Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03031/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-03031-5/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HARVEY BLIGHT,

Plaintiff,

v.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-03031-EMC 

ORDER REVOKING IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS STATUS

Plaintiff Harvey Blight has appealed this Court’s dismissal of his case. The Ninth Circuit 

has asked this Court to decide whether Mr. Blight’s in forma pauperis status should continue for 

purposes of appeal. Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 24(a)(3), a district court may 

revoke a party’s in forma pauperis status if it finds that the appeal is not taken in good faith. See 

also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) (providing that “[a]n appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the 

trial court certifies in writing that it is not taken in good faith”). The Ninth Circuit has construed 

“not taken in good faith” to mean frivolous. See Hooker v. Am. Airlines, 302 F.3d 1091, 1092 (9th 

Cir.2002) (stating that “[i]f at least one issue or claim is found to be non-frivolous, leave to 

proceed in forma pauperis on appeal must be granted for the case as a whole”).

Here, the Court finds Mr. Blight’s appeal frivolous. As explained in the Court’s previous 

orders, Mr. Blight’s multiple complaints have been confusing and difficult to understand. Based 

on what the Court was able to discern, his case suffered from multiple deficiencies, including a 

Rooker-Feldman problem and legal defenses based on immunity from suit. Despite opportunities 

to amend his complaint to remedy these problems, Mr. Blight failed to do so. 

Case 3:15-cv-03031-EMC Document 27 Filed 11/16/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 24(a)(4), the Clerk of the Court is 

instructed to immediately notify the Ninth Circuit that this Court has certified in writing 

that the appeal is not taken in good faith. See Fed. R.App. P. 24(a)(4).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 16, 2015

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:15-cv-03031-EMC Document 27 Filed 11/16/15 Page 2 of 2