Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-02504/USCOURTS-casd-3_17-cv-02504-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:1383 Review of HHS Decision (regarding payment of benefits)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VICENTE F. TORRES,

Plaintiff,

v.

NANCY A. BERRYHILL,

Defendant.

Case No.: 3:17-cv-02504-GPC-JMA

ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR 

LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS

[ECF No. 3]

I. Background

Plaintiff, Vicente Torres, with counsel, has filed a complaint requesting judicial 

review of the Commissioner’s decision denying Plaintiff’s claims for disability insurance 

benefits. Dkt. No. 1. Plaintiff did not prepay the civil filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1914(a) at the time of the filing, but instead filed a Motion to Proceed in Forma 

Pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. ECF No. 3. For the following reasons, 

the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP. 

II. Discussion

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 28 U.S.C. 

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§ 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). A court may authorize the commencement of 

a suit without prepayment of fees if the plaintiff submits an affidavit, including a 

statement of all of his or her assets, showing that he or she is unable to pay the fees. See

28 U.S.C. §1915(a). Such an affidavit must include a complete statement of the 

plaintiff’s assets. See id.

Here, Plaintiff submitted a declaration reporting that he has not worked since 2010, 

and his spouse works part time, receving $350 a month. ECF No. 3 at 2. Plaintiff

receives public assistance in the amount of $350 a month. Id. at 3. Plaintiff has $7.00 in 

his checking account, and owns a car worth around $800.00. Id. at 3. Plaintiff and his 

spouse’s monthly expenses, which include rent, utilities, food, and transportation, amount 

to a total of approximately $885. Id. at 4-5. Because Plaintiff lacks substantial assets and 

because his expenses exceed his and his spouse’s total monthly income, Plaintiff has

sufficiently demonstrated that he is unable to pay the required filing fee and that he meets 

the requirements to proceed IFP. 

III. Conclusion

Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis is GRANTED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2017

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