Andre Murphy, et al. v. Aqua Finance, et al.

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ANDRE MURPHY, et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-02995-DAD-CSK 12 Plaintiffs, 13 v. ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST TO PROCEED AQUA FINANCE, et al., IFP 15 Defendants. (ECF No. 2) 17 This action is brought by Plaintiffs Andre Murphy and Murphybey Trust in pro se.1 Plaintiff Andre Murphy seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28 19 U.S.C. § 1915. (ECF No. 2.) For the reasons stated below, the Court DENIES Plaintiff Murphy’s request to proceed IFP without prejudice.

21 I. LEGAL STANDARDS 22 All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in any district court of the United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a party's failure to pay the filing fee only if the party is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007); Rodriguez v. This matter proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636, Fed. R. Civ. P. 72, and Local Rule 302(c).

1 Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). To qualify to proceed in forma pauperis, the litigant must submit an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets they possess.

3 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The affidavit must also state that the person is unable to pay the fees or give security. Id. The affidavit must provide “sufficient details concerning [the applicant’s] income, assets, and expenditures[.]” Williams v. Cnty. of Ventura, 443 F.

6 App’x 232, 233 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981) (an affidavit claiming poverty in support of a motion made under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 must state the relevant facts “with some particularity, definiteness, and certainty”).

10 II. DISCUSSION 11 A. Plaintiff Murphy’s IFP Application 12 Plaintiff Murphy’s IFP application indicates he receives a gross pay of $1,200 a month and a take-home pay of $250 a week. ECF No. 2 ¶ 2. However, Plaintiff Murphy has failed to disclose whether he has received other income during the past 12 months, what his assets and liabilities are, and any other monthly expenses. Id. ¶¶ 3, 5, 6, 8.

16 Because of these omissions, Plaintiff Murphy’s IFP application lacks sufficient detail to establish that he is entitled to prosecute this case without paying the required fees. See 18 Williams, 443 F. App’x at 233; see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Plaintiff Murphy will be provided an opportunity to file an amended IFP application. Therefore, Plaintiff Murphy’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is DENIED without prejudice to its renewal. Plaintiff Murphy is warned that failure to pay the filing fee or submit a complete IFP application with sufficient detail by the prescribed deadline may result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

24 B. Pro Se Party Cannot Represent a Legal Entity 25 Plaintiff Murphybey Trust is a legal entity, and as such, must be represented by an attorney and may not appear in this action without counsel. See E.D. Cal. Local Rule 183(a) (“A corporation or other entity may appear only by an attorney.”); see also Caveman Foods, LLC v. jAnn Payne's Caveman Foods, LLC, 2015 WL 6736801, at *2 | (E.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2015)(“While individuals may appear in propria persona, corporations | and other entities may appear only through an attorney; an unrepresented entity cannot | file any pleadings, make or oppose any motions, or present any evidence to contest | liability.”). Plaintiff Murphybey Trust is granted thirty (30) days from the date of this order || to retain counsel. Counsel must promptly file a notice of appearance in this action, no | later than thirty-five (35) days from the date of this order.

7 | Ul. ©CONCLUSION 8 In accordance with the above, IT |S ORDERED that: 9 1. Plaintiff Murphy’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is 10 DENIED without prejudice; 11 2. Plaintiff Murphy must pay the filing fee or file a complete and signed 12 application to proceed IFP within thirty (30) days from the date of this 13 order; and 14 3. Plaintiff Murphybey Trust is granted thirty (80) days from the date of this 15 order to retain counsel. Counsel must promptly file a notice of appearance 16 in this action, no later than thirty-five (35) days from the date of this order.

18 Dated: January 7, 2026 (i s \C 19 GHI 500 KIM UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE || 4, murp2995.25