Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01461/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-01461-0/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

Plaintiff Adam Jay Stone is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 

Plaintiff filed the instant complaint on September 30, 2021, along with a motion to proceed in 

forma pauperis. 

I.

LEGAL STANDARD

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 

ADAM JAY STONE,

 Plaintiff,

v.

C. PFIEFFER,

Defendant.

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Case No. 1:21-cv-01461-SAB (PC)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO 

RANDOMLY ASSIGN A DISTRICT JUDGE TO 

THIS ACTION

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

RECOMMENDING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS BE DENIED

(ECF No. 2)

Case 1:21-cv-01461-SAB Document 6 Filed 09/30/21 Page 1 of 3
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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. § 1915(a)(2).

II.

DISCUSSION

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. Plaintiff attached a copy his inmate statement report

from Kern Valley State Prison. (ECF No. 2.) The statement provides the activity in Plaintiff's inmate 

trust account from June 1, 2021 to September 10, 2021, and reflects that Plaintiff currently has an 

available sum of $2,561.63 on account to his credit at Kern Valley State Prison. Thus, the available 

balance in Plaintiff’s account reflects that he can pay the $402.00 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 $402.00 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 also 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 must be denied. If Plaintiff wishes to 

proceed with this action, Plaintiff must pre-pay the $402.00 filing fee in full.

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III.

ORDER AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court to randomly assign a 

Fresno 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 ordered to pay the $402.00 filing fee in full in order to proceed with this 

action.

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 the failure to file objections within the specified time may 

result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate's factual findings” on appeal. Wilkerson v. 

Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 

1991)).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 30, 2021 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-01461-SAB Document 6 Filed 09/30/21 Page 3 of 3