Opinion
CASE NO. 1:18-cv-05835-RBL
12-03-2018
KEVIN WOODLAND, Plaintiff, v. RICHARD W. SPENCER, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, AGENCY, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS DKT. #4
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff Kevin Woodland's Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, supported by his Complaint.
A district court may permit indigent litigants to proceed in forma pauperis upon completion of a proper affidavit of indigency. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The court has broad discretion in resolving the application, but "the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis in civil actions for damages should be sparingly granted." Weller v. Dickson, 314 F.2d 598, 600 (9th Cir. 1963), cert. denied 375 U.S. 845 (1963). The standard governing in forma pauperis eligibility under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) is "unable to pay such fees or give security therefor." A person is eligible if they are unable to pay the costs of filing and still provide the necessities of life. See Rowland v. Cal. Men's Colony, Unit II Men's Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 203 (1993) (internal quotations omitted).
In addition, a court should "deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis at the outset if it appears from the face of the proposed complaint that the action is frivolous or without merit." Tripati v. First Nat'l Bank & Trust, 821 F.2d 1368, 1369 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). An in forma pauperis complaint is frivolous if "it ha[s] no arguable substance in law or fact." Id. (citing Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 529 (9th Cir. 1985); see also Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984). A pro se Plaintiff's complaint is to be construed liberally, but like any other complaint it must nevertheless contain factual assertions sufficient to support a facially plausible claim for relief. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). A claim for relief is facially plausible when "the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Ordinarily, the Court will permit pro se litigants an opportunity to amend their complaint in order to state a plausible claim. See United States v. Corinthian Colleges, 655 F.3d 984, 995 (9th Cir. 2011) ("Dismissal without leave to amend is improper unless it is clear, upon de novo review, that the complaint could not be saved by any amendment.")
Here, unfortunately, Woodland's application fails in both regards. First, Woodland's Complaint is deficient in several aspects. It fails to identify the source of this Court's jurisdiction and fails to specify the legal foundations for the relief Woodland seeks. In addition, the factual description of Woodland's claims is fragmented and hard to follow. It is hard to tell what exactly happened to Mr. Woodland. Consequently, the Court cannot draw a reasonable inference that the Defendant is at fault. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
Second, while the Court is sympathetic to Woodland's circumstances, he has failed to provide evidence of his indigency sufficient to merit leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Despite substantial monthly expenses, Woodland and his spouse have received a total of $62,018.39 in the past 12 months, and have $12,177.07 in their accounts. The Court allows litigants to proceed in forma pauperis only when they have sufficiently demonstrated an inability to pay the filing fee. This generally includes incarcerated individuals with no assets and persons who are unemployed and dependent on government assistance. See, e.g., Ilagan v. McDonald, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79889, at *2 (D. Nev. June 16, 2016) (granting petition based on unemployment and zero income); Reed v. Martinez, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80629, at *1, 2015 WL 3821514 (D. Nev. June 19, 2015) (granting petition for incarcerated individual on condition that applicant provides monthly payments towards filing fee). It does not include those whose access to the court system is not blocked by their financial constraints, but rather are in a position of having to weigh the financial constraints pursuing a case imposes. See Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Charles W. Sears Real Estate, Inc., 686 F. Supp. 385, 388 (N.D. N.Y.), aff'd, 865 F.2d 22 (2d Cir. 1988) (denying petition to proceed IFP because petitioner and his wife had a combined annual income of between $34,000 and $37,000). Woodland has failed to demonstrate a level of economic necessity similar to those who have received IFP status. // // //
For this reason, Woodland's Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis [Dkt. #4] is DENIED. Woodland shall pay the filing fee or voluntarily dismiss his claims within 21 days of this order. Otherwise, his petition will be dismissed without further notice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 3rd day of December, 2018.
/s/_________
Ronald B. Leighton
United States District Judge