Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00083/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00083-0/pdf.json

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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DOMINIC VARGAS (AKA DIAMOND 

VARGAS),

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al., 

Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:20-cv-0083 JLT (PC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY 

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE 

DENIED 

(Docs. 2, 7)

21-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff has applied to proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 2.) The Inmate Statement Report 

submitted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in support of plaintiff’s 

application shows an account balance fluctuating between $43.76 and $627.08, with the balance 

routinely exceeding $250. 

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 

Case 1:20-cv-00083-JLT-CDB Document 8 Filed 02/10/20 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

F. 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 he chose to spend his money elsewhere.

Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that within 21 days of the date of service of this order, 

plaintiff shall show cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied and 

he be required to pay the filing fee in full before proceeding. Alternatively, plaintiff may file a 

notice of voluntary dismissal.

Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court 

order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 10, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00083-JLT-CDB Document 8 Filed 02/10/20 Page 2 of 2