(PS) Ireland v. United Parcel Service

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JEROME IRELAND, JR., Case No. 1:21-cv-01801-DAD-SKO 12 Plaintiff, ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 13 v. SHOULD NOT BE DENIED UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, (Doc. 2) 15 Defendant. 21-DAY DEADLINE 17 On December 22, 2021, Plaintiff Jerome Ireland, Jr., proceeding pro se, filed a complaint, along with an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Docs. 1, 2.)

19 According to Plaintiff’s application, his “seasonal” gross pay/wages and take-home pay/wages are both $8,000,000,000. (Doc. 2 at 1.) This is enough to pay the $402 filing fee in this action.

21 Therefore, Plaintiff must show why he is entitled to proceed in forma pauperis.1 22 Proceeding in forma pauperis “is a privilege not a right.” Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 116 (9th Cir. 1965). While a party need not be completely destitute to proceed in forma pauperis, Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339–40 (1948), “‘the same even-handed care must be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, either frivolous claims or the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material part, to pull his own oar,’” Ross v. San Diego Cty., No. 08CV0107-BEN (RBB), 2008 2 WL 440413, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 14, 2008) (citation omitted). Hence, “the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that the [plaintiff’s] allegation of poverty is untrue.” 28 4 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(A).

5 Plaintiff’s application indicates that he has adequate funds to pay the filing fee for this action. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS Plaintiff, within 21 days of the date of service of this order, to show cause in writing why his application to proceed in forma pauperis should not be denied. Failure to respond to this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed for failure to obey a court order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

12 Dated: December 30, 2021 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE