Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01231/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01231-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEPHEN SALVADORE GAMBOA, CASE NO. F CV 06-1231 AWI LJO 

et al.,

Plaintiffs, ORDER TO PAY FILING FEE

vs. (Docs. 2-4, 6, 7.)

CITY OF FRESNO, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

On September 9, 2006, several pro se plaintiffs filed with this Court their individual Applications

to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit (“application”) to request to proceed without

prepayment of the $350 filing fee or costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Plaintiff Michael Becker’s

application indicates that his monthly take-home pay is $3,300 and that he has more than $80,000 in

assets. Applications of other plaintiffs indicate they receive wages.

Filing fees are addressed by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) which provides the “clerk of each district court

shall require the parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding, in such court . . . to pay a filing

fee of $350 . . .” This Court’s Local Rule 77-121(c) provides in pertinent part: “[T]he Clerk shall not

file any paper, issue any process, or render any other service for which a fee is prescribed by statute or

by the Judicial Conference of the United States unless the fee is prepaid.” A person may be allowed to

proceed with a civil action without paying a filing fee upon submission of an affidavit stating he/she is

unable to pay such fee, the nature of the action and the belief he/she is entitled to redress. 28 U.S.C. §

Case 1:06-cv-01231-AWI -SMS Document 10 Filed 09/13/06 Page 1 of 2
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1915(a)(1); Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201, 113 S.Ct. 716, 720-721 (1993).

The affidavit required under 28 U.S.C. §1915(a) has been described as an "allegation of poverty."

Rowland, 506 U.S. at 203, 113 S.Ct. at 722. In Rowland, 506 U.S. at 203, 113 S.Ct. at 722, the United

States Supreme Court noted in reference to an application for in forma pauperis status:

Poverty, in its primary sense, is a human condition, to be "[w]anting in material riches

or goods; lacking in the comforts of life; needy," Webster's New International

Dictionary 1919 (2d ed. 1942) . . . As we first said in 1948, "[w]e think an affidavit is

sufficient which states that one cannot because of his poverty 'pay or give security for the

costs ... and still be able to provide' himself and dependents 'with the necessities of life.'

" Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339, 69 S.Ct. 85, 89, 93 L.Ed.

43.

Collectively, the plaintiffs’ applications indicate they neither lack in the comforts of life nor are

needy, especially Mr. Becker with his $3,300 take-home monthly income and $80,000 assets.

Collectively, the plaintiffs are not poverty-stricken. If plaintiffs are earnest to pursue their claims, they

have the collective ability to pay the filing fee, waiver of which is reserved for the truly needy. This

Court is concerned that plaintiffs attempt to commit fraud on this Court with their dubious attempt to

take advantage of cost-free filing. This Court admonishes plaintiffs and their counsel not to burden this

Court with frivolous matters. 

Accordingly, on the basis of good cause, this Court:

1. DENIES plaintiffs’ applications to proceed without prepayment of fees; and

2. ORDERS plaintiffs, no later than September 18, 2006, to pay the $350 filing fee.

Plaintiffs are admonished that this Court will take no action regarding their claims until

they pay the $350 filing fee.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 12, 2006 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

66h44d UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-01231-AWI -SMS Document 10 Filed 09/13/06 Page 2 of 2