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Torres v. Garcia

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jun 29, 1971
444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971)

Summary

In Torre v. Garcia, 444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971), we upheld the district court's dismissal of an in forma pauperis petition only because the district court found that "the action is frivolous and malicious."

Summary of this case from Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. of San Diego

Opinion

No. 26848.

June 8, 1971. Rehearing Denied June 29, 1971.

Jesse Torres, in pro. per.

Edward Garcia, in pro. per., Asst. Dist. Atty., Sacramento, Cal., Evelle J. Younger, Atty. Gen., Sacramento, Cal., Hardy, Erich Brown, Sacramento, Cal., for appellees.

Before CHAMBERS, HAMLEY and MERRILL, Circuit Judges.


Jesse Torres, an inmate of the California prison at Folsom, tendered in the district court a complaint for $1,000,000 damages from three named defendants, pursuant to the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983. At the same time he moved in the district court to proceed with the action in forma pauperis.

The district court permitted the complaint to be filed, but denied the motion to proceed in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d), on the ground that the action is frivolous and malicious. Torres appeals.

The district court has wide discretion in acting upon motions to proceed in forma pauperis as a plaintiff in civil litigation, especially in civil rights actions brought by prisoners. In this case we are not convinced that the court has abused its discretion.

Affirmed.


Summaries of

Torres v. Garcia

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Jun 29, 1971
444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971)

In Torre v. Garcia, 444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971), we upheld the district court's dismissal of an in forma pauperis petition only because the district court found that "the action is frivolous and malicious."

Summary of this case from Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. of San Diego
Case details for

Torres v. Garcia

Case Details

Full title:Jesse TORRES, Appellant, v. Edward GARCIA, Mel J. Cozzalio and Melvin H…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Jun 29, 1971

Citations

444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971)

Citing Cases

Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. of San Diego

Id. at 116. In Torre v. Garcia, 444 F.2d 537 (9th Cir. 1971), we upheld the district court's dismissal of an…

Villegas v. Dep't of Motor Vehicles

See ECF No. 9. "To proceed in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right," Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 116…