Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02127/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02127-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331cv Fed. Question: Other Civil Rights

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18-cv-2127-GPC(WVG)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AUGUSTIN MUNOZ PEREZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM,

Defendant.

Case No.: 18-cv-2127-GPC(WVG)

ORDER:

1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS; 

[Dkt. No. 2]

(2) SUA SPONTE DISMISSING 

PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT FOR 

FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM

(3) DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF 

COUNSEL AS MOOT

[Dkt. No. 3]

On September 13, 2018, Plaintiff Agustin Munoz Perez, proceeding pro se, filed a 

form complaint against Defendant Metropolitan Transit System. (Dkt. No. 1.) He also 

filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis and motion for appointment of counsel. 

(Dkt. Nos. 2, 3.) Based on the reasoning below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to 

proceed in forma pauperis, sua sponte DISMISSES the action for failure to state a claim

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18-cv-2127-GPC(WVG)

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and DENIES the request for appointment of counsel. 

A. Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis 

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 IFP pursuant to § 1915(a). See

Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007); Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 

F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). The plaintiff must submit an affidavit demonstrating his 

inability to pay the filing fee, and the affidavit must include a complete statement of the 

plaintiff’s assets. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). 

Here, Plaintiff submitted an affidavit reporting that he has not received any income 

during the past twelve months. (Dkt. No. 2 at 1-2.) He has not been employed for the 

past two years and has $13.00 in cash. (Id. at 2.) While he asserts receiving no income 

within the past twelve months, (Dkt. No. 2 at 2), in his request for appointment of 

counsel, he indicates he receives $740.00 in social security. (Dkt. No. 3 at 5.) Plaintiff

owns no assets or debts. (Dkt. No. 2 at 3.) He has expenses of around $617.00. (Id. at 

4.) Based on these facts, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has demonstrated an inability 

to pay the filing fee and GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed IFP.

B. Sua Sponte Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)

A complaint filed by any person proceeding IFP pursuant to § 1915(a) is subject to 

mandatory sua sponte review and dismissal by the Court if it is “frivolous, or malicious; 

fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or seeks monetary relief against a 

defendant immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 

F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (“[T]he provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not 

limited to prisoners.”); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000). § 

1915(e)(2) mandates that a court reviewing a complaint filed pursuant to the IFP 

provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915 rule on its own motion to dismiss before directing that the 

complaint be served by the U.S. Marshal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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18-cv-2127-GPC(WVG)

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4(c)(2). Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1127.

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 8(a)(2), a pleading must contain “a 

short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). While a plaintiff need not give “detailed factual allegations,” a plaintiff 

must plead sufficient facts that, if true, “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” 

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 545 (2007). To state a claim upon which 

relief may be granted “a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as 

true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 

662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 547). A claim is facially plausible when 

the factual allegations permit “the court to draw the reasonable inference that the 

defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id.

Here, the Complaint solely alleges, “My complan (sic) for personal injury and 

violation of constitional (sic) rights and state of California.” (Dkt. No. 1, Compl. at 2.) 

No facts or causes of action are asserted. Accordingly, the allegations in the Complaint 

fail to comply with Rule 8 and the Court sua sponte DISMISSES the complaint for 

failure to state a claim for relief. 

C. Request for Appointment of Counsel 

Plaintiff requests the appointment of counsel to assist him in prosecuting this civil 

action. (Dkt. No. 3.) The Constitution provides no right to appointment of counsel in a 

civil case unless an indigent litigant may lose his physical liberty if he loses the litigation. 

Lassiter v. Dept. of Social Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), 

however, district courts are granted discretion to appoint counsel for indigent persons 

under “exceptional circumstances.” Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 

1991). Here, because the Court dismisses Plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a claim 

upon which relief can be granted, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s request to appoint 

counsel as moot.

Conclusion

In sum, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis, sua 

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18-cv-2127-GPC(WVG)

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sponte DISMISSES the complaint for failure to state a claim and DENIES Plaintiff’s 

request for appointment of counsel as moot. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 2, 2018

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