on the facts the Court has before it, it is unable to find that Plaintiff’s appeal 

presents a substantial question. 

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1 Plaintiff has not asked the Court to direct the United States to pay for printing the 

record on appeal, and has not alleged that the 9th Circuit requires such a record to be printed. 

So, the Court will analyze the Motion under § 753(f). 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion for preparation of 

transcript at government’s expense, filed on September 19, 2016, is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 17, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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