Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00141/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00141-1/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE LEON HOPTON,

Plaintiff,

v.

FRESNO COUNTY HUMAN HEALTH 

SYSTEM, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 1:20-cv-00141-NONE-SKO

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND 

DIRECTING PAYMENT

OF INMATE FILING FEE BY THE SHERIFF 

OF THE FRESNO COUNTY JAIL 

(Doc. 3)

Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and has requested 

leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Doc. 3.) As Plaintiff represents 

that he has no income or assets, the request to proceed in forma pauperis will be granted. Plaintiff 

is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). 

Plaintiff is obligated to make monthly payments in the amount of twenty percent of the preceding 

month’s income credited to Plaintiff’s trust account. The Sheriff of the Fresno County Jail is 

required to send to the Clerk of Court payments from Plaintiff’s account each time the amount in 

the account exceeds $10.00, until the statutory filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).1

 

1 Plaintiff filed a motion on February 14, 2020, requesting an order compelling the Fresno County Jail to produce 

Plaintiff’s prisoner trust fund account statement to him, among other requests, since Plaintiff has been unsuccessful in 

obtaining the statement from Fresno County Jail. (Doc. 6.) The Court will allow Plaintiff 60 days from the date of 

service of this Order to submit the statement, and the Fresno County Jail is directed to assist Plaintiff by producing to 

Plaintiff his prisoner trust fund account statement upon request. Plaintiff’s other requests either repeat allegations in 

the complaint or request relief, such as “an order . . . compelling the agencies of the U.S. Department of Justice to 

investigate,” that is outside the scope of this case. (See Doc. 6 at 4.) Those requests will be DENIED as moot. 

Case 1:20-cv-00141-DAD-SKO Document 7 Filed 02/20/20 Page 1 of 3
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As to the status of his complaint, Plaintiff is advised that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915(e)(2), the court must conduct an initial review of every pro se complaint proceeding in forma 

pauperis to determine whether it is legally sufficient under the applicable pleading standards. The 

court must dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, if the court determines that the complaint is 

legally frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks 

monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). If the 

court determines that the complaint fails to state a claim, leave to amend may be granted to the 

extent that the deficiencies in the complaint can be cured by amendment. Plaintiff’s complaint will 

be screened in due course.

If appropriate after the case has been screened, the Clerk of Court will provide Plaintiff with 

the requisite forms and instructions to request the assistance of the United States Marshal in serving 

the defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4.

Based on the foregoing and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 3) is GRANTED.

2. The Sheriff of the Fresno County Jail or his designee shall collect payments 

from Plaintiff’s prison trust account in an amount equal to twenty per cent (20%) of the 

preceding month’s income credited to the prisoner’s trust account, and shall forward those 

payments to the Clerk of Court each time the amount in the account exceeds $10.00, in 

accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), until a total of $350.00 has been collected and 

forwarded to the Clerk of Court. The payments shall be clearly identified by the name and 

number assigned to this action. 

3. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this order and a copy of Plaintiff’s 

in forma pauperis application on the Sheriff of the Fresno County Jail, via the court’s electronic 

case filing system (CM/ECF).

4. The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the Financial 

Department, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Case 1:20-cv-00141-DAD-SKO Document 7 Filed 02/20/20 Page 2 of 3
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Dated: February 19, 2020 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00141-DAD-SKO Document 7 Filed 02/20/20 Page 3 of 3