(PC) Vargas v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DOMINIC VARGAS (AKA DIAMOND CASE NO. 1:20-cv-0083 JLT (PC) VARGAS), 12 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY Plaintiff, PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO PROCEED IN 13 FORMA PAUPERIS SHOULD NOT BE v. DENIED 14 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF (Docs. 2, 7) 15 CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, et al., 16 21-DAY DEADLINE Defendants. 17 18 Plaintiff has applied to proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 2.) The Inmate Statement Report 19 submitted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in support of plaintiff’s 20 application shows an account balance fluctuating between $43.76 and $627.08, with the balance 21 routinely exceeding $250. 22 Proceeding “in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 23 116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP, Adkins v. 24 E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948), “the same even-handed care must 25 be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, 26 either frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in 27 material part, to pull his own oar.” Doe v. Educ. Enrichment Sys., No. 15cv2628-MMA (MDD), 28 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173063, *2 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 30, 2015) (citing Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 1 F. Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984)). “[T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court 2 determines the allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A). It appears that 3 plaintiff has had sufficient funds over the last several months to be required to pay the filing fee 4 in full to proceed in this action, but he chose to spend his money elsewhere. 5 Accordingly, the Court ORDERS that within 21 days of the date of service of this order, 6 plaintiff shall show cause why his motion to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied and 7 he be required to pay the filing fee in full before proceeding. Alternatively, plaintiff may file a 8 notice of voluntary dismissal. 9 Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal for failure to obey a court 10 order. 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. 12 Dated: February 10, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 13 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28