Burgos v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2022 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 22-cv-20732-BLOOM/Otazo-Reyes SERGIO EMIR BURGOS, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant. ___________________________________/ ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff Sergio Emir Burgos’ (“Plaintiff”) Application to Proceed in District Court without Paying Fees or Costs, ECF No. [4] (“Motion”), filed on March 11, 2022. The Court has carefully reviewed the Motion, the record in this case, the applicable law, and is otherwise fully advised. For the reasons discussed below, the Motion is granted. Section 1915 requires a determination as to whether “the statements in the [applicant’s] affidavit satisfy the requirement of poverty.” Watson v. Ault, 525 F.2d 886, 891 (5th Cir. 1976); see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). An applicant’s “affidavit will be held sufficient if it represents that the litigant, because of his poverty, is unable to pay for the court fees and costs, and to support and provide necessities for himself and his dependents.” Martinez v. Kristi Kleaners, Inc., 364 F.3d 1305, 1307 (11th Cir. 2004); see also Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948) (in forma pauperis status need not be granted where one can pay or give security for the costs “and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life.”). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines are central to an assessment of an applicant’s poverty. See Taylor v. Supreme Court of New Jersey, 261 F. App’x 399, 401 (3d Cir. 2008) (using HHS Guidelines as basis for section 1915 determination); Lewis v. Ctr. Mkt., 378 F. App’x 780, 784 (10th Cir. 2010) (affirming use of HHS guidelines). The section 1915 analysis requires “comparing the applicant’s assets and liabilities in order to determine whether he has satisfied the poverty requirement.” Thomas v. Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, 574 F. App’x 916, 917 (11th Cir. 2014). Permission to proceed in forma pauperis is committed to the sound discretion of the court. See Camp v. Oliver, 798 F.2d 434, 437 (11th Cir. 1986); see also Thomas, 574 F. App’x at 916 (“A district court has wide discretion in ruling on an application for leave to proceed IFP.”). In the Motion, Plaintiff represents that he and his spouse currently have $195.00 in cash or a checking or savings account. ECF No. [4] at 2. Plaintiff further represents that he is unemployed and his spouse only earns $2,800.00, which does not cover their monthly expenses. Id. at 2, 5. Additionally, Plaintiff states that “[o]ur mortgage balance is approximately $170,000 and our credit cards balance is approximately $8,000. We cannot afford to make any payments on our credit cards at this time.” Id. at 5. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Plaintiff is unable to pay the required filing fee as required for indigent status under section 1915. Therefore, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Plaintiff’s Motion, ECF No. [4], is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court shall issue the summonses attached to the Complaint for service by the United States Marshal Service (“USMS”). Case No. 22-cv-20732-BLOOM/Otazo-Reyes DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, on March 11, 2022. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies to: Counsel of Record