Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00947/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00947-1/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

CHARLENE STITH,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:23-cv-00947-ADA-GSA-PC

 

ORDER TO EITHER:

(1) SUBMIT NEW COMPLETED

APPLICATION TO PROCEED 

IN FORMA PAUPERIS

BEARING PLAINTIFF’S 

ORIGINAL SIGNATURE,

 OR

(2) PAY $402.00 FILING FEE

 IN FULL

DEADLINE: AUGUST 10, 2023

ORDER FOR CLERK TO SEND 

PLAINTIFF AN APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Charlene Stith (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding with counsel in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on 

June 23, 2023, together with an application to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. 

(ECF Nos. 1, 8.) On July 6, 2023, the Court received a certified copy of Plaintiff’s prison trust 

account statement. (ECF No. 12.)

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Plaintiff’s declaration in support of the application to proceed in forma pauperis does not 

bear Plaintiff’s original signature. (ECF No. 8 at 2.) Counsel has e-signed the declaration for 

Plaintiff but has not submitted a statement that counsel has a signed original signature as required

by Rule 131(f) of the Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of 

California, which provides as follows:

(f) Non-Attorney’s Electronic Signature. Documents that are required to 

be signed by a person who is not the attorney of record in a particular action 

(verified pleadings, affidavits, papers authorized to be filed electronically by 

persons in pro per, etc.), may be submitted in electronic format bearing a “/s/” and 

the person’s name on the signature line along with a statement that counsel has a 

signed original, e.g., “/s/ John Doe (original signature retained by attorney Mary 

Roe).” It is counsel’s duty to maintain this original signature for one year after the 

exhaustion of all appeals. This procedure may also be followed when a hybrid 

electronic/paper document is filed, i.e., the conventionally served document may 

also contain an annotated signature in lieu of the original. 

Therefore, Plaintiff’s declaration is deficient. There is no indication that Plaintiff either 

read the contents of the declaration or that counsel read the declaration to Plaintiff. Although

Local Rule 131(f) allows for a non-attorney’s signature to be submitted electronically using “/s/” 

and that person’s name, the signature must include “a statement that counsel has a signed 

original.” L.R. 131(f). 

An e-signature affixed by counsel where the client did not actually see the document does 

not satisfy the requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 17461even if the declarant “directed his attorney to 

1 Wherever, under any law of the United States or under any rule, regulation, order, or 

requirement made pursuant to law, any matter is required or permitted to be supported, evidenced, 

established, or proved by the sworn declaration, verification, certificate, statement, oath, or affidavit, in 

writing of the person making the same (other than a deposition, or an oath of office, or an oath required 

to be taken before a specified official other than a notary public), such matter may, with like force and 

effect, be supported, evidenced, established, or proved by the unsworn declaration, certificate, 

verification, or statement, in writing of such person which is subscribed by him, as true under penalty of 

perjury, and dated, in substantially the following form:

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write the declaration, had the declaration read to him in its entirety, and authorized his attorney 

to affix his signature.” Dietle v. Miranda, No. 214CV1728WBSACP, 2017 WL 387253, at *3 

(E.D. Cal. Jan. 26, 2017), report and recommendation adopted, No. 214CV1728WBSACP, 2017 

WL 714390 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 22, 2017) (quoting Freezor v. Excell Stocton, LLC, No. CIV S 12-

0156 KJM EFB, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142715, at *8-10). “‘[I]t is improper to represent to the 

Court that a declarant swears under penalty of perjury to the contents of a document the declarant

never saw.’” Id. at *4 (citing Freezor, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 142715, at *8-10) (quoting 

Valiavicharska v. Celaya, No. CV 10-4847 JSC, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42213, at *10 (N.D. Cal. 

Mar. 22, 2012)). 

Plaintiff shall be required to complete and file a new application to proceed in forma 

pauperis on the Court’s form bearing Plaintiff’s original signature, or in the alternative pay the 

$402.00 filing fee in full on or before August 10, 2023. Without knowing Plaintiff’s present 

financial status the court cannot grant Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk shall send Plaintiff an application to proceed in forma pauperis on the 

Court’s form;

2. On or before August 10, 2023, Plaintiff shall either:

(a) Submit an application to proceed in forma pauperis to the court, 

completed and bearing Plaintiff’s original signature; or

(b) Pay the $402.00 filing fee for this action;

(1) If executed without the United States: “I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under 

penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. 

Executed on (date).

(Signature)”.

(2) If executed within the United States, its territories, possessions, or commonwealths: 

“I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. 

Executed on (date).

(Signature)”.

28 U.S.C.A. § 1746

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3. Plaintiff is not required to submit another copy of Plaintiff’s prison trust account 

statement;

4. No requests for extension of time will be granted without a showing of good 

cause; and

5. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation 

that this action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 7, 2023 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-00947-JLT-GSA Document 13 Filed 07/07/23 Page 4 of 4