Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-05362/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-05362-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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 This disposition is not designated for publication and may not be cited.

Case No. C 05-5362

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

(JFLC1)

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

KHALID MOHAMMAD,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

DIAZ BROTHERS BAIL BONDS,

 Defendant.

Case Number C 05-5362

ORDER1 GRANTING APPLICATION

TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

On February 1, 2006, this Court issued an order dismissing Plaintiff Khalid Mohammad’s

complaint with leave to amend and denying Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis

on the ground that this Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the complaint. As

Magistrate Judge Patricia Trumbull explained in her Order reassigning the instant action to this

Court and recommending that it be dismissed with leave to amend, the Court lacked subject

matter jurisdiction over the original complaint “in that the Plaintiff alleges diversity of

citizenship as the sole basis for federal jurisdiction when both the Plaintiff and Defendant appear

to be citizens of California.” In order to establish federal diversity jurisdiction, a plaintiff must

show that a dispute has arisen between citizens of different states and that the sum or value in

Case 5:05-cv-05362-JF Document 14 Filed 06/29/06 Page 1 of 3
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Case No. C 05-5362

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

(JFLC1)

controversy exceeds $75,000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). 

On February 2, 2006, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint. Plaintiff alleges that he is a

resident of the state of New York, see Ex. D (New York State identification card issued on

October 3, 2005), but currently uses the address of a California shelter for the homeless as a

mailing address because he “is currently serving a wrongful probation sentence in California and

therefore is unable to leave the State of California.” The Seventh Circuit, agreeing with four

other circuits, has held that “since domicile is a voluntary status, a forcible change in a person’s

state of residence does not alter his domicile; hence the domicile of the prisoner before he was

imprisoned is presumed to remain his domicile while he is in prison.” Sullivan v. Freeman, 944

F.2d 334, 337 (7th Cir. 1991) (citing Stifel v. Hopkins, 477 F.2d 1116 (6th Cir.1973) (per

curiam); Housand v. Heiman, 594 F.2d 923, 925 n. 5 (2d Cir.1979) (per curiam); Jones v.

Hadican, 552 F.2d 249 (8th Cir.1977); Polakoff v. Henderson, 370 F.Supp. 690, 693

(N.D.Ga.1973), aff’d per curiam, 488 F.2d 977 (5th Cir.1974)). Accordingly, because Plaintiff

and Defendant are citizens of different states and Plaintiff seeks damages in the amount of

$80,000, this Court has jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to diversity jurisdiction. 

Additionally, while it is not clear from its face that the complaint has potential merit, it is

possible to construe the complaint as stating a claim upon which relief may be granted.

On June 5, 2006, Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. Pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915, a district court may authorize the commencement of a civil action in forma

pauperis if the court is satisfied that the would-be plaintiff cannot pay the filing fees necessary to

pursue the action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The Court is satisfied that Plaintiff cannot pay the

filing fee and that the instant action is not frivolous or without merit and therefore will grant the

instant application to proceed in forma pauperis.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 29, 2006

 

JEREMY FOGEL

United States District Judge

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Case No. C 05-5362

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

(JFLC1)

This Order has been served upon the following persons:

Khalid Mohammad

3050 Lexington Court

Marina, CA 93933

Case 5:05-cv-05362-JF Document 14 Filed 06/29/06 Page 3 of 3