Opinion
CASE NO. 1:20-cv-0083 JLT (PC)
02-10-2020
DOMINIC VARGAS (AKA DIAMOND VARGAS), Plaintiff, v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, et al., Defendants.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE DENIED (Docs. 2, 7)
21-DAY DEADLINE
Plaintiff has applied to proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 2.) The Inmate Statement Report submitted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in support of plaintiff's application shows an account balance fluctuating between $43.76 and $627.08, with the balance routinely exceeding $250.
Proceeding "in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right." Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP, Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948), "the same even-handed care must be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, either frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material part, to pull his own oar." Doe v. Educ. Enrichment Sys., No. 15cv2628-MMA (MDD), 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2015) (citing Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). "[T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines the allegation of poverty is untrue." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A). It appears that plaintiff has had sufficient funds over the last several months to be required to pay the filing fee in full to proceed in this action, but he chose to spend his money elsewhere.
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that within 21 days of the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall show cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied and he be required to pay the filing fee in full before proceeding. Alternatively, plaintiff may file a notice of voluntary dismissal.
Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court order. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 10 , 2020
/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE