1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 KIMBERLINA LEA, Case No.: 3:22-cv-01003-RBM-WVG
12 Plaintiff, ORDER: 13 v. (1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 14 MID CITY DIVISION POLICE MOTION FOR LEAVE TO DEPARTMENT, et al., 15 PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS Defendants. (Doc. 2); and 16
17 (2) DISMISSING ACTION WITHOUT PREJUDICE 18 19 20 21 On July 11, 2022, Plaintiff Kimberlina Lea (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint against the 22 Mid City Division Police Department, and Officers Joshua Clabough, Ace Ybanez, Jason 23 Gonzalez, Kevin Cummings, Miles McCardle, David Burns, and Joshua Leiber. 24 (“Defendants”). (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff did not pay the required filing fee and instead filed a 25 motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP Motion”). (Doc. 2.) For the reasons outlined 26 below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s IFP Motion, and DISMISSES WITHOUT 27 PREJUDICE the action. 28 1 I. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 2 All parties instituting a civil action in a district court of the United States, except an 3 application for a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $402. See 28 U.S.C. 4 § 1914(a); CivLR 4.5(a). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, however, a litigant who because of 5 indigency is unable to pay the required fees or security to commence a legal action may 6 petition the court to proceed without making such payment. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). “An 7 affidavit in support of an IFP application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot 8 pay the court costs and still afford the necessities of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 9 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015). The facts of an affidavit of poverty must be stated “with some 10 particularity, definiteness and certainty.” Id. (quoting United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 11 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981)). The determination of indigency falls within the district court’s 12 discretion. Cal. Men’s Colony v. Rowland, 939 F.2d 854, 858 (9th Cir. 1991), rev’d on 13 other grounds, 506 U.S. 194 (1993). 14 Here, Plaintiff states that she is unable to pay the costs of these proceedings. (Doc. 15 2 at 1.) Plaintiff and her spouse are currently unemployed, and Plaintiff receives income 16 in the amount of $1,400 per month from EBT food assistance payments. (Id. at 4.) 17 Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges she has received income from Temporary Assistance for 18 Needy Families (TANF) within the last 12 months, but the amount of this assistance is not 19 specified in the pending IFP Motion. (Doc. 1 at 6.) Plaintiff and her spouse have no assets 20 in any checking or savings accounts. (Doc. 2 at 2.) The only asset Plaintiff owns is a 2005 21 Cadillac Escalade valued at $5,000. (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff’s monthly expenses for rent, food, 22 transportation, and renter’s insurance total $3,857. (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff has three dependents 23 who rely on her or her spouse for support. (Id. at 3.) After considering Plaintiff’s 24 application, the Court determines that Plaintiff cannot afford to pay the filing fee in this 25 case and is eligible to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 26 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s IFP Motion is GRANTED. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 II. SCREENING 2 A complaint filed by a plaintiff proceeding IFP is subject to screening under 28 3 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam). 4 This statute requires the court “to dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that 5 . . . the action or appeal (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which 6 relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune 7 from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 8 A. Rule 8 Standard of Review 9 A complaint fails to state a claim for relief if it does not satisfy Federal Rule of Civil 10 Procedure (“Rule”) 8(a). Rule 8(a) requires: “(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds 11 for the court’s jurisdiction . . . ; (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that 12 the pleader is entitled to relief; and (3) a demand for the relief sought, which may include 13 relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(a)(1)–(3); see also 14 Rivera v. First Student, No. 18-CV-04033 NC, 2018 WL 10468016, at *2 (N.D. Cal. July 15 27, 2018). If a complaint does not meet these requirements, it is subject to dismissal. See, 16 e.g., McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177–78 (9th Cir. 1996) (affirming dismissal of a 17 third amended complaint that was “argumentative, prolix, replete with redundancy, and 18 largely irrelevant”); Hatch v. Reliance Ins. Co., 758 F.2d 409, 415 (9th Cir. 1985) 19 (affirming dismissal of complaints that “were confusing and conclusory and not in 20 compliance with Rule 8”). 21 Rule 8(d)(1) requires that each allegation in the complaint be “simple, concise, and 22 direct.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(d)(1). Rule 8 ensures that each defendant has “fair notice of 23 what the plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Dura Pharms., Inc. v. 24 Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 346 (2005) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 25 This rule “applies to good claims as well as bad,” and it is a reason for dismissing a 26 complaint that is independent of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). McHenry, 84 27 F.3d at 1179. 28 / / / 1 B. Discussion 2 Having reviewed Plaintiff’s Complaint, the Court finds that it fails to comply with 3 Rule 8 in a number of regards. 4 First, Plaintiff has not included “a short and plain statement of the grounds for the 5 court’s jurisdiction.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(a)(1). A plaintiff bears the burden of establishing 6 “subject matter jurisdiction.” This jurisdiction can arise in two ways: (1) as “federal 7 question” jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331; or (2) as “diversity of citizenship” 8 jurisdiction” under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Arbaugh v. Y&H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 501 (2006). 9 Under federal question jurisdiction, “courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil 10 actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 11 1331.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 KIMBERLINA LEA, Case No.: 3:22-cv-01003-RBM-WVG
12 Plaintiff, ORDER: 13 v. (1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 14 MID CITY DIVISION POLICE MOTION FOR LEAVE TO DEPARTMENT, et al., 15 PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS Defendants. (Doc. 2); and 16
17 (2) DISMISSING ACTION WITHOUT PREJUDICE 18 19 20 21 On July 11, 2022, Plaintiff Kimberlina Lea (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint against the 22 Mid City Division Police Department, and Officers Joshua Clabough, Ace Ybanez, Jason 23 Gonzalez, Kevin Cummings, Miles McCardle, David Burns, and Joshua Leiber. 24 (“Defendants”). (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff did not pay the required filing fee and instead filed a 25 motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP Motion”). (Doc. 2.) For the reasons outlined 26 below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s IFP Motion, and DISMISSES WITHOUT 27 PREJUDICE the action. 28 1 I. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 2 All parties instituting a civil action in a district court of the United States, except an 3 application for a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $402. See 28 U.S.C. 4 § 1914(a); CivLR 4.5(a). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, however, a litigant who because of 5 indigency is unable to pay the required fees or security to commence a legal action may 6 petition the court to proceed without making such payment. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). “An 7 affidavit in support of an IFP application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot 8 pay the court costs and still afford the necessities of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 9 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015). The facts of an affidavit of poverty must be stated “with some 10 particularity, definiteness and certainty.” Id. (quoting United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 11 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981)). The determination of indigency falls within the district court’s 12 discretion. Cal. Men’s Colony v. Rowland, 939 F.2d 854, 858 (9th Cir. 1991), rev’d on 13 other grounds, 506 U.S. 194 (1993). 14 Here, Plaintiff states that she is unable to pay the costs of these proceedings. (Doc. 15 2 at 1.) Plaintiff and her spouse are currently unemployed, and Plaintiff receives income 16 in the amount of $1,400 per month from EBT food assistance payments. (Id. at 4.) 17 Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges she has received income from Temporary Assistance for 18 Needy Families (TANF) within the last 12 months, but the amount of this assistance is not 19 specified in the pending IFP Motion. (Doc. 1 at 6.) Plaintiff and her spouse have no assets 20 in any checking or savings accounts. (Doc. 2 at 2.) The only asset Plaintiff owns is a 2005 21 Cadillac Escalade valued at $5,000. (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff’s monthly expenses for rent, food, 22 transportation, and renter’s insurance total $3,857. (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff has three dependents 23 who rely on her or her spouse for support. (Id. at 3.) After considering Plaintiff’s 24 application, the Court determines that Plaintiff cannot afford to pay the filing fee in this 25 case and is eligible to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 26 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s IFP Motion is GRANTED. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 II. SCREENING 2 A complaint filed by a plaintiff proceeding IFP is subject to screening under 28 3 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam). 4 This statute requires the court “to dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that 5 . . . the action or appeal (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which 6 relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune 7 from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 8 A. Rule 8 Standard of Review 9 A complaint fails to state a claim for relief if it does not satisfy Federal Rule of Civil 10 Procedure (“Rule”) 8(a). Rule 8(a) requires: “(1) a short and plain statement of the grounds 11 for the court’s jurisdiction . . . ; (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that 12 the pleader is entitled to relief; and (3) a demand for the relief sought, which may include 13 relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(a)(1)–(3); see also 14 Rivera v. First Student, No. 18-CV-04033 NC, 2018 WL 10468016, at *2 (N.D. Cal. July 15 27, 2018). If a complaint does not meet these requirements, it is subject to dismissal. See, 16 e.g., McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177–78 (9th Cir. 1996) (affirming dismissal of a 17 third amended complaint that was “argumentative, prolix, replete with redundancy, and 18 largely irrelevant”); Hatch v. Reliance Ins. Co., 758 F.2d 409, 415 (9th Cir. 1985) 19 (affirming dismissal of complaints that “were confusing and conclusory and not in 20 compliance with Rule 8”). 21 Rule 8(d)(1) requires that each allegation in the complaint be “simple, concise, and 22 direct.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(d)(1). Rule 8 ensures that each defendant has “fair notice of 23 what the plaintiff’s claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Dura Pharms., Inc. v. 24 Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 346 (2005) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). 25 This rule “applies to good claims as well as bad,” and it is a reason for dismissing a 26 complaint that is independent of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). McHenry, 84 27 F.3d at 1179. 28 / / / 1 B. Discussion 2 Having reviewed Plaintiff’s Complaint, the Court finds that it fails to comply with 3 Rule 8 in a number of regards. 4 First, Plaintiff has not included “a short and plain statement of the grounds for the 5 court’s jurisdiction.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(a)(1). A plaintiff bears the burden of establishing 6 “subject matter jurisdiction.” This jurisdiction can arise in two ways: (1) as “federal 7 question” jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331; or (2) as “diversity of citizenship” 8 jurisdiction” under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Arbaugh v. Y&H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 501 (2006). 9 Under federal question jurisdiction, “courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil 10 actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 11 1331. Under diversity jurisdiction, each plaintiff must be a citizen of a different state than 12 each of the defendants, and the “amount in controversy” must exceed $75,000. 28 U.S.C. 13 § 1332(a); see, e.g., Caterpillar Inc. v. Lewis, 519 U.S. 61, 68 (1996). A plaintiff can allege 14 the “citizenship” of individuals by stating where the individual is “domiciled,” or where 15 they permanently reside. The citizenship of a corporation is where the entity is 16 incorporated or has its principal place of business. 17 Plaintiff’s Complaint itself fails to mention the grounds for the Court’s jurisdiction. 18 (See Doc. 1.) While the civil cover sheet Plaintiff filed states diversity jurisdiction as the 19 basis for the Court’s jurisdiction (Doc. 1-1), the Court notes a discrepancy regarding 20 Plaintiff’s place of domicile. While Plaintiff’s Complaint includes a home address for 21 Plaintiff in Henderson, Nevada (see Doc. 1 at 1), Plaintiff’s civil cover sheet notes that 22 Plaintiff is a citizen both of this state (California) and of another state (Nevada). (See Doc. 23 1-1.) “A person’s domicile is her permanent home, where she resides with the intention to 24 remain or to which she intends to return.” Kanter v. Warner–Lambert Co., 265 F.3d 853, 25 857 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Lew v. Moss, 797 F.2d 747, 749 (9th Cir. 1986)). Additionally, 26 a person “may have only one domicile at a time.” Gaudin v. Remis, 379 F.3d 631, 636 (9th 27 Cir. 2004). Accordingly, the Court is unable at this time to determine if it can exercise 28 diversity jurisdiction over this case. 1 Second, Plaintiff has not included “a short and plain statement of the claim showing 2 that the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV. PRO. 8(a)(2). Plaintiff’s Complaint 3 alleges officers of the Mid City Police Department shot and killed her father, Richard Price, 4 in July 2020. (Doc. 1 at 2.) Plaintiff notes her father was carrying an “airsoft pellet gun 5 which is legal.” (Id.) Plaintiff further alleges that the police officers used “excessive force” 6 in an altercation with her father despite the officers’ knowledge that Mr. Price was “under 7 the influence,” and that in doing so, Mr. Price’s civil rights were violated. (Id.)1 Based on 8 these allegations, it appears Plaintiff intended to file claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 9 against the Defendants related to her father’s death. See Devereaux v. Abbey, 263 F.3d 10 1070, 1074 (9th Cir. 2001) (“Section 1983 creates a private right of action against 11 individuals who, acting under color of state law, violate federal constitutional or statutory 12 rights.”). Plaintiff has not included, however, any statement of the specific claims she is 13 bringing against each of the Defendants. Additionally, to the extent Plaintiff is bringing 14 Section 1983 claims against Defendants, it appears the basis for the Court’s jurisdiction 15 would be federal question jurisdiction, not diversity jurisdiction as Plaintiff indicated on 16 the civil cover sheet. 17 Given Plaintiff’s failure to state both the grounds for the Court’s jurisdiction over 18 this dispute, as well as the specific claims she is bringing against each of the Defendants, 19 the Court finds that Plaintiff has not complied with the pleading requirements in Rule 8. 20 Accordingly, the Court finds dismissal appropriate under Rule 8 and 28 U.S.C. § 21 1915(e)(2)(ii). 22 / / / 23 / / / 24 / / / 25
26 1 The Court notes that a page appears to be missing from Plaintiff’s Complaint, or a portion of the Complaint appears to be cut off, as page 2 ends by stating “I AND MY ATTORNEY 27 WILL . . .” and page 3 begins by stating “LOOSE. AND HE WAS TERRIFIED . . .” (See 28 Doc. 1 at 2–3.) l HW. CONCLUSION 2 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 3 1. Plaintiffs IFP Motion is GRANTED. 4 2. Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(11).. Plaintiff is granted leave to amend her pleading to cure the 6 || deficiencies identified above by September 12, 2022. The Court cautions that if Plaintiff 7 || fails to file an amended complaint or request an extension of time to do so by this date, this 8 || action will be dismissed. 9 IT IS SO ORDERED. 10 || DATE: July 29, 2022 11 FR B 7 Lat 5 2 HON. RUTH BERMUDEZ MONTENEGRO 13 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28