Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05628/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05628-0/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

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VICKI ELLSWORTH, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

MEDIACOM COMPANY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-05628-JST 

ORDER REGARDING REFERRAL 

NOTICE OF PLAINTIFFS' IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS STATUS

The Ninth Circuit has made a referral to this Court, asking it to determine whether in forma 

pauperis (“IFP”) status should continue on the appeal taken by Plaintiffs-Appellants Vicki 

Ellsworth and James La Vell Harris or whether the appeal is frivolous or taken in bad faith. See

ECF No. 13 (notice of referral).

A litigant who was previously permitted to proceed IFP may maintain such status on 

appeal unless the district court certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith or finds that the 

party is not otherwise entitled to proceed IFP. Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3)(A). Similarly, 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(a)(3) provides that “[a]n appeal may not be taken [IFP] if the trial court certifies in writing 

that it is not taken in good faith.” “For purposes of section 1915, an appeal is frivolous if it lacks 

any arguable basis in law or fact.” Ortega v. Barbasa, No. 13-17074, 2014 WL 460019, at *3 

(N.D. Cal. Feb. 3, 2014). 

The Court concluded in its December 18, 2015 Order that Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by 

res judicata and dismissed the action with prejudice. See ECF No. 10. The Court finds the appeal 

frivolous and certifies it as such to the Ninth Circuit. 

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Case 3:15-cv-05628-JST Document 14 Filed 03/07/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

The Clerk of the Court shall forthwith notify Plaintiffs and the Ninth Circuit of this order. 

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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 7, 2016

______________________________________

JON S. TIGAR

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-05628-JST Document 14 Filed 03/07/16 Page 2 of 2