Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02239/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02239-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Frank
Defendant
Quoc H. Nguyen
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

QUOC H. NGUYEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

FRANK,

Defendant.

No. 2:24-cv-02239-DJC-CKD (PS)

ORDER

Plaintiff Quoc H. Nguyen proceeds without counsel and seeks to proceed in forma 

pauperis. This matter is before the undersigned pursuant to Local Rule 302(c)(21). See 28 U.S.C. 

§ 636(b)(1). Plaintiff has initiated this action with a civil complaint and an application to proceed 

in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (ECF Nos. 1, 2.)

In order to commence a civil action, along with the complaint, a plaintiff must either pay 

the $350.00 filing fee and the $55.00 administrative fee or file an application requesting leave to 

proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). The court may authorize the commencement of 

an action “without prepayment of fees” by an individual who submits an affidavit evidencing an 

inability to pay such fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). “An affidavit in support of an IFP application is 

sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot pay the court costs and still afford the necessities 

of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015) (citing Adkins v. E.I. Du 

Case 2:24-cv-02239-DJC-CKD Document 4 Filed 09/13/24 Page 1 of 2
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Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948)); see also United States v. McQuade, 647 

F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981) (affidavit must “state the facts as to affiant’s poverty with some 

particularity, definiteness and certainty” (internal quotation omitted)).

Plaintiff’s affidavit does not adequately demonstrate plaintiff was unable to pay the court 

costs and still afford the necessities of life when plaintiff filed this suit. Plaintiff checked the 

boxes indicating plaintiff received income from business, profession, or other self-employment 

and from other sources within the past 12 months. (ECF No. 2 at 1.) Plaintiff did not, however, 

describe each source of money and state the amount received and the amount expected to be 

received in the future, as required by the form application. (See id.) Plaintiff also did not list any 

regular monthly expenses in any specified amounts. (Id. at 2.) While § 1915(a) does not require a 

litigant to demonstrate “absolute destitution,” Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339, the applicant must 

nonetheless show inability to pay the fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Plaintiff has not done so.

Because plaintiff does not make an adequate showing of indigency for in forma pauperis 

status, plaintiff will be granted 30 days in which to submit the filing fee and administrative fee to 

the Clerk of the Court. In the alternative, plaintiff may submit a renewed application to proceed 

IFP. Any renewed affidavit must contain sufficient information to demonstrate plaintiff could not, 

at the time of filing suit, pay the court costs and still afford the necessities of life. Plaintiff is 

cautioned that failure to pay the court costs or file a renewed affidavit will result in a 

recommendation that the application to proceed in forma pauperis be denied and the present

action be dismissed.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, within thirty (30) days from the date of 

this order, plaintiff shall submit the appropriate filing fee and administrative fee or a fully 

completed and signed affidavit to proceed without prepayment of fees.

Dated: September 13, 2024

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nguy24cv2239.ifp

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:24-cv-02239-DJC-CKD Document 4 Filed 09/13/24 Page 2 of 2