NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

 

:

DENISE ABBOT, :

:

Plaintiff, :

:

v. :

:

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, :

:

Defendant. :

 :

Civil No. 11-421 (GEB)

OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Denise Abbott (“Plaintiff”), having submitted a complaint in the above

captioned matter, and it appearing that:

1. The Clerk will not file the complaint unless the person seeking relief pays the entire

applicable filing fee in advance or the person applies for and is granted in forma pauperis status

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. See Local Civil R. 5.1(f).

2. The filing fee for commencing a civil action in this court is $350.00. See 28 U.S.C. §

1914(a). 

3. Plaintiff did not prepay $350.00; rather, she submitted her application to proceed in

this matter in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (“Application”).

4. In making such an application, a plaintiff must state the facts concerning his or her

poverty with some degree of particularity, definiteness or certainty. United States ex rel. Roberts

v. Pennsylvania, 312 F. Supp. 1, 2 (E.D. Pa. 1969) (finding affiant’s application legally

insufficient where the application failed to state the facts of affiant’s poverty with any degree of

particularity, definiteness or certainty) (citing United States v. Coor, 213 F. Supp. 955, 956

Case 3:11-cv-00421-PGS-TJB Document 3 Filed 03/31/11 Page 1 of 3 PageID: 33
(D.D.C. 1963), rev’d on other grounds, 325 F.2d 1014 (D.C. Cir. 1963); Jefferson v. United

States, 277 F.2d 723, 725 (9thCir. 1960)).

5. In her Application, Plaintiff stated that she is currently unemployed; that she receives

$2,336.00 per month in unemployment benefits; that at the time of filing she had $1,900.00 in

her checking account at Bank of America; that she lists as assets owned by her as her home with

equity value of $139,000.00 and a motor vehicle worth approximately $17,000.00; that her

twenty-three year old son is dependant upon her for support; that her monthly expenses include a

mortgage payment including real estate taxes and property insurance of $1,842.00, utilities of

$200.00, and food of $200.00, transportation of $598.00, and car insurance of $175.00. (Doc.

No. 1-2.) The Court notes that Plaintiff indicates the amount of her monthly expenses totals

$2,632.00. 

6. Plaintiff also asserts that she has paid an attorney to assist her with respect to this

matter in the amount of $340.00. In addition, Plaintiff indicates that she plans to pay an expert in

computer forensics in support of her claim, in an amount to be determined. (Doc. No. 1-2.) The

Court finds that Plaintiff was able to pay an attorney for his or her services and indicates that she

plans to pay an expert during the course of the litigation, the cost of which is unknown, and that

has a number of assets, including cash in a checking account. Therefore, the Court concludes

that Plaintiff should not be granted in forma pauperis status.

IT IS THEREFORE on this 31 day of March, 2011, hereby st

ORDERED that Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED without

prejudice.

Case 3:11-cv-00421-PGS-TJB Document 3 Filed 03/31/11 Page 2 of 3 PageID: 34
 s/ Garrett E. Brown, Jr. 

GARRETT E. BROWN, JR., U.S.D.J.

Case 3:11-cv-00421-PGS-TJB Document 3 Filed 03/31/11 Page 3 of 3 PageID: 35