Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00356/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00356-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Mack A. McCallum
Plaintiff
State of California
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MACK A. MCCALLUM,

Plaintiff,

v.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:15-cv-00356-WBS-SAB

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE 

LONG FORM IN FORMA PAUPERIS 

APPLICATION

TWENTY (20) DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis on March 6, 2015. (ECF No. 

2.) Plaintiff did not sign the application. Accordingly, the Court will order Plaintiff to refile an 

application which is signed.

Further, the Court notes that the information in Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma

pauperis suggests that Plaintiff is able to pay the filing fee for this action. The application 

indicates that Plaintiff lives in a household of two, with his wife, and receive a combined $2,810 

per month in social security payments, which amounts to $33,720.00 per year. In assessing 

whether a certain income level meets the poverty threshold under Section 1915(a)(1), courts look 

to the federal poverty guidelines developed each year by the Department of Health and Human 

Services. See, e.g., Lint v. City of Boise, No. CV09-72-S-EJL, 2009 WL 1149442, at *2 (D. 

Idaho Apr. 28, 2009) (and cases cited therein). The 2015 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 

contiguous states for a household of two is $15,930.00. 2015 Poverty Guidelines, 

Case 1:15-cv-00356-MCE-SAB Document 7 Filed 03/12/15 Page 1 of 2
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http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/15poverty.cfm (last visited March 11, 2015).

Plaintiff’s income is well above the poverty threshold. Plaintiff identified several debts 

owed to various credit cards, banks and credit unions, but it is unclear whether these monthly 

debt payments overlap with Plaintiff’s reported expenses, as Plaintiff chose to only identify how 

much he pays per month to these entities and did not identify the principal balance owed or 

provide a description or reason for the debt. Plaintiff cannot “double count” his expenses by 

separately listing the expense and the credit card payment if the credit card balance is related to 

the same expense.

Based upon the foregoing, the Court will order Plaintiff to resubmit an application to 

proceed in forma pauperis using the Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying 

Fees or Costs (Long Form) – AO 239. Plaintiff is forewarned that failure to submit a long form

application will result in a recommendation that his in forma pauperis status be denied and that 

he be required to pay the filing fee in full.

Based upon the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to forward an Application to Proceed in District 

Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Long Form) – AO 239 to Plaintiff;

2. Within twenty (20) days of the date of this order, Plaintiff shall complete and file 

the enclosed Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or 

Costs (Long Form) – AO 239; and

3. If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order, the Court will recommend that in forma

pauperis status be denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 11, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-00356-MCE-SAB Document 7 Filed 03/12/15 Page 2 of 2