Seavello v. Colvin
Seavello v. Colvin
Trial Court Opinion
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JACOB A.S., Case No.: 24-cv-2441-DDL
12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING 13 v. APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 14 CAROLYN COLVIN, Acting 15 Commissioner of Social Security, [Dkt. No. 2] Defendant. 16 17 18 On December 24, 2024, Jacob A.S. (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint seeking judicial 19 review of a final adverse decision of the Commissioner pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 20 Dkt. No. 1. Plaintiff concurrently filed an application to proceed in this matter in forma 21 pauperis (the “IFP Application”), which is presently before the Court. Dkt. No. 2. 22 This Court may “authorize the commencement . . . of any suit, action or proceeding, 23 civil or criminal, without prepayment of fees or security therefor” by any person who 24 demonstrates his or her inability to pay such fees. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). A party 25 need not be completely destitute to proceed in forma pauperis. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de 26 Nemours & Co.,
335 U.S. 331, 339-40(1948). Instead, “[a]n affidavit in support of an IFP 27 application is sufficient where it alleges that the affiant cannot pay the court costs and still 28 afford the necessities of life.” Escobedo v. Applebees,
787 F.3d 1226, 1235(9th Cir. 2015) 1 (citing Adkins,
335 U.S. at 339). “[A] plaintiff seeking IFP status must allege poverty ‘with 2 ||some particularity, definiteness and certainty.’” Jd. (citing United States v. McQuade, 3 ||
647 F.2d 938, 940(9th Cir. 1981)). 4 Here, Plaintiff declares he is unemployed and that his only sources of income are 5 || public assistance and Veterans Affairs disability compensation. Dkt. No. 2 at 1-2. These 6 ||sources of income are not enough to cover his monthly expenses. See id. at 4-5. He lists 7 assets his home, a 2014 Nissan Altima, and a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. /d. at 3. He and 8 ||his spouse together have $200 in a checking account. /d. at 2. Plaintiff and his spouse 9 support their two sons and Plaintiff's mother. /d. at 3. Based upon the record before it, the 10 || Court finds that Plaintiffhas adequately demonstrated that he lacks the financial resources 11 ||to pay the filing fee and GRANTS Plaintiff's IFP Application. 12 Where the Court grants a litigant permission to proceed in forma pauperis, it must 13 screen the complaint pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) of the United States Code. 14 || The statute requires dismissal where a complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief 15 be granted, is frivolous or malicious, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is 16 ||immune. See
id.Rule 2(b) of the Supplemental Rules for Social Security Actions sets 17 || forth additional pleading requirements for a Social Security plaintiff's complaint. See Fed. 18 ||R. Civ. P. SUPP SS Rule 2(b)(1)(A)-(E). The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s complaint 19 || and finds it satisfies these pleading requirements, states a plausible claim for relief, and is 20 ||neither frivolous nor malicious. Accordingly, the Complaint survives screening, and the 21 action may proceed. 22 || IT ISSO ORDERED. 23 || Dated: December 30, 2024 ait 24 Tb Lh, 25 □ Hon. David D. Leshner 26 United States Magistrate Judge 27 28
Reference
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