Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01504/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01504-1/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

DURRELL ANTHONY PUCKETT, 

Plaintiff,

v.

JEROME J. MACK, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:18-cv-01504-JLT (PC)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

SHOULD NOT BE DENIED 

(Docs. 2, 5)

21-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis along with this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. However, it appears that it may be inappropriate to grant 

Plaintiff’s motion because the statement of Plaintiff’s inmate account provided by the CDCR 

indicates that less than a month prior to filing this action, Plaintiff had over $500 at his disposal to 

pay the filing fee. Instead, Plaintiff spent nearly $400 the same day he signed the Complaint and 

the day before he filed this action.

Proceeding “in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 

116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP, Adkins v. E.I. 

DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948), “the same even-handed care must be 

employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, either 

frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material 

part, to pull his own oar.” Doe v. Educ. Enrichment Sys., No. 15cv2628-MMA (MDD), 2015 

Case 1:18-cv-01504-JLT-CDB Document 8 Filed 11/13/18 Page 1 of 2
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U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2015) (citing Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. 

Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). “[T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court 

determines the allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A). It appears that 

Plaintiff has had sufficient funds over the last several months to be required to pay the filing fee 

in full to proceed in this action, but chose to spend his money elsewhere.

Accordingly, within 21 days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff SHALL show 

cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied and this action 

dismissed without prejudice to refiling with prepayment of the filing fee; alternatively, Plaintiff 

may file a notice of voluntary dismissal or pay the filing fee.

Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court 

order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 11, 2018 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:18-cv-01504-JLT-CDB Document 8 Filed 11/13/18 Page 2 of 2