Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01418/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01418-4/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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 Plaintiff’s original application to proceed in forma pauperis was denied as incomplete. 

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The court granted him leave to file a completed application, which he failed to do. Based on his

failure to file a completed application and because the court found his claims frivolous, the action

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HAROLD L. ARMSTRONG, No. 2:06-cv-1418-MCE-EFB-PS

Plaintiff, 

v. ORDER

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., 

Defendant. 

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding in propria persona, filed the above-captioned action

seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against defendant Wells Fargo Bank, a private actor. 

Judgment was entered on November 17, 2006, and the action was dismissed without prejudice. 

On December 1, 2006, plaintiff filed a notice of appeal, and on December 4, 2006, plaintiff filed

a “request for waiver of court fees and trial transcripts and the trial court clerk’s record.” The

court construes plaintiff’s request as a motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis. Plaintiff

sought, but was never granted such status in the underlying action.1

Case 2:06-cv-01418-MCE -EFB Document 32 Filed 12/18/06 Page 1 of 3
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The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure provide as follows:

[A] party . . .who desires to appeal in forma

pauperis must file a motion in the district court. 

The party must attach an affidavit that: (A) shows in

the detail prescribed by Form 4 of the Appendix of

Forms the party’s inability to pay or to give security

for fees and cots; (B) claims an entitlement to

redress; and (C) states the issues that the party

intends to present on appeal.

Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1). 

Construing plaintiff’s December 4, 2006, request as a motion to proceed on appeal in

forma pauperis, the court finds that it fails to comply with the requirements of Fed. R. App. P.

24(a)(1). Specifically, plaintiff has not provided the required affidavit, nor otherwise sufficiently

shown his inability to pay or to give security for fees and costs. Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1)(A).

Furthermore, plaintiff has not claimed an entitlement to redress nor stated the issues that he

intends to present on appeal. Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1)(B) and (C). 

Moreover, the court has reviewed the record herein, and finds that plaintiff’s appeal is not

taken in good faith. Good faith is established by the presentation of any issue on appeal that is

not plainly “frivolous.” Farley v. United States, 354 U.S. 521, 522-23 (1957); Gardner v. Pogue,

558 F.2d 548, 550 (9th Cir. 1977). An action is “frivolous” for purposes of section 1915 if it

lacks any arguable basis in fact or law. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 328 (1989);

Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1225 (9th Cir. 1984). A suit lacks an arguable basis in law.

if controlling authority requires a finding that the facts alleged fail to establish even an “arguable

legal claim.” Guti v. INS, 908 F.2d 495, 496 (9th Cir. 1990) (citation omitted). The court has

previously found plaintiff’s claims to be frivolous. Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion for leave to

proceed in forma pauperis on appeal is denied.

Finally, the court notes that in the request filed December 4, 2006, plaintiff asks the court

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to send him copies of “the court transcripts (if any) and the trial court clerk’s record.” To the

extent that plaintiff is requesting copies of court documents, plaintiff is advised that the court

does not provide copies for any party. The court will, however, order the clerk to mail a copy of

the docket to plaintiff together with a copy of this order. All other requests for copies of

documents are denied.

In accordance with the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis is denied; 

2. The Clerk shall immediately notify the Court of Appeals of this court’s denial

of plaintiff’s motion to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis pursuant to Fed. R. App. P.

24(a)(4)(A); and,

3. The Clerk shall mail plaintiff a copy of the docket in the above-captioned case

together with a copy of this order; all other requests for documents and copies of documents are

denied. 

DATED: December 18, 2006

___________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-01418-MCE -EFB Document 32 Filed 12/18/06 Page 3 of 3