Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04663/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-04663-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
J. E. Bressman
Plaintiff
IRS
Defendant

Document Text:

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

J. E. BRESSMAN,

Plaintiff,

 v.

IRS,

Defendant. /

No. C 05-04663 WHA

ORDER GRANTING

APPLICATION TO PROCEED 

IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND

DISMISSING COMPLAINT

Plaintiff J.E. Bressman filed his complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis

on November 15, 2005. A court may authorize a plaintiff to prosecute an action in federal court

without prepayment of fees or security therefor, if the plaintiff submits an affidavit showing that

he or she is unable to pay such fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Plaintiff has submitted the required

documentation, and it is evident from his application that his assets and income are insufficient

to enable plaintiff to pay the filing fees.

Viewing plaintiff’s application in isolation, it thus appears that he should be allowed to

proceed in forma pauperis. A court is under a continuing duty, however, to dismiss a case

whenever it determines that the action “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on

which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune

from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)–(iii). 

Plaintiff’s two-sentence complaint concerning an IRS lien against plaintiff’s social

security benefits does not appear to state any cognizable claims. It is also unclear what relief is

requested. Accordingly, the complaint must be dismissed. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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(9th Cir. 2000)(holding that a district court is required “to dismiss an in forma pauperis

complaint that fails to state a claim”).

For the foregoing reasons, this order GRANTS plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma

pauperis, and simultaneously DISMISSES the complaint with leave to amend. This means

plaintiff may file an amended complaint as long as it is received in the Clerk’s cffice by

DECEMBER 1, 2005. Otherwise, judgment will be entered accordingly. The amended

complaint shall comply with the following requests:

1. Please include “Case No. C 05-04663 WHA” in the caption.

2. Please write a simple statement why you believe a federal court has the power to

decide this particular case, i.e., subject-matter jurisdiction. 

3. Please write a simple statement explaining why you believe the Northern District

of California is the proper venue for this action.

4. Please explain what you believe the defendant did to you that was unlawful.

5. Please explain what laws you believe were violated by defendants’ conduct.

More information on what needs to be in a complaint can be found in the Pro Se

Handbook, which is available on the district court’s website, http://www.cand.uscourts.gov. 

Plaintiff may also find form complaints for many areas of the law in nearly any law library.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 16, 2005 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE