Opinion
1:12-cv-1033 LJO GSA
07-02-2012
JOSE A. ORTIZ, Plaintiff, v. GEORGIA PACIFIC, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING APPLICATION TO
PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT
OF FEES
(Documents 2)
ORDER REQUIRING SUBMISSION OF
FILING FEE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS,
OR NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2012
Plaintiff Jose Ortiz is proceeding pro se in this civil action, having filed a complaint on June 26, 2012. (Doc. 1). That same date, he submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to Title 28 of the United States Code section 1915. (Docs. 2). A review of the application reveals that Jose Ortiz is the sole wage earner of the household. He is employed at Georgia Pacific and his wife, Celia Rivera, does not work. Plaintiff provides support to one son who is twenty years of age. Mr. Ortiz's gross income from his job per month is $3,092.80 and his net income from is $2,838.52. The family also receives approximately $ 2,000.00 a month in supplemental disability insurance benefits. They currently have $5,000.00 in savings. The family's monthly expenses is approximately $2,765.58 and includes $526.45 for Mr. Ortiz car payment for his 2011 Camaro, a $939.13 mortgage payment, $800 in food expenses, $450.00 for utilities, and a $50.00 payment to Best Buy.
Plaintiff owns his home that is valued at $160,000.00.
Given the above, Plaintiff Ortiz's gross income is approximately $4,838.00 monthly which is $58,056.00 annually ($4838.00.00 x 12). The federal poverty guidelines provide that a annual salary greater than $19,090.00 for a family of three does not fall below the poverty line. (See http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml.) The calculation is made based upon gross income. (See http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/about/overview/measure.html.). Therefore, this Court finds Plaintiff is not entitled to proceed without prepayment of the $350.00 filing fee.
ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees is DENIED. As a result, Plaintiff shall pay the filing fee of $350.00 no later than July 30, 2012, in order to proceed with this action. Failure to comply with this Order will result in the dismissal of this action. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Lawrence J. O'Neill
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE