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Lewis v. Fulwood

District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Jan 16, 1990
569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990)

Summary

In Lewis v. Fulwood, 569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990), the trial court denied a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis on the ground that the statute "does not require the court to waive costs in order to allow the filing of a purely frivolous civil action.

Summary of this case from In re Trukowski

Opinion

No. 89-1389.

January 16, 1990.

Before BELSON, TERRY, and FARRELL, Associate Judges.


ORDER


On consideration of appellant's motion for summary reversal and request for appointment of emergency judge and establishment of trial date, emergency expedited motion for appointment of presiding trial judge and motion for commencement of trial, it is

ORDERED that the motion for summary reversal is granted. The trial judge denied without prejudice appellant's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, ruling that "D.C. Code § 15-712 does not require the court to waive costs in order to allow the filing of a purely frivolous civil action." Trial Court Order dated December 1, 1989. D.C. Code § 15-712 provides for the granting of in forma pauperis status upon proper application. See Green v. Green, 562 A.2d 1214 (D.C. 1989). The statute does not provide for the denial of in forma pauperis status based upon the lack of merit of the underlying action. Compare 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) ("The court . . . may dismiss the case if the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious"). If the complaint is frivolous, the trial court may dismiss it upon proper application. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for appointment of an emergency judge and the establishment of a trial date is denied. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that the emergency expedited motion for appointment of presiding trial judge is denied. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for commencement of trial is denied.


Summaries of

Lewis v. Fulwood

District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Jan 16, 1990
569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990)

In Lewis v. Fulwood, 569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990), the trial court denied a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis on the ground that the statute "does not require the court to waive costs in order to allow the filing of a purely frivolous civil action.

Summary of this case from In re Trukowski
Case details for

Lewis v. Fulwood

Case Details

Full title:Marion B. Warriner LEWIS, Appellant, v. Isaac FULWOOD, D.C. Police Chief…

Court:District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Date published: Jan 16, 1990

Citations

569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990)

Citing Cases

In re Trukowski

Harris, supra, 137 U.S.App.D.C. at 322-23, 424 F.2d at 810-11. In Lewis v. Fulwood, 569 A.2d 594 (D.C. 1990),…

Hammond v. Weekes

Likewise, this court has considered appeals of a trial court's denial of a motion to proceed in forma…