Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02804/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02804-0/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DON MACALLISTER,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ 

RETIREMENT SYSTEM,

Defendant.

No. 2:24-cv-02804-DAD-CKD (PS)

ORDER

Plaintiff proceeds without counsel and seeks to proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiff has

filed a civil complaint and an application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) on a Judicial 

Council of California form used in state court. (ECF Nos. 1, 2.)

In order to commence a civil action, along with the complaint, a plaintiff must either pay 

the $350.00 filing fee and the $55.00 administrative fee or file an application requesting leave to 

proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). The court may authorize the commencement of 

an action without prepayment of fees by an individual who submits an affidavit evidencing an 

inability to pay such fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Generally, “[a]n affidavit in support of an IFP 

application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot pay the court costs and still afford 

the necessities of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015) (citing 

Adkins v. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948)). Nevertheless, an IFP 

Case 2:24-cv-02804-DAD-CKD Document 3 Filed 10/16/24 Page 1 of 2
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affidavit must “state the facts as to affiant’s poverty with some particularity, definiteness and 

certainty.” United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981).

Plaintiff’s affidavit does not adequately demonstrate plaintiff was unable to pay the court 

costs and still afford the necessities of life when plaintiff filed this suit. This court requires more 

information than what was provided on the Judicial Council of California form, and specifically, 

an itemized list of plaintiff’s income and expenses. While § 1915(a) does not require a litigant to 

demonstrate “absolute destitution,” Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339, the applicant must nonetheless show 

inability to pay the fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Plaintiff has not done so.

Because plaintiff does not make an adequate showing of indigency for in forma pauperis 

status, plaintiff will be granted 30 days in which to submit the filing fee and administrative fee to 

the Clerk of the Court. In the alternative, plaintiff may submit a renewed application to proceed 

IFP on the form used by this court.

1 Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to pay the court costs or file 

a renewed affidavit will result in a recommendation that the application to proceed in forma 

pauperis be denied and the present action be dismissed.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is denied without 

prejudice to renewal.

2. Within thirty (30) days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall submit the 

appropriate filing fee and administrative fee or a fully completed and signed affidavit 

to proceed without prepayment of fees on the form used by this court.

Dated: October 16, 2024

8

maca24cv2804.ifp

1 This form is located at https://www.caed.uscourts.gov/caednew/index.cfm/forms/civil.

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:24-cv-02804-DAD-CKD Document 3 Filed 10/16/24 Page 2 of 2