Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05879/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05879-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 42:1981 Housing Discrimination

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA,

Plaintiff,

v.

DANIEL EVERETT,

Defendant.

Case No. 18-cv-05879-SI 

ORDER REVOKING IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS STATUS

On March 20, 2019, the Ninth Circuit issued a Referral Notice requesting this Court 

determine the limited issues of (1) whether defendant Daniel Everett’s appeal in the above captioned 

matter should continue with in forma pauperis status and (2) whether the appeal is frivolous or taken 

in bad faith. The Court hereby finds the appeal is frivolous and in bad faith, accordingly, revocation 

of Mr. Everett’s in forma pauperis status is warranted. 

BACKGROUND

In December 2016, the State Bar of California brought disciplinary actions against Mr. 

Everett.1 On four separate occasions, Mr. Everett sought to remove the state matter to this Court.2

The State Bar of California (“State Bar”) successfully moved to remand in each instance. Most 

recently, on February 1, 2019, this Court granted the State Bar’s motion to remand and for sanctions, 

again finding no subject matter jurisdiction. 

 

1

See Notice of Disciplinary Charges, [consolidated] State Bar Court Case Nos. 15-O12952; 15-O-13789; 15-O-14462, available at http://members.calbar.ca.gov/courtDocs/15-O12951.pdf; Notice of Disciplinary Charges, State Bar Court Case No. 16-O-10277 [16-O-15762],

available at http://members.calbar.ca.gov/courtDocs/16-O-10277.pdf.

2 See Case No. 3:17-CV-01716 (March 29, 2017 petition for removal), Case No. 3:17-CV03595 (June 21, 2017 petition for removal), Case No. 3:18-CV-00051 (January 4, 2018 petition 

for removal), Case No. 3:18-CV-05879 (September 25, 2018 petition for removal).

Case 3:18-cv-05879-SI Document 35 Filed 03/20/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

On March 4, 2019, Mr. Everett filed a notice of appeal with respect to this Court’s February 

1, 2019 order granting the motion to remand and for pre-filing approval sanctions. See Dkt. No. 34. 

On March 20, 2019 the Ninth Circuit entered the Referral Notice referenced above. See Case No. 

19-15467 Dkt. No. 2. 

LEGAL STANDARD

“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). The test for allowing an appeal to proceed in forma 

pauperis is a low bar; appellant satisfies the good faith requirement if any issue raised for review in 

the appeal is not frivolous. Gardner v. Pogue, 558 F.2d 548, 550-51 (9th Cir. 1977); see 

also Hooker v. American Airlines, 302 F.3d 1091, 1092 (9th Cir. 2002) (if at least one issue or claim 

is non-frivolous, the appeal must proceed in forma pauperis as a whole). 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, “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.

DISCUSSION

Mr. Everett’s appeal lacks any arguable basis in law or in fact. As this Court has stated four 

times previously, it does not have subject matter jurisdiction over the State’s Bar’s disciplinary 

action regarding Mr. Everett. Accordingly, the Court finds that revocation of defendant’s in forma 

pauperis status is warranted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 20, 2019

______________________________________

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-05879-SI Document 35 Filed 03/20/19 Page 2 of 2