Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01785/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01785-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Jennifer Dominguez
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JENNIFER DOMINGUEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Commissioner of 

Social Security,

Defendant.

CASE NUMBER: 1:23-cv-01785-GSA 

FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS TO DENY 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS AND TO 

REQUIRE FILING FEE PAYMENT, 

AND DIRECTING CLERK TO 

RANDOMLY ASSIGN A UNITED 

STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

(Doc. 2)

 

On December 29, 2023 Plaintiff filed a complaint in this Court and applied to proceed 

without prepayment of fees (in forma pauperis) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Docs. 1–2.

I. Legal Standard

In order to proceed without prepayment of the filing fee, Plaintiff must submit an affidavit 

demonstrating that he “is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(a)(1). “To proceed in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 

114, 116 (9th Cir. 1965). In enacting the in forma pauperis statute, “Congress intended to 

guarantee that no citizen shall be denied an opportunity to commence, prosecute, or defend an 

action, civil or criminal, in any court of the United States, solely because . . . poverty makes it 

impossible . . . to pay or secure the costs of litigation.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31 

(1992) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

The determination whether a party may proceed in forma pauperis is a “matter within the 

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discretion of the trial court . . .” Weller v. Dickinson, 314 F.2d 598, 600 (9th Cir. 1963). To 

proceed in forma pauperis a plaintiff need not demonstrate that he is completely destitute, but his 

poverty must prevent him from paying the filing fee and providing himself and his dependents (if 

any) with the necessities of life. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339–40 

(1948). 

Although there is no bright line rule, 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).

II. Findings

Plaintiff’s application reflects that her three-person household (one spouse and one

dependent child) receives income totaling $4,889 per month ($58,668 per year), which is 

substantially in excess (about 235%) of the federal poverty guidelines for a household of three

($24,860).1 This suggests the ability to pay the $405 filing fee without sacrificing the necessities 

of daily life.

III. Recommendation

Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma 

pauperis be denied (Doc. 2).

The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to randomly assign this case to a United States District 

Judge for resolution of these findings and recommendations pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 

U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). 

Within fourteen (14) days from the filing of these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff 

may file written objections with the court. L.R. 304(b). Such a document should be captioned 

“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that 

failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. 

Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838–39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 

1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

1 See https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 4, 2024 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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