Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00409/USCOURTS-caed-1_08-cv-00409-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re Norma Lopez,

Debtor.

______________________________

Norma Lopez,

Appellant,

v.

M. Nelson Enmark, Trustee;

United States Trustee,

Appellees.

District Court Case No.:

 1:08-cv-409-OWW

Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

Case No.:

 EC-08-1050

Bankruptcy Case No.:

 07-12908-A-13

ORDER DIRECTING APPELLANT

NORMA LOPEZ TO FILE A

COMPLETED APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

WITHIN TWENTY (20) DAYS OF

THE DATE OF SERVICE OF THIS

ORDER

ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO

SERVE UPON APPELLANT NORMA

LOPEZ A BLANK APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS FOR

A PERSON OUT OF CUSTODY

Before the court is an Order Transferring Fee Waiver Request

To District Court (“Transfer Order”), which was received from the

United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit

(“BAP”). Appellant, Norma Lopez (“Lopez”), is seeking to proceed

with a bankruptcy appeal, which has been referred to the BAP and

bears case number EC-08-1050. Lopez filed a one-page Request for

Waiver of Fees along with her notice of appeal. 

Judges Dunn and Markell of the BAP issued the Transfer Order

in light of the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Perroton v. Gray (In

Case 1:08-cv-00409-OWW Document 3 Filed 04/18/08 Page 1 of 3
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re Perroton), 958 F.2d 889 (9th Cir. 1992), and the BAP’s

decision in Determan v. Sandoval (In re Sandoval), 186 B.R. 490,

496 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.), which held that the BAP does not have

authority to grant in forma pauperis motions under 28 U.S.C. §

1915(a) because bankruptcy courts are “not court[s] of the United

States” as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 451. Because of this

limitation, the BAP has transferred Lopez’s Request for Waiver of

Fees to the District Court for the limited purpose of ruling on

whether Lopez should be granted leave to prosecute her appeal in

forma pauperis.

Lopez’s Request for Waiver of Fees provides:

I NORMA LOPEZ REQUEST THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY

COURT TO WAIVE THE FEES AFFILIATED WITH THE ATTACHED

DOCUMENTS AT THIS TIME I am not able to pay for the

requested fees. If at any time any changes to this

current situation change I will let the court know of

these changes.

I CERTIFY THAT THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO

DATE:

NORMA LOPEZ signed /s/ Norma Lopez 

DATED: FEBRUARY 12, 2007

Section 1915(a) of title 28 provides that any court of the

United States may authorize commencement and prosecution of any

action or appeal without prepayment of fees or security, by a

person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all

assets that person possesses and is unable to pay such fees. 

Lopez’s Request for Waiver of Fees does not provide the Court

with sufficient information to determine whether or not she

should be permitted to proceed in forma pauperis.

IT IS ORDERED that Lopez is directed to file with this Court

(United States District Court for the Eastern District of

California, case number 1:08-cv-409-OWW) a completed application

Case 1:08-cv-00409-OWW Document 3 Filed 04/18/08 Page 2 of 3
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to proceed in forma pauperis no later than twenty (20) days after

the date of service of this Order. Lopez must fully complete the

application and provide all the information called for on the

form. Failure to timely comply with this Order will result in a

denial of your Request for Waiver of Fees.

The Clerk is DIRECTED to serve upon Lopez this Order and a

blank application to proceed in forma pauperis for a person out

of custody, at the address indicated in the Court’s docket.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 17, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

474bb4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:08-cv-00409-OWW Document 3 Filed 04/18/08 Page 3 of 3