Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00406/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-00406-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL WITKIN,

Plaintiff,

v.

MARIANA LOTERSZTAIN, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:19-cv-0406 DJC KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a former state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil rights action seeking 

relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis on 

October 1, 2019. (ECF No. 8.) 

On December 29, 2023, defendant Lotersztain filed a motion to revoke plaintiff’s in forma 

pauperis status. Defendant argues that since plaintiff has been released from prison, his financial 

circumstances have changed, and his previously-granted in forma pauperis status should be 

revoked, and he should be ordered to submit a new request to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), and the instant action should be dismissed if plaintiff fails to either pay the 

filing fee or submit a new application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Plaintiff has not opposed the motion or otherwise responded.

The in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915, distinguishes unincarcerated indigent 

people from incarcerated ones. Under § 1915(a)(1), a non-prisoner plaintiff may file suit without 

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prepaying fees, provided he or she submits an affidavit demonstrating “that the person is unable 

to pay such fees or give security therefor.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1232 (9th Cir. 

2015); Ingle v. Cir. City Stores, Inc., 328 F.3d 1165, 1177 (9th Cir. 2003). On the other hand, an 

indigent prisoner is not exempt from prepayment. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). Instead, the prisoner 

must submit a copy of his or her trust account statement, make an initial payment, followed by 

subsequent monthly installments, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)-(2).

“[In forma pauperis] status may be acquired or lost during the course of the litigation, and 

the court may waive or order payment of costs for any of the benefits that may arise under the 

statute.” Stehouwer v. Hennessey, 841 F. Supp. 316, 321 (N.D. Cal. 1994), aff’d in part, vacated 

in part on other grounds sub nom. Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109 (9th Cir. 1995). The court 

may revoke plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status “if there is sufficient evidence that plaintiff’s 

financial condition has improved to the point that plaintiff’s economic situation is no longer a 

significant barrier to maintaining the action.” Murphy v. Jones, 801 F. Supp. 283, 289 (E.D. Mo. 

1992); see also Carter v. Telectron, Inc., 452 F. Supp. 939, 942 (S.D. Tex. 1976) (“if the 

allegation of poverty is no longer true because of a subsequent improvement in the economic 

status of plaintiff, it is within the authority of this Court to dismiss the proceeding... or. . . 

require that the costs of the litigation to date be paid by plaintiff in lieu of dismissal” (internal 

citations omitted)).

On this record, it is unclear whether or to what extent plaintiff’s financial condition has 

improved. Thus, plaintiff shall submit a current, fully-completed and signed Application to 

Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Long Form) (“AO 239”).1 Plaintiff is 

cautioned that failure to submit the completed and signed form will result in a recommendation 

that the motion to revoke plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status be granted, and plaintiff will be 

required to pay the court filing fee in full before this action may continue. If plaintiff is no longer 

indigent, he will be required to pay the court’s required filing fee of $350.00 plus the $55.00 

administrative fee, for a total fee of $405.00. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a). The court’s financial 

1

 This form is available at <https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/fee-waiverapplicationforms/application-proceed-district-court-without-prepaying-fees-or>.

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department confirms that to date, plaintiff has paid nothing toward the filing fee imposed in this 

action at the time plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis.2

Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to submit the completed and signed form will result in a 

recommendation that the motion to revoke plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status be granted, and 

plaintiff will be required to pay the required court filing fees of $405.00 in full before this action 

may continue.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within twenty-one days from the date of this order, plaintiff shall file a fully completed

and signed Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Long 

Form) (“AO 239”); and

2. Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to submit the completed and signed form will result in 

a recommendation that the motion to revoke plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status be granted, and 

plaintiff will be required to pay the court filing fees of $405.00 in full before this action may 

continue.

Dated: January 25, 2024

/witk0406.rev

2

 Litigants proceeding in forma pauperis are not required to pay the $55.00 administrative fee and

are allowed to make payments toward the filing fee. Litigants who are out of custody and not 

granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis must pay the court’s filing and administrative fees in 

full.

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