Zayas v. City of Seattle

Opinion

THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 9 MYRIAM ZAYAS, CASE NO. C24-1613-JCC 10 Plaintiff, ORDER 11 v. 12 CITY OF SEATTLE, et al., 13 Defendants. 14

15 This matter comes before the Court on the referral notice from the United States Court of 16 Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Dkt. No. 13), who referred this matter to determine whether in 17 forma pauperis status should continue. (Id.) 18 “An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing that it 19 is not taken in good faith.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). “[A]n appeal is not taken in good faith . . . if 20 there is some evident improper motive or if no issue is presented which is not plainly frivolous.” 21 Tweedy v. United States, 276 F.2d 649, 651 (9th Cir. 1960); see also Hooker v. American 22 Airlines, 302 F.3d 1091, 1092 (9th Cir. 2002) (“If at least one issue or claim is found to be non- 23 frivolous, leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal must be granted.”). 24 This Court, following an order to show cause and the filing of Plaintiff’s amended 25 complaint, dismissed this case based on inadequately pleaded subject matter jurisdiction (and 26 alternatively for failing to state a claim). (Dkt. No. 9 at 3.) Plaintiff now seeks review of this 1 decision. (See Dkt. No. 11.) But the Court continues to find that Plaintiff’s complaint lacks an 2 arguable basis in law and, as such, is frivolous for purposes of acquiring in forma pauperis status 3 on appellate review. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). 4 Accordingly, the Court CERTIFIES that Plaintiff’s appeal is not taken in good faith and 5 REVOKES her in forma pauperis status. The Court respectfully DIRECTS the Clerk to send this 6 order to the Court of Appeals. The Court further DIRECTS the Clerk to send a copy of this order 7 to Plaintiff. 8 DATED this 17th day of December 2024. A 9 10 11 John C. Coughenour 12 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26