Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00764/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00764-0/pdf.json

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

---

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

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALEXANDER FRANCO,

Plaintiff,

v.

LEVIN, et al., 

Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:19-cv-0764 JLT (PC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY 

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE 

DENIED 

(Docs. 2, 8)

21-DAY DEADLINE

The Certificate of Funds in Prisoner’s Account submitted in support of plaintiff’s 

application to proceed in forma pauperis reveals average deposits each month totaling $160, and 

an average monthly prisoner balance of $160. (Doc. 2.) Additionally, the Inmate Statement 

Report submitted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows an 

account balance fluctuating between $57.46 and $641.61. 

Proceeding “in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 

116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP, Adkins v. 

E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948), “the same even-handed care must 

be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, 

either frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in 

material part, to pull his own oar.” Doe v. Educ. Enrichment Sys., No. 15cv2628-MMA (MDD), 

Case 1:19-cv-00764-AWI-JLT Document 11 Filed 02/07/20 Page 1 of 2
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

2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2015) (citing Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 

F. Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). “[T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court 

determines the allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A). It appears that 

plaintiff has had sufficient funds over the last several months to be required to pay the filing fee 

in full to proceed in this action, but he chose to spend his money elsewhere.

Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that within 21 days of the date of service of this order, 

plaintiff shall show cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied and 

this action dismissed without prejudice to refiling with prepayment of the filing fee; alternatively, 

plaintiff may file a notice of voluntary dismissal.

Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court 

order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 6, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-00764-AWI-JLT Document 11 Filed 02/07/20 Page 2 of 2