Alvarez v. Local Union 755

• Court: District Court, E.D. California
• Decided: August 7, 2023
• Docket: 1:23-cv-01163
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 SERGIO ALVAREZ, Case No. 1:23-cv-01163-JLT-EPG 11 Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDING THAT PLAINTIFF’S 12 v. APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS BE DENIED 13 LOCAL UNION 755, (ECF No. 2) 14 Defendants. OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE WITHIN 15 FOURTEEN DAYS 16 17 Plaintiff Sergio Alvarez filed this lawsuit on August 4, 2023. (ECF No. 1). Plaintiff 18 describes his claim as follows: “I lost my job including my wages my Union Hall should be 19 helping me instead going against me I am behind on my bills.” (Id. at 5) (alterations to 20 capitalization). Plaintiff has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 2). 21 Because review of the application indicates that Plaintiff can afford to pay the filing fee in this 22 case, the Court recommends that the application be denied. 23 The “denial of leave to proceed in forma pauperis [is reviewed] for abuse of discretion.” 24 O’Loughlin v. Doe, 920 F.2d 614, 616 (9th Cir. 1990). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), a pro se 25 plaintiff may proceed without prepayment of fees by submitting “an affidavit that includes a 26 statement of all assets such [person] possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees or give 27 security therefor.” See Flores v. California Corr. Women’s Facility, No. 1:19-cv-1509-NONE- 28 1 JLT, 2020 WL 8821643, at *1 (E.D. Cal. June 24, 2020) (noting that § 1915(a)(1) applies to non- 2 prisoner plaintiffs). “[T]here is no formula set forth by statute, regulation, or case law to 3 determine when someone is poor enough to earn [in forma pauperis] status.” Escobedo v. 4 Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1235 (9th Cir. 2015). Rather, “[a]n affidavit in support of an [in forma 5 pauperis] application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot pay the court costs and 6 still afford the necessities of life.” Id. at 1234. However, “it is proper and indeed essential for the 7 supporting affidavits to state the facts as to affiant’s poverty with some particularity, definiteness 8 and certainty.” United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981) (quoting Jefferson v. 9 United States, 277 F.2d 723, 725 (9th Cir. 1960)). 10 Here, Plaintiff’s application states that Plaintiff is employed and makes $2,300, although 11 Plaintiff does not provide information required by the form, including the pay period for such 12 wages, i.e., weekly, bi-monthly, etc., nor the name and address of Plaintiff’s employer. (ECF No. 13 2, p. 1). Plaintiff also lists his having $100,000 in cash or checking or savings accounts. (Id. at 2). 14 While Plaintiff lists having three children and “bills,” Plaintiff does not, as the form requires, 15 explain his expenses. 16 Given that Plaintiff has $100,000 in cash or in a checking or savings account and that he 17 has some frequency of income in the amount of $2,300 without any defined expenses, Plaintiff 18 can afford the $402.00 filing fee for this action. 19 Based on the foregoing, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that: 20 1. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) be DENIED; and 21 2. Plaintiff be directed to pay the $402.00 filing fee in full if Plaintiff wants to 22 proceed with this action. 23 These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States district judge 24 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen 25 (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written 26 objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 27 Findings and Recommendations.” 28 \\\ 1 Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the 2 | waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing 3 | Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 4 5 IT IS SO ORDERED. 6} Dated: _ August 7, 2023 [Jee hey □□ 7 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28