Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01676/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-01676-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 445
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Employment
Cause of Action: 42:12102 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Disability Definition

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17-CV-1676 JLS (JLB)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VAN J. ROSS,

Plaintiff,

v.

PADRES LP, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.: 17-CV-1676 JLS (JLB)

ORDER (1) DENYING MOTION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

AND (2) DENYING MOTION TO 

APPOINT COUNSEL

(ECF Nos. 2, 3)

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff Van J. Ross’s Motion to Proceed In Forma 

Pauperis (“IFP”). (“IFP Mot.,” ECF No. 2.) Also before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to 

Appoint Counsel. (“Counsel Mot.,” ECF No. 3.)

IFP MOTION

All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the 

United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of 

$400. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to prepay 

the entire fee only if he is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

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17-CV-1676 JLS (JLB)

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§ 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). A federal court 

may authorize the commencement of an action without the prepayment of fees if the party 

submits an affidavit, including a statement of assets, showing that he is unable to pay the 

required filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

In the present case, Plaintiff has submitted an affidavit indicating that he has received 

an average monthly employment income of $2,100 over the past twelve months. (IFP Mot. 

1.1) However, he notes that he will soon be leaving his current job, (id. at 6), and thus he 

expects his average monthly employment income to be roughly $1,400 going forward, (id.

at 1). Plaintiff also notes that he will be receiving $732 for retirement benefits and $208 

for unemployment benefits on a monthly basis. (Id. at 3.) This leads to a total average 

monthly income of roughly $2,350. Plaintiff also has $200 in savings accounts, (id. at 3), 

and has two cars valued at $2,400, (id. at 4). His spouse does not have any source of 

income. (See generally id.) However, Plaintiff notes that their combined average monthly 

expenses total well over $3,000. (See id. at 5–6.) This total is likely higher given that 

Plaintiff lists “varies” for items such as medical and dental expenses, home maintenance, 

and recreation/entertainment. (Id. at 5.) This at the very least suggests that Plaintiff either 

has some other source of income or has not fully explained his financial situation to the 

Court. Given the vast discrepancy between Plaintiff’s claimed monthly income and his 

claimed monthly expenses, the Court is unable to determine whether Plaintiff’s affidavit is 

credible and thus cannot accurately assess his ability to pay the $400 civil filing fee.

Accordingly, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the Court DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s 

Motion to Proceed IFP (ECF No. 2). Consequently, the Court DENIES WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel (ECF No. 3). To proceed with his 

 

1 Pin citations to docketed material refer to the CM/ECF numbers electronically stamped at the top of each 

page.

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case, Plaintiff may, within thirty days of the date on which this Order is electronically 

docketed, either (1) pay the $400 filing fee for civil cases, or (2) file a new motion to 

proceed in forma pauperis that addresses the Court’s above-mentioned concerns.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 29, 2017

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