Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02821/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-02821-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Francisco Perez
Defendant
Jerry Thompson
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JERRY THOMPSON,

Plaintiff,

 vs.

FRANCISCO PEREZ,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 05-2821 (MEJ)

ORDER REQUESTING INFORMATION 

RE: PLAINTIFF'S APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

BACKGROUND

Pending before the Court is plaintiff, Jerry Thompson's, Application to Proceed In Forma

Pauperis, hereinafter "IFP", filed on July 11, 2005, hereinafter "July Application." After careful

consideration of Plaintiff's papers and applicable law, the Court hereby requests further information

regarding certain statements made in Plaintiff's application to clarify Plaintiff's financial status

before making its determination. 

Prior to the July Application, Plaintiff submitted an Application to Proceed IFP with Judge

Chen on March 5, 2005, hereinafter "March Application." In the March Application, Plaintiff listed

that he had only $200.00 in additional assets excluding the $800.00 a month he receives from

"Federal or State welfare payments, Social Security or other government sources." See March

Application to Proceed IFP, p. 2. His monthly expenses detailed in the March Application

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amounted to $558.00 a month which included his rent, utilities, clothing and food. However, there

was no mention of the charge accounts. See March Application to Proceed IFP, p. 2. 

In the July Application, Plaintiff states that he receives $800.00 a month from "Federal or

State welfare payments, Social Security or other government sources." See July Application to

Proceed IFP, p. 2. Plaintiff, however, does not identify the specific program from which he receives

these funds. Plaintiff additionally states that he has $2900.00 in additional funds in "cash in hand"

and bank account. Plaintiff's total monthly expenses amount to $741.50 which includes his rent,

utilities, clothing, food, and charge account payments. 

Discussion

The Court has discretion to authorize the commencement of a suit without prepayment of

fees by any person who submits an affidavit stating that they are unable to meet the costs of filing an

action with the Court. 28 U.S.C.S. § 1915 (a)(1). In making the above determination, "a District

Court may consider all assets available to an affiant in making the determination that he is able to

pay court costs. Those assets may include, Social Security benefits, student loan refunds, and all

other assets which may be used to pay court costs." Ogunsalu v. Nair, 117 Fed.Appx.522, WL

2726051 (9th Cir. Dec. 01, 2004). In addition to a consideration of all of the party's assets as stated

in the affidavit, this Court "... may take judicial notice of its own records to determine that an In

Forma Pauperis complaint should be summarily dismissed." Williams v. Field, 394 F.2d, 329

332-333 (9th Cir., 1968). Hence, the Court may consider the additional Application to Proceed IFP

that was filed in Judge Chen's chambers in March of 2005. 

In the March and July Applications, Plaintiff stated that he receives government funds in the

amount of $800.00 a month. See July Application to Proceed IFP, p. 2 and See March Application

to Proceed IFP, p. 2. In Plaintiff's March Application, he stated that he had access to the same

$800.00 in government funds, but only $200.00 in combined funds from "cash in hand" and bank

accounts. See March Application to Proceed IFP, p. 2. However, in his July Application, Plaintiff

claims to have access to $2900.00 in combined funds from "cash in hand" and his bank accounts.

See July Application to Proceed IFP, p. 2.

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This Court requires further information to clarify the difference in Plaintiff's funds between

March 2005 to July 2005. In addition, this Court requires an explanation as to why the $2900.00 in 

combined funds cannot be used to meet the costs associated with filing Plaintiff's Complaint for

discrimination based on his disability.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 13, 2005 

MARIA-ELENA JAMES

United States Magistrate Judge

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