Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-02124/USCOURTS-cand-4_08-cv-02124-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

OAKLAND DIVISION

MALINKA MOYE,

Plaintiff,

 v.

LYDIA BACA,

Defendant. 

No. C 08-02124 SBA

ORDER

[Docket No. 3]

REQUEST BEFORE THE COURT

Before the Court is pro per plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (the

“Application”) [Docket No. 3]. For the reasons discussed below, the Court DENIES without

prejudice the Application.

BACKGROUND

On April 24, 2008, plaintiff pro per sued defendant Lydia Baca. See Docket No. 1. 

Plaintiff’s complaint simply states he is suing defendant under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt

Organizations (“RICO”) Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act of

1996, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyances Act, and perjury. Plaintiff provided no other allegations

to support his listed claims.

LEGAL STANDARD

I. Demonstrating In Forma Pauperis Status

The benefit of proceeding in forma pauperis is a privilege, not a right. Franklin v. Murphy,

745 F.2d 1221, 1231 (9th Cir. 1984). As 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) states, in part: 

Any court of the United States may authorize the commencement, prosecution or

defense of any suit, action or proceeding, civil or criminal, or appeal therein, without

prepayment of fees or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that

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includes a statement of all assets such person possesses that the person is unable to

pay such fees or give security therefor.

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). 

A petitioner need not “be absolutely destitute to enjoy the benefit of this statute.” Adkins v.

E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948); Jefferson v. U.S., 277 F.2d 723, 725 (9th

Cir. 1960), cert. denied, 364 U.S. 896 (1960). An affidavit is sufficient if it states a person cannot

pay or provide security for court costs and still provide himself or herself and any dependents with

the necessities of life. Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339.

II. Claims Review under 28 U.S.C. § 1915

Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915 also authorizes a district court to dismiss a claim filed in forma

pauperis “at any time” if it determines: (1) the allegation of poverty is untrue; (2) the action is

frivolous or malicious; (3) the action fails to state a claim; or (4) the action seeks monetary relief

from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Pro se pleadings

must be liberally construed. Balisteri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 

When reviewing a complaint, however, a court does not accept as true unreasonable inferences or

conclusory legal allegations cast in the form of factual allegations. See W. Mining Council v. Watt,

643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981); Miranda v. Clark County, Nev., 279 F.3d 1102, 1106 (9th Cir.

2002) (“conclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences will not defeat a motion to

dismiss for failure to state a claim”); Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir.

2001); McGlinchy v. Shell Chem. Co., 845 F.2d 802, 810 (9th Cir. 1988) (“conclusory allegations

without more are insufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim”). Leave to

amend is properly denied “where the amendment would be futile.” DeSoto v. Yellow Freight Sys.,

957 F.2d 655, 659 (9th Cir. 1992). But if a plaintiff’s complaint is found deficient and an

amendment could possibly cure the deficiency, the complaint must be dismissed with leave to

amend. See Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1135-37 (9th Cir. 1987).

ANALYSIS

The Court has reviewed plaintiff’s Complaint and finds it does not state a claim upon which

relief may be granted. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). While Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 only

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requires, “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief[,]”

Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics Intelligence and Coordination

Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 168 (1993); Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 679 (9th Cir. 2001), a

party must “give the defendant fair notice of what the plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon

which it rests.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957), abrogated on other grounds by Bell Atl.

Corp. v. Twombly, __ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (2007); Yamaguchi v. U.S. Dep’t of the Air Force,

109 F.3d 1475, 1481 (9th Cir. 1997) (a complaint must sufficiently establish a basis for judgment). 

Here, plaintiff has failed to provide any notice to defendant as to what are the bases for his claims.

Further, under claims asserting fraud, plaintiff must meet the higher pleading standards of

“particularity,” imposed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b). Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b);

Desaigoudar v. Meyercord, 223 F.3d 1020, 1022-23 (9th Cir. 2000). Because, however, plaintiff

may be able to cure his pleading defects by amendment, the Court will grant him 30 days leave to

amend. 

Even if plaintiff had stated a claim upon which relief could be granted, however, the Court

could not grant his Application. The Court notes it is difficult to read and illogical. See Docket

No. 3. Plaintiff alleged he has a monthly income of $750,000 per month, no expenses, yet receives

Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) from the Social Security Administration. See id. The Court

could not approve such an Application. Because, however, plaintiff may be able to cure these defect

by amendment, the Court will grant plaintiff 30 days leave to amend.

If, however, plaintiff fails to file an Amended Complaint and a new Application, within

30 days of the date of this Order, the Court will dismiss this matter without prejudice, for

failure to prosecute.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES without prejudice plaintiff’s Application to

Proceed in Forma Pauperis [Docket No. 3]. Likewise, the Court DISMISSES plaintiff’s Complaint

[Docket No. 1]. Plaintiff has 30 days from the date of this Order to filed an Amended Complaint

and file a new Application. If, however, plaintiff fails to file an Amended Complaint and a new

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Application, within 30 days of the date of this Order, the Court will dismiss this matter

without prejudice, for failure to prosecute.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

April 30, 2008 _________________________________

Saundra Brown Armstrong 

United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MALINKA MOYE,

Plaintiff,

 v.

LYDIA BACA et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV08-02124 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District Court,

Northern District of California.

That on April 30, 2008, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle located

in the Clerk's office.

Malinka Moye

40. 42. Parsons Street

San Francisco, CA 94118

Dated: April 30, 2008

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:08-cv-02124-SBA Document 5 Filed 04/30/08 Page 5 of 5