Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00311/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00311-0/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ERICK DONTAY GRAYSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

LAURA PEREZ,

Defendant.

Case No.: 1:24-cv-00311-SKO

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE IN WRITING 

WHY APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE 

DENIED

30-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff Erick Dontay Grayson is proceeding pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 

42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff filed a complaint on March 14, 2024, and submitted an Application to Proceed In 

Forma Pauperis (“IFP”) by a Prisoner. (Docs. 1, 2.) 

In his IFP application, Plaintiff states he is unable to pay the filing fee, he is not 

employed, and he does not receive any money from a business, profession or self-employment, 

rent payments, interest or dividends, pensions, annuities or life insurance payments, disability or 

workers’ compensation payments, gifts or inheritance, or from “[a]ny other sources.” (Doc. 2 at 

1-2.) Plaintiff also denies having any cash or owning any real estate, stocks, bonds, security or 

other financial instruments, automobiles or other valuable property. (Id.) He denies having “any 

other assets.” (Id.) Plaintiff’s IFP application includes a copy of an Inmate Statement Report

Case 1:24-cv-00311-KES-SKO Document 6 Filed 03/18/24 Page 1 of 4
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dated July 7, 2024, reflecting an available balance of $20.64. (Id. at 3-4.) It also includes a 

Certificate purportedly completed and signed by an authorized officer at the California Mens 

Colony on March 11, 2024, reflecting an average monthly balance of $20.64 and average monthly 

deposits of $150 for the previous six months. (Id. at 2.) 

II. DISCUSSION

A review of Plaintiff’ IFP application and the Inmate Statement Report requested by and 

provided to the Court on March 15, 2024 (see Doc. 5), reveals discrepancies that must be 

accounted for.

Plaintiff states he does not receive any gifts or any money from “[a]ny other sources.” 

However, the Inmate Statement Report for the period between September 1, 2023 and March 15, 

2024, lists numerous “JPAY” entries with deposits totaling $1,395. Monies provided to Plaintiff 

via JPAY should be disclosed and explained. See, e.g., Hill v. Lynch. No. 2:22-cv-0686 AC P, 

2023 WL 4187802, at *1-2 (E.D. Cal. June 26, 2023) (plaintiff’s trust account statement claiming 

to have “received no money from any source over the past twelve months was not accurate” 

where the statement shows “he received hundreds of dollars in deposits to his trust account” via 

JPAY); Sloan v. Cisneros, No. 1:21-cv-0477-EPG (PC), 2021 WL 5240280, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 

7, 2021) (“The Court also notes that Plaintiff was not forthcoming on his application to proceed in 

forma pauperis. ... he conspicuously failed to state whether he received income from ‘[a]ny other 

source’ in the last twelve months. Based on Plaintiff’s trust account statement, in the last six 

months alone Plaintiff received an economic impact payment as well as funds through JPAY on 

four separate occasions, with the average deposit from JPAY being $200”). Plaintiff will be 

required to explain the eighteen1JPAY entries deposited into his account within the previous six 

months.

Plaintiff is advised this Court may take into consideration purchases in determining 

whether an individual should be granted IFP status. Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109, 112 (9th 

1 9/7/23 (two deposits - $100, $50); 11/12/23 (one deposit - $100); 11/25/23 (three deposits- $100, $50, $50); 

12/13/23 (one deposit - $50); 12/14/23 (one deposit - $100); 12/30/23 (two deposits - $200, $50); 1/18/24 (two 

deposits - $50, $50); 2/11/24 (three deposits: $50, $50, $50); 2/24/24 (one deposit - $65); 2/27/24 (one deposit -

$150); 3/6/24 (one deposit - $50). 

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Cir. 1995) (citation omitted) (courts are entitled to consider plaintiffs’ “economic choices about 

how to spend [their] money” when considering applications to proceed IFP); see also Lumbert v. 

Illinois Dep’t of Corr., 827 F.2d 257, 260 (7th Cir. 1987) (“If the inmate thinks that a more 

worthwhile use of his funds would be to buy peanuts and candy . . . than to file a civil rights suit, 

he has demonstrated an implied evaluation of the suit that the district court is entitled to honor”). 

The Court notes Plaintiff made six purchases within the previous six months totaling $1,244.04. 

Plaintiff will be directed to provide further information concerning the six2“SALES” entries 

reflected on his Inmate Statement Report for the period between September 1, 2023, and March 

15, 2024. 

In sum, Plaintiff’s IFP application and the March 15, 2024, Inmate Statement Report do 

not establish that he is entitled to IFP status. Plaintiff must explain why the JPAY deposits during 

the relevant period were not disclosed on his IFP application and why the Court should find he is 

unable to pay the required filing fee. Plaintiff must also provide additional information 

concerning the SALES entries during the same period to allow for the Court’s consideration of 

his economic choices. 

III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff SHALL show cause in writing, within 30 days of the date of service of this 

order, why his IFP application should not be denied. Specifically, Plaintiff SHALL

(1) explain the eighteen JPAY entries appearing on his Inmate Statement Report, and 

(2) provide additional information concerning the six SALES entries appearing on his 

Inmate Statement Report; or

2. In the alternative, Plaintiff may pay the required $405 filing fee. 

//

//

//

2 Sales purchases: 9/13/23 - $163.44; 11/25/23 - $152.45; 12/14/23 - $239.95; 1/10/24 - $222.90; 2/14/24 - $225.35; 

3/13/24 - $239.95. 

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Plaintiff is advised that a failure to respond to this Order may result in a 

recommendation that this action be dismissed for a failure to obey court orders.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 18, 2024 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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