Opinion
Case No.: 17-cv-1612-AJB-NLS
09-18-2017
EMILIO REYES, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR; JESSICA ROGERS, in her capacity as FOIA Public Liaison of Indian Affairs; RYAN ZINKE, in his official capacity and as Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S IFP MOTION
(Doc. No. 2)
The Court has reviewed plaintiff Emilio Reyes' complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis, and for the reasons stated herein, GRANTS Reyes' motion.
I. MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS
All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $400. 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a plaintiff's failure to prepay the entire fee only if the plaintiff is granted leave to proceed IFP. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). All IFP actions must include an affidavit, signed under penalty of perjury, and a statement of all assets showing an inability to pay initial fees or give security. CivLR 3.2.a.
Here, Reyes' employment at Premier Dealer Services provides his sole income source of $2,500 per month. He calculates his monthly expenses total $2,500, which is partly allocated to supporting his two minor nieces. The Court finds Reyes' application demonstrates he is unable to pay the requisite fees and costs. See Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948) (stating that one need not be "absolutely destitute to enjoy the benefit of the [IFP] statute"). Accordingly, the Court finds Reyes meets the § 1915(a) requirements and GRANTS Reyes' IFP motion.
II. SCREENING PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), when reviewing an IFP motion, the Court must rule on its own dismissal motion before the complaint is served. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000). The Court must dismiss the complaint if it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1127 ("[§] 1915(e) not only permits but requires a district court to dismiss an [IFP] complaint that fails to state a claim"). Accordingly, the Court "may dismiss as frivolous complaints reciting bare legal conclusions with no suggestion of supporting facts . . . ." Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984) (citation omitted).
Here, Reyes seeks access to twenty responsive documents to his Freedom of Information Act request. (Doc. No. 1 ¶ 46, 49.) Reyes alleges the Bureau of Indian Affairs wrongly failed to release these documents, and that he has exhausted all administrative remedies available in a good faith effort to procure them. (Id. ¶¶ 49-54, 55.) Reyes seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. (Id. at 1, 11.) The Court recognizes Reyes necessarily exhausted all his administrative remedies before bringing his instant claim, and that the burden of proof rests with the Bureau to sustain its own actions. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A); 5 U.S.C § 552(a)(4)(B). Furthermore, the relief Reyes seeks is appropriate and within this Court's jurisdiction to grant. 5 U.S.C § 552(a)(6)(B). Therefore, the Court finds Reyes' allegations provide Defendants with sufficient information regarding his claim; as such, the complaint is sufficient to survive the Court's sua sponte screening.
III. MARSHAL SERVICE
In cases involving an IFP plaintiff, a United States Marshal, upon order of the Court, must serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) ("The officers of the court shall issue and serve all process, and perform all duties in such cases."); Benny v. Pipes, 799 F.2d 489, 493 n.4 (9th Cir. 1986) (permitting "service by a Marshal for," inter alia, "a person proceeding in forma pauperis").
Based on the Court's ruling, the Court DIRECTS the Court Clerk to issue the summons, provide Reyes with a certified copy of both this order and his complaint, (Doc. No. 1), and forward them to Reyes along with a blank United States Marshal Service Form 285 for each Defendant named in the complaint. Upon receipt of this "IFP Package," the Court DIRECTS Reyes to complete Form 285 and forward them to the U.S. Marshals. Upon receipt, the U.S. Marshals will serve a copy of the complaint and summons upon each Defendant as directed on Form 285. The United States will advance all costs of service. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3).
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff's IFP motion, (Doc. No. 2), and DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to issue a summons as to complaint. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: September 18, 2017
/s/_________
Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia
United States District Judge