Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00642/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00642-0/pdf.json

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

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12 APR -5 AM 10= Hi 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MICHAEL L. STEWART; and DOES 1-143, CASE NO. 12-cv-642 BEN (KSC) 

Plaintiffs, ORDER: 

vs. (1) DENYING REQUEST TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, 

[Doc. No.2]; 

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL; and STUDIO (2) DISMISSING COMPLAINT; and 

15, 

(3) DENYING AS MOOT PENDING 

Defendants. MOTIONS, [Doc. Nos. 4, 6,9, 11]. 

Plaintiff Michael L. Stewart, proceeding pro se, has filed a purported class action complaint 

alleging a violation of civil rights as a result ofDefendants' alleged policy prohibiting him and other 

persons with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities, some of whom are also "low income" or 

homeless, from assembling on a public sidewalk. [Doc. No.1.] Plaintiffhas not paid the $350 civil 

filing fee required to commence this action, but has filed a motion to proceed informa pauperis. [Doc. 

No.2.] Plaintiff also filed two requests to name additional Plaintiffs, a motion seeking an injunction, 

and a request to name additional Defendants. [Doc. Nos. 4, 6, 9, 11.] For the reasons set forth below, 

the Court DENIES the motion to proceed in forma pauperis, DISMISSES the complaint for failure 

to pay the filing fee, and DENIES AS MOOT all pending motions. 

DISCUSSION 

Parties instituting any civil action in a district court ofthe United States, except an application 

for a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of$350. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may 

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proceed despite a plaintiff's failure to prepay the entire fee only if the plaintiff is granted leave to 

proceed informa pauperis pursuantto 28 V.S.C. § 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 

1177 (9th Cir. 1999). "All actions sought to be filed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 V.S.C. § 1915, 

must be accompanied by an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets which shows inability to 

pay initial fees or give security. This affidavit must consist of a declaration in support ofrequest to 

proceed in forma pauperis." CIV. L.R. 3.2(a). Among other things, the declaration must contain the 

following: "[a] statement, ifnot currently employed, as to the date oflast employment and the amount 

ofwages or salary per month which was received," and "[a] statement as to any money received within 

the past twelve months from ... any other source." CIY. L.R. 3.2(a)(2)-(3). 

In considering a non-prisoner's request to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court may, in its 

discretion, "impose a partial filing fee which is less than the full filing fee that is required by law, but 

which is commensurate with the applicant's ability to pay." CIY. L.R. 3.2(d); see also Olivares v. 

Marshall, 59 F.3d 109, 111 (9th Cir. 1995). "When determining the ability of an in forma pauperis 

plaintiff to pay a partial filing fee, the court may consider the plaintiffs cash flow in the recent past, 

and the extent to which the plaintiff has depleted his savings on nonessentials." Alexander v. Carson 

Adult High Sch., 9 F.3d 1448, 1449 (9th Cir. 1993); see also CIV. L.R. 3.2(e) ("In order to qualify for 

a [partial fee] waiver, the person mustjustify depletions ofthe previously adequate account or income 

history to show that the depletion was not a deliberate attempt to avoid payment ofinitial filing fees."). 

In this case, Plaintiffs declaration in support of his motion to proceed in forma pauperis 

indicates that he is not currently incarcerated. It indicates that Plaintiff is currently unemployed, but 

fails to state the date of his last employment or the amount of wages per month that was received. 

Plaintiff notes that in the past twelve months he has received money from "social security, disability 

or other welfare," but fails to state the amount ofany such payments. Plaintiff has a checking account, 

with a present balance of "$0.00." Plaintiff indicates that he owns a 2001 Mercedes s430, which is 

financed, with $10,000.00 still owed. Plaintiff indicates that there are no persons that depend on him 

for support. Finally, Plaintiff lists the following as his current obligations (which the Court assumes 

refer to monthly payments): car payment-$400.00; insurance-$150.00; phone-$90.00; credit 

card-$50.00; wash-$50.00; food-$150.00; gas-$100.00; and storage-$60.00. 

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Having reviewed Plaintiff s declaration in support ofhis motion, the Court finds it insufficient 

to show that Plaintiff is unable to pay the fees or post securities required to maintain this action. As 

an initial matter, Plaintiff failed to list the date ofhis last employment and how much he earned there, 

as required by Civil Local Rule 3 .2( a)(2). Moreover, Plaintiff states that he currently receives monthly 

disability payments, but does not list how much he receives per month, as is required by Civil Local 

Rule 3.2(a)(3)(e).! Finally, considering all of the information provided by Plaintiff, the Court is not 

convinced that he is unable to pay the fees or post securities required to maintain this action. In 

reaching this decision, the Court is mindful, of course, that the imposition of a filing fee should not 

take an individual's last dollar. See Olivares, 59 F.3d at 112 ("[T]he filing fee, while discretionary, 

should not take the prisoner's last dollar."). Nonetheless, considering all ofthe information, the Court 

is not convinced that, "because of poverty, there is an inability to pay the initial costs of the 

proceedings or give security therefore." See CIV. L.R. 3.2(a)(7). Accordingly, the Court DENIES 

Plaintiffs motion to proceed in Jorma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

CONCLUSION 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion to proceed in Jorma pauperis is DENIED. If 

Plaintiffbelieves that he is entitled to a partial fee waiver pursuant to Civil Local Rule 3 .2( d), Plaintiff 

must submit a declaration requesting the same and detailing Plaintiffs current and past income and 

obligations. Any such declaration should be submitted within 21 days ofthe filing ofthis Order. 

The Court DISMISSES the Complaint for failure to pay the filing fee. The Clerk of Court 

shall reopen the case if, within 21 days of the filing ofthis Order, Plaintiff pays the $350 filing fee. 

All of Plaintiffs pending motions are DENIED AS MOOT. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Date: Apr~2012 

) The Court notes, however, that in the related action, Plaintiff's declaration in support of his 

motion to proceed in forma pauperis states that he currently receives monthly disability payments of 

$950.00. See Stewart v. Saint Vincent de Paul, Case No. 12-cv-0597-BEN-KSC, Doc. No.2. 

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