Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-01055/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-01055-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Personal Injury

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FILED 

MAY - 8 1012 ] 

CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

BY DEPUTY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DIANA LEE WALLACH LORRETZ, 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

JEWISH FEDERATION, 

Defendant. 

CASE NO. 12-cv-l055 - BEN (NLS) 

ORDER: 

(1) GRANTING REQUEST TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, 

[Doc. No.2]; 

(2) SUA SPONTE DISMISSING 

COMPLAINT; and 

(3) DENYING AS MOOT MOTION TO 

APPOINT COUNSEL, [Doc. No.3]. 

Plaintiff Diana Lee Wallach Lorretz, proceeding pro se, has filed a complaint alleging that 

Defendant Jewish Federation did not allow her to learn Hebrew, bullied and tortured her, and created 

fraudulent "records" against her and her family. Plaintiffhas not paid the $350 civil filing fee required 

to commence this action, but has filed a motion to proceed informa pauperis. [Doc. No.2.] Plaintiff 

also filed a motion to appoint counsel. [Doc. No.3.] For the reasons set forth below, the Court 

GRANTS the motion to proceed in forma pauperis, sua sponte screens and DISMISSES the 

complaint, and DENIES AS MOOT the motion to appoint counsel. 

DISCUSSION 

I. Motion to proceed in forma pauperis 

Parties instituting any civil action in a district court ofthe United States, except an application 

for a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $350. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may 

proceed despite a plaintiffs 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). Having reviewed Plaintiffs declaration in support ofher motion to proceed in 

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forma pauperis, the Court finds it sufficient to show that she is unable to pay the fees or post securities 

required to maintain this action. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff s motion to proceed in 

forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 19l5(a). 

II. Sua sponte screening 

An in forma pauperis complaint is subject to mandatory screening. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915( e )(2)(B), notwithstanding any filing fee, the Court must dismiss any complaint if at any time 

the Court determines that it is "frivolous or malicious," "fails to state a claim on which relief may be 

granted," or "seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief." The sua 

sponte screening is mandatory. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc); 

see also Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 FJd 845,845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam) ("[T]he provisions of28 

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to prisoners." (citation omitted)). 

In this case, Plaintiff s one-paragraph complaint alleges that Defendant Jewish Federation did 

not allow Plaintiff to learn Hebrew, bullied her, tortured her "with bad food and with drugs," and 

"created records fraud about Plaintiff, her brother, her parents, her husband, causing terrible harm." 

It is unclear, however, what the constitutional or statutory ground for relief is. Accordingly, the 

complaint is hereby DISMISSED because it fails to allege sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, 

to state a plausible claim to relief. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937,1949 (2009); see also 

Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998) (order) ("The language of § 

1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) parallels the language ofFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)."). 

CONCLUSION 

Plaintiff s motion to proceed informa pauperis is GRANTED. Plaintiff s complaint is hereby 

DISMISSED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND for failure to state a claim. IfPlaintiffwishes to amend 

her complaint, she should file the amended complaint no later than May 29, 2012. In light of the 

24 dismissal, Plaintiffs motion to appoint counsel is DENIED 

25 IT IS S~ERED. 

26 Date: May -7-,2012 

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