Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00245/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00245-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Wayne E. Morris
Petitioner
Cavaly Portfolio
Respondent

Document Text:

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1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WAYNE E. MORRIS,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-06-0245 FCD JFM P

vs.

CAVALY PORTFOLIO SVCS,

Respondent. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for a writ of

mandamus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1361. Petitioner has not, however, filed an in forma pauperis

affidavit or paid the required filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). Petitioner will be

provided the opportunity either to submit the appropriate affidavit in support of a request to

proceed in forma pauperis or to submit the appropriate filing fee.

By this petition, petitioner seeks compel Cavaly Portfolio Svcs, a collection

agency located in the state of New York, to respond to his request for information about allegedly

fraudulent accounts and transactions made in his name. Petitioner apparently contends that he is

entitled to this information under the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 and the

California Public Records Act, Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 6250, 6254, and that he can use the

mandamus statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1361, to compel production of the requested information.

Case 2:06-cv-00245-FCD-JFM Document 5 Filed 03/30/06 Page 1 of 2
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2

Section 1361 of Title 28 of the United States Code grants jurisdiction to the

federal district courts to compel federal officers to perform duties owed to a plaintiff who brings

such an action. There is no suggestion in the instant petition that Cavaly Portfolio Svcs is a

federal agency. It thus appears that this court’s jurisdiction is not properly grounded in 28 U.S.C.

§ 1361.

The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, guarantees public access to

certain government records as set forth in the statute. California Government Code § 6250 is a

comparable state law. The allegations of the instant petition do not suggest that the records at

issue are government records. The petition, therefore, does not state a cognizable claim for relief

under either the Freedom of Information Act or California Government Code § 6250.

For the foregoing reasons, the instant action is subject to dismissal for failure to

state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Petitioner may, within

thirty days, file a request for voluntary dismissal. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a).

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner shall submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, an

affidavit in support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk

of Court, or the appropriate filing fee; petitioner’s failure to comply with this order will result in

the dismissal of this action; and

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner a new Application to

Proceed In Forma Pauperis By a Prisoner.

DATED: March 30, 2006. 

12/mp

morr0245.3a

Case 2:06-cv-00245-FCD-JFM Document 5 Filed 03/30/06 Page 2 of 2