Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01555/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-01555-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

COREY RYLAND,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. DOER, et al.,

 Defendants.

No. 1:24-cv-01555-SAB (PC)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT 

TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT 

JUDGE TO THIS ACTION

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF 

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS

(ECF No. 2)

On December 18, 2024, Plaintiff filed the instant civil rights action, along with a motion 

to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF Nos. 1, 2.) 

I.

DISCUSSION

A. Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) permits a plaintiff to bring a civil action “without prepayment of 

fees or security thereof” if the plaintiff submits a financial affidavit that demonstrates the 

plaintiff's “is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” A prisoner seeking to bring a civil 

action must, in addition to filing an affidavit, “submit a certified copy of the trust fund account 

statement ... for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint ... obtained 

from the appropriate official of each prison at which the prisoner is or was confined.” 28 U.S.C. § 

Case 1:24-cv-01555-KES-SAB Document 5 Filed 12/19/24 Page 1 of 3
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1915(a)(2).

Plaintiff has filed an application declaring that, due to his poverty, he is unable to pre-pay 

the full amount of fees and costs for these proceedings or give security therefor, and that he 

believes that he is entitled to the relief sought in his complaint. (ECF No. 2.) The certification 

completed by an authorized prison official states Plaintiff: (1) currently has an available balance 

of $673.43 in his inmate account; (2) had an average six-month balance of $680.26; and (3) had 

average deposits of $29.17 over the last six-months. (Id.) Thus, the available balance in 

Plaintiff’s account reflects that he can pay the $405.00 filing fee for this action. 

Based on the foregoing, the information that Plaintiff has provided to the Court reflects 

that he is financially able to pre-pay the entire filing fee to commence this action. Although the 

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “the filing fee ... should not take the prisoner’s last 

dollar,” Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109, 112 (9th Cir. 1995), in these circumstances, it appears 

Plaintiff has sufficient funds to pre-pay the $405.00 filing fee with money left over. Should 

Plaintiff have additional information to provide the Court, or should his available balance change 

by the time he receives this order, he may notify the Court. However, the Court has the authority 

to consider any reasons and circumstances for any change in Plaintiff's available assets and funds. 

See Collier v. Tatum, 722 F.2d 653, 656 (11th Cir. 1983) (district court may consider an 

unexplained decrease in an inmate's trust account, or whether an inmate's account has been 

depleted intentionally to avoid court costs). Therefore, Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma 

pauperis should be denied. If Plaintiff wishes to proceed with this action, Plaintiff must pre-pay 

the $405.00 filing fee in full.

II.

ORDER AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall randomly 

assign a District Judge to this action.

Further, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) be denied; and 

2. Plaintiff be directed to pay the $405.00 filing fee for this action.

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These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen 

(14) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written 

objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 

Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the 

specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 

838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 19, 2024 

STANLEY A. BOONE

United States Magistrate Judge

 

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