Soderberg v. Social Security Administration ( 2020 )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO MATTHEW D. SODERBERG, Plaintiff, v. Civ. No. 20-1256 GBW ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Defendant. ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. Doc. 2. For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion. The statute for proceedings in forma pauperis, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), provides that the Court may authorize the commencement of any suit without prepayment of fees by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets the person possesses and that the person is unable to pay such fees. When a district court receives an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, it should examine the papers and determine if the requirements of [28 U.S.C.] § 1915(a) are satisfied. If they are, leave should be granted. Thereafter, if the court finds that the allegations of poverty are untrue or that the action is frivolous or malicious, it may dismiss the case[.] Menefee v. Werholtz, 368 F. App’x 879, 884 (10th Cir. 2010) (unpublished) (citing Ragan v. Cox, 305 F.2d 58, 60 (10th Cir. 1962)). “[A]n application to proceed in forma pauperis should be evaluated in light of the applicant’s present financial status.” Scherer v. Kansas, 263 F. App’x 667, 669 (10th Cir. 2008) (unpublished) (citing Holmes v. Hardy, 852 F.2d 151, 153 (5th Cir. 1988)). “The statute [allowing a litigant to proceed in forma pauperis] was intended for the benefit of those too poor to pay or give security for costs[.]” Adkins v. E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 344 (1948). While a litigant need not be “absolutely destitute,” “an affidavit is sufficient which states that one cannot because of his poverty pay or give security for the costs and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life.” Id. at 339. The Court grants Plaintiffs Motion to proceed IFP. Plaintiff signed an affidavit in support of his application in which he declares that he is unable to pay the costs of these proceedings and declares under penalty of perjury that the information regarding his income is true. Because Plaintiff is unemployed and his monthly income is barely sufficient to cover his monthly expenses, the Court concludes that Plaintiff is unable to prepay the fees and costs of this proceeding. See generally doc. 2. Therefore, Plaintiffs Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (doc. 2) is GRANTED. Sus UNITED’STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE