Source: https://casetext.com/case/alfaro-v-us-bank-2
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 11:05:06+00:00

Document:
No. CIV.S. 06-1809 GEB PAN (GGH) PS.
Plaintiff, proceeding in pro se, has requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. This matter was referred to this court pursuant to E.D. Cal. L.R. 72-302(c)(21).
Plaintiff has submitted an incomplete affidavit in support of her application to proceed in forma pauperis. She did not fully answer Questions No. 2b (she failed to state "the amount of your take-home salary or wages and pay period and the name and address of your last employer"); or No. 3 (although plaintiff state she receives money from "disability or workers compensation payments" and "gifts or inheritances," she failed to describe "each source of money and state the amount received and what you expect you will continue to receive").
Plaintiff's incomplete application fails fully to inform the court whether plaintiff is unable to prepay fees and costs or give security for them, and therefore fails to meets the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
Accordingly, plaintiff's application is denied without prejudice. Within thirty days of service of this order, plaintiff may file a complete application for this court's further consideration.
The determination whether plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis does not complete the present inquiry, as the court is unable to determine a jurisdictional basis for this action. "A party invoking the federal court's jurisdiction has the burden of proving the actual existence of subject matter jurisdiction."Thompson v. McCombe, 99 F.3d 352, 353 (9th Cir. 1996). Plaintiff has failed to meet this burden.
The complaint consists of two declarations which state in full, respectively: "I would like to know if I could transfer a U.S. Bank case #06SC02402 from Small Claims Court to District Court," and "I submitted the wrong paperwork for a Civil Harrasment [sic] Restraining Order. I got case #06-CB-1783 mixed up with a U.S. Bank case #."
A federal court is a court of limited jurisdiction, and may adjudicate only those cases authorized by the Constitution and by Congress. See Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co, 511 U.S. 375, 377, 114 S. Ct. 1673, 1675 (1994). Lack of subject matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time by either party or by the court. See Attorneys Trust v. Videotape Computer Products, Inc., 93 F.3d 593, 594-95 (9th Cir. 1996). The basic federal jurisdiction statutes, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 1332, confer "federal question" and "diversity" jurisdiction, respectively, while statutes regulating specific subject matter may also confer federal jurisdiction. See generally, W.W. Schwarzer, A.W. Tashima J. Wagstaffe, Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial § 2:5.
The complaint makes no coherent reference to federal law or a federal right, and does not assert diversity jurisdiction. The complaint must therefore be dismissed. However, consistent with the court's liberal construction of pro se pleadings, the court will grant leave to file an amended complaint within thirty days of service of this order.
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) directs the court to dismiss a case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against an immune defendant. Additional general grounds for dismissing a proposed complaint are improper form (Fed.R.Civ.P. 10(b)); lack of subject matter jurisdiction (Rule 12(b)(1)); and failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted (Rule 12(b)(6)). The complaint must also comply with general rules of pleading, as set forth in Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a), requiring clear statements of (1) the court's jurisdiction, (2) claims showing entitlement to relief, and (3) demand for relief.
Pro se pleadings are liberally construed. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21, 92 S. Ct. 594, 595-96 (1972);Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). Unless it is clear that no amendment can cure the defects of a complaint, a pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to notice and an opportunity to amend before dismissal. See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1230 (9th Cir. 1984).
4. Failure to file either a complete informa pauperis application or an amended complaint in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation this action be dismissed.

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