Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01374/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01374-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD L. GATES, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF LAKE et al.,

Defendants.

CIV. S-05-1374 DFL PAN PS

ORDER and

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

-o0oOn July 8, 2005, plaintiff filed an application to

proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 and a

proposed complaint. 

Plaintiff’s affidavit states that he receives $815 per

month disability payments, has no cash or bank accounts, his only

asset is a 1986 vehicle valued at $1000, and his wife is

dependent upon him for support. Plaintiff’s affidavit

demonstrates that because of poverty he cannot pay or give

security for court costs and still be able to provide himself and

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his dependent with the necessities of life. See Adkins v. E.I.

Dupont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948). 

Accordingly, plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma

pauperis is granted and the Clerk of Court is directed to open a

civil file.

A federal court must, however, dismiss the complaint of a

plaintiff proceeding, or seeking to proceed, in forma pauperis if

at any time the court determines the action is frivolous,

malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune

from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), (ii), (iii). 

The complaint asserts plaintiff should have been awarded

custody of his son, now 24 years of age, and that defendant

county’s child support and arrears assessments failed to take

into consideration plaintiff’s inability to work due to his

disabilities. Attached to the complaint is the 1981 birth

certificate of plaintiff’s son and a 1998 Notice of Intent to

Report to Credit Bureaus issued by the Salinas Child Support

Enforcement Unit. Plaintiff states on the civil cover sheet that

his cause of action is “infringed family law.”

Resolution of child custody and related family law issues

lies only with the laws of the states, as interpreted by the

state courts. In re Burrus, 136 U.S. 586, 593-594 (1890); Moore

v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415, 435 (1979) ; Elk Grove Unified School

Dist. v. Newdow, 124 S.Ct. 2301, 2309 (2004). This court is

without subject matter jurisdiction to consider plaintiff’s

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complaint. 

Accordingly, the complaint should be dismissed for

failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). 

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the

Honorable David F. Levi, the United States District Judge

assigned to this case. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Written

objections may be filed within ten days after being served with

these findings and recommendations. The document should be

captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and

Recommendations.” The failure to file objections within the

specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s

order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 

Dated: December 12, 2005. 

 /s/ Peter A. Nowinski 

 PETER A. NOWINSKI

 Magistrate Judge

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