Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-01350/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-01350-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 1 - 10cv1350-WQH-JMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GINA HERNDON,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 10cv1350-WQH-JMA

ORDER

vs.

THE ORGANIZER,

Defendant.

HAYES, Judge:

The matters before the Court are the Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis

(Doc. # 2) and the Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. # 3).

BACKGROUND

On June 25, 2010, Plaintiff Gina Herndon, a nonprisoner proceeding pro se, initiated

this action by filing a Complaint in this Court. (Doc. # 1). On June 25, 2010, Plaintiff filed

the Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“Motion to Proceed IFP”), and the Motion

to Appoint Counsel. (Doc. # 2, 3).

ANALYSIS

I. Motion to Proceed IFP

All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court of the United

States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $350. See 28

U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to prepay the entire fee

only if the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999).

In her affidavit accompanying the Motion to Proceed IFP, Plaintiff states that she has

not been employed since 2008, but she receives $850 a month in Social Security disability

benefits. (Doc. # 2 at 2). Plaintiff states that she has no assets of value; she has $6,000 of

debt; and she has one dependent, Nicholas Herndon. (Doc. # 2 at 2-3). The Court has

Case 3:10-cv-01350-WQH-JMA Document 4 Filed 06/30/10 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 - 10cv1350-WQH-JMA

reviewed Plaintiff’s affidavit and finds it is sufficient to show that Plaintiff is unable to pay the

fees required to maintain this action. The Court grants the Motion to Proceed IFP pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

II. Initial Screening Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(b)

After granting IFP status, the Court must dismiss the case sua sponte if the case “fails

to state a claim on which relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); see also Calhoun

v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001). In addition, “[i]f the court determines at anytime

that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

12(h)(3); see also Cal. Diversified Promotions, Inc. v. Musick, 505 F.2d 278, 280 (9th Cir.

1974) (“It has long been held that a judge can dismiss sua sponte for lack of jurisdiction”).

Federal courts–unlike state courts–are courts of limited jurisdiction and lack inherent

or general subject matter jurisdiction. Federal courts can only adjudicate those cases in which

the United States Constitution and Congress authorize them to adjudicate. See Kokkonen v.

Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). The presumption is that federal courts lack

jurisdiction over civil actions, and the burden to establish the contrary rests upon the party

asserting jurisdiction. See id. In the federal courts, subject matter jurisdiction may arise from

either “federal question jurisdiction” or “diversity jurisdiction.” Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams,

482 U.S. 386, 392 (1987); see also 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331-32. To invoke diversity jurisdiction,

the complaint must allege that “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000,

exclusive of interest and costs, and is between ... citizens of different States ... [or] citizens of

a State and citizens or subjects of a foreign state....” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). To invoke federal

question jurisdiction, the complaint must allege that the “action[] aris[es] under the

Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

The standard used to evaluate whether a complaint states a claim is a liberal one,

particularly when the action has been filed pro se. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 97

(1976). However, even a “liberal interpretation ... may not supply elements of the claim that

were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th

Cir. 1982). “[P]ro se litigants are bound by the rules of procedure.” Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d

Case 3:10-cv-01350-WQH-JMA Document 4 Filed 06/30/10 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 - 10cv1350-WQH-JMA

52, 54 (9th Cir. 1995). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 provides that “[a] pleading that states

a claim for relief must contain ... a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

pleader is entitled to relief....” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). “[A] plaintiff’s obligation to provide the

grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic

recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550

U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (quotation omitted).

The Complaint, in its entirety, reads: “This company has been harassing me. Since I

joined as a client I have not received sufficient payment to maintain throughout the course of

the week. They have been with holding hundreds of dollars while I have been starving. Also,

they have been hostile.” (Doc. # 1 at 1).

These allegations are insufficient to put Defendant on notice of the claims against it, as

required by Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court finds that Plaintiff fails

to state a claim on which relief can be granted. The Complaint also fails to allege a basis for

federal court subject-mater jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Complaint is dismissed.

III. Appointment of Counsel

In light of the Court’s sua sponte dismissal of the Complaint, Plaintiff’s request for

appointment of counsel is denied as moot.

CONCLUSION

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion for Leave to Proceed in Formal Pauperis

(Doc. # 2) is GRANTED. The Complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice. No later than

THIRTY (30) DAYS from the date of this Order, Plaintiff may file an amended complaint,

which shall be entitled, “First Amended Complaint,” and which shall comply with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure and adequately allege a basis of subject-matter jurisdiction. If

Plaintiff does not file a first amended complaint within thirty days, the Court will order this

case to be closed. The Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. # 3) is DENIED as moot.

DATED: June 30, 2010

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:10-cv-01350-WQH-JMA Document 4 Filed 06/30/10 Page 3 of 3