(PC) Roberts v. Newsom

Opinion

PAUL ROBERTS, Case No. 1:21-cv-00506-JLT (PC)

Plaintiff, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DENY PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO v. PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

GAVIN NEWSOM, et al., (Doc. 2)

Defendants. 14-DAY DEADLINE

Clerk of the Court to Assign a District Judge Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Doc. 2.) The certified trust account statement submitted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation indicates that Plaintiff has more than $900 in his trust account. (Doc. 6.) This is more than enough to pay the $402 filing fee for this action in full. In his motion, Plaintiff concedes that he is “able to pay the fees” for this case. (Doc. 2 at 1.) 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 in forma pauperis, 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)). Plaintiff has adequate funds to pay the filing fee for this action in full. Accordingly, the Court RECOMMENDS that his motion to proceed in forma pauperis be DENIED. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to assign a district judge to this action. These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to this case, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 14 days of the date of service of these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned, “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 27, 2021 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE