Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00118/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00118-0/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EPHRAIM JENKINS,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. MCKAY, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 1:20-cv-00118-SKO (PC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY MOTION 

TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

SHOULD NOT BE DENIED

(Doc. 2)

21-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff Ephraim Jenkins moves the Court to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP). (Doc. 2.) 

According to the certified account statement attached to his motion, Plaintiff has received, on 

average, monthly deposits of $166.93 to his inmate trust account over the past six months, 

totaling approximately $1,000. (Id.) As this is more than enough to pay the $400 filing fee in this 

action, Plaintiff must show why he is entitled to IFP status.

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. 15-cv-2628-MMA-MDD, 2015 

U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. 2015) (quoting Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. Supp. 848, 

Case 1:20-cv-00118-AWI-SKO Document 5 Filed 01/27/20 Page 1 of 2
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850 (D.R.I. 1984)). Hence, “the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines 

that the [plaintiff’s] allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A).

Plaintiff may have adequate funds to be required to pay the filing fee in full to proceed in 

this action. Accordingly, within 21 days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall show 

cause why his motion to proceed IFP should not be denied, and why this action should not be 

dismissed without prejudice to refiling with prepayment of the filing fee. Failure to respond to 

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

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 27, 2020 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00118-AWI-SKO Document 5 Filed 01/27/20 Page 2 of 2