Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-01120/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-01120-0/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ROBERT J. ELLIS, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

THOMPSON, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:16-cv-1120-EFB P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983, seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis.1

 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). For the reasons 

explained below, plaintiff has not demonstrated he is eligible to proceed in forma pauperis. 

A prisoner may not proceed in forma pauperis: 

if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in 

any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was 

dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim 

upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of 

serious physical injury. 

28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Court records reflect that on at least three prior occasions, plaintiff has 

brought actions in this court while incarcerated that were dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for 

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 This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(b)(1) and is before the undersigned pursuant to plaintiff’s consent. See E.D. Cal. Local 

Rules, Appx. A, at (k)(4). 

Case 2:16-cv-01120-EFB Document 5 Filed 06/16/16 Page 1 of 2
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failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See, e.g., Case Nos. 2:06-cv-0040-

FCD-EFB P, 2:11-cv-0363-GEB-CKD P, 2:13-cv-2197-CKD P, and 2:14-cv-0705-EFB P. See 

also Ellis v. Harper, No. 2:14-cv-1949-CKD (E.D. Cal. June 8, 2015) (order designating plaintiff 

a three-strikes litigant for purposes of § 1915(g)). 

The section 1915(g) exception applies if the complaint makes a plausible allegation that 

the prisoner faced “imminent danger of serious physical injury” at the time of filing. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915(g); Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1055 (9th Cir. 2007). For the exception to 

apply, the court must look to the conditions the “prisoner faced at the time the complaint was 

filed, not at some earlier or later time.” Andrews, 493 F.3d at 1053, 1056 (requiring that prisoner 

allege “an ongoing danger” to satisfy the imminency requirement). Courts need “not make an 

overly detailed inquiry into whether the allegations qualify for the exception.” Id. at 1055. 

In the complaint (ECF No. 1), plaintiff seeks redress for the loss of personal property. His 

allegations do not demonstrate that he suffered from an ongoing or imminent danger of serious 

physical injury at the time he filed his complaint. Thus, the imminent danger exception does not 

apply. Plaintiff’s application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis must therefore be denied 

pursuant to § 1915(g). Plaintiff must submit the appropriate filing fee in order to proceed with 

this action. 

 Accordingly, because plaintiff has not paid the filing fee and cannot proceed in forma 

pauperis, it is hereby ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 3) is denied; and 

2. Plaintiff shall submit, within twenty-one days from the date of this order, the 

appropriate filing fee. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in the dismissal of 

this action. 

Dated: June 16, 2016. 

Case 2:16-cv-01120-EFB Document 5 Filed 06/16/16 Page 2 of 2