(SS) Medina v. Commissioner of Social Security

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JOSEPHINA ANN MEDINA, CASE NUMBER: 1:21-cv-00566-GSA Plaintiff, 8 FINDINGS AND v. RECOMMENDATIONS TO DENY 9 APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN ANDREW SAUL, Commissioner of Social FORMA PAUPERIS AND TO Security, REQUIRE FILING FEE PAYMENT, AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT 11 TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN A UNITED Defendant. STATES DISTRICT JUDGE (Docs. 2)

17 On April 5, 2021 Plaintiff filed a complaint in this Court and applied to proceed without prepayment of fees (in forma pauperis) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Docs. 1–2.

19 I. Legal Standard 20 In order to proceed without prepayment of the filing fee, Plaintiff must submit an affidavit demonstrating that she “is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).

22 “To proceed in forma pauperis is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 116 (9th Cir. 1965). In enacting the in forma pauperis statute, “Congress intended to guarantee that no citizen shall be denied an opportunity to commence, prosecute, or defend an action, civil or criminal, in any court of the United States, solely because . . . poverty makes it impossible . . . to pay or secure the costs of litigation.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31 (1992) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

28 The determination whether a party may proceed in forma pauperis is a “matter within the discretion of the trial court . . .” Weller v. Dickinson, 314 F.2d 598, 600 (9th Cir. 1963). To proceed in forma pauperis, a plaintiff need not demonstrate that s/he is completely destitute, but his/her poverty must prevent him/her from paying the filing fee and providing himself/herself and his/her dependents (if any) with the necessities of life. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 5 331, 339–40 (1948). Although there is no bright line rule, courts look to the federal poverty guidelines developed each year by the Department of Health and Human Services. See, e.g., Lint v. City of Boise, No. CV09-72-S-EJL, 2009 WL 1149442, at *2 (D. Idaho Apr. 28, 2009) (and cases cited therein).

9 II. Findings 10 Plaintiff’s application reflects that her two-person household (1 spouse and no dependents) receives income of $2,852 per month ($34,224 per year) in social security and retirement income, which is substantially more than the 2021 federal poverty guideline for a household of two ($17,420 per year). See 2021 Poverty Guidelines, https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines (last visited April 7, 2021). The application also reflects that her family’s monthly income ($2,852) slightly exceeds her family’s monthly expenses ($2,715), and reflects $1,180 in cash on hand (though it is earmarked for rent). These facts suggest an ability to pay the $402 filing fee without sacrificing the necessities of daily life.

18 III. Recommendation 19 Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis be denied (Doc. 2).

21 The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to randomly assign this case to a United States District Judge for resolution of these findings and recommendations pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 23 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days from the filing of these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the court. L.R. 304(b). Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.”

26 Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838–39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

3 Dated: April 7, 2021 /s/ Gary S. Austin UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE