Opinion
Case No. 1:20-cv-00640-JLT (PC)
05-07-2020
CORNELL DAVIS, Plaintiff, v. A. AGUNDEZ, et al., Defendants.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE DENIED (Doc. 2) 21-DAY DEADLINE
Plaintiff has filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 2.) According to his prison trust account statement, on January 27, 2020, Plaintiff received a settlement check in the amount of $3,500. (Doc. 5.) As of April 17, 2020, Plaintiff had $1,194.68 in his trust account. This is more than enough to pay the $400 filing fee in this action.
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. 15-cv-2628-MMA-MDD, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. 2015) (quoting Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). Hence, "the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the [plaintiff's] allegation of poverty is untrue." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A).
Plaintiff has adequate funds to pay the filing fee in full to proceed in this action. Accordingly, within 21 days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall show cause in writing why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied. Alternatively, Plaintiff may pay the $400 filing fee in this action. Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court order. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 7 , 2020
/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE