Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-mc-00422/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-mc-00422-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Kimberly R. Olson
Movant

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UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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IN RE GUST KEPREOS and LINDA

KEPREOS,

NO. 05-21669-C-7

Debtors. NO. MC S-05-0422 WBS 

ORDER RE: MOTION TO FILE

IN FORMA PAUPERIS

KIMBERLY R. OLSON,

Movant.

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Kimberly Olson moves the court for an order permitting

her to file her Objection to Discharge and Adversarial Complaint

without requiring her to pay the $250 filing fee. (See

Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, available at

http://www.caeb.uscourts.gov/data/formpubs/EDC.002-034.pdf). She

has filed a declaration that states “I have no income other than

monthly SSI disability payments of $730.80, and I cannot afford

to pay any filing fees in this Court.” (Olson Decl. ¶ 5). The

declaration also states that her action is based upon the

debtors’ willful and malicious torts against movant. (Id. ¶ 3).

Case 2:05-mc-00422-WBS Document 4 Filed 09/21/05 Page 1 of 3
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As an preliminary matter, the Ninth Circuit has

determined that because bankruptcy judges are Article I and not

Article III judges, a bankruptcy court is not “a court of the

United States.” Therefore, only a district judge has authority

to waive fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. In re Perroton, 958

F.2d 889, 893, 896 (9th Cir. 1992). 

The question before the court is whether movant’s

declaration is sufficient under § 1915(a)(1), which reads: 

Subject to subsection (b) [applying to prisoners only], any

court of the United States may authorize the commencement,

prosecution or defense of any suit, action or proceeding,

civil or criminal, or appeal therein, without prepayment of

fees or security therefor, by a person who submits an

affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such

prisoner [sic] possesses [and] that the person is unable to

pay such fees or give security therefor. Such affidavit

shall state the nature of the action, defense or appeal and

affiant’s belief that the person is entitled to redress.

“Despite the statute’s use of the phrase ‘prisoner

possesses,’ the affidavit requirement applies to all persons

requesting leave to proceed IFP.” Martinez v. Kristi Kleaners,

Inc., 364 F.3d 1305, 1306 n.1 (11th Cir. 2004) (citing Haynes v.

Scott, 116 F.3d 137, 140 (5th Cir. 1997) and Floyd v. U.S. Postal

Serv., 105 F.3d 274, 275 (6th Cir. 1997)).

Movant’s affidavit is presently insufficient. Although

she has stated that she has a low income, she has not included a

statement of all assets she possesses.

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IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that movant’s motion to proceed

in forma pauperis be, and the same hereby is, DENIED WITHOUT

PREJUDICE.

DATED: September 21, 2005

Case 2:05-mc-00422-WBS Document 4 Filed 09/21/05 Page 3 of 3