Dean v. Rausser

Filing 5

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on 07/11/17 ORDERING that 2 4 Motion to Proceed IFP is GRANTED; the 1 complaint is DISMISSED WITH 45 DAYS LEAVE TO AMEND to state both a basis for federal jurisdiction and facts sufficient to state a claim against defendant. Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. (Benson, A)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

MICHAEL DEAN

12
13
14
15

No. 2:17-cv-01361 KJM GGH

Plaintiff,
v.

ORDER

ROMELDA RAUSSER,
Defendant.

16
17

Plaintiff seeks to proceed pro se in an action stated to be a contract issue and has requested

18

permission to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 4. The court has reviewed the Motion and

19

plaintiff’s filed affidavit and finds that plaintiff lacks the funds to pay the filing fees and costs in

20

this matter. His Motion will therefore be granted.

21

The federal in forma pauperis statute authorizes federal courts to dismiss a case if the

22

action is legally “frivolous or malicious. A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable

23

basis either in law or in fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy,

24

745 F.2d 1221, 1227–1228 (9th Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as

25

frivolous where it is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual

26

contentions are “clearly baseless.” Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327. Thus, the term “frivolous,” when

27

applied to a complaint, “embraces not only the inarguable legal conclusion, but also the fanciful

28

factual allegation.” Id. at 325.
1

1
2

DISCUSSION
A less stringent examination is afforded pro se pleadings, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519,

3

520 (1972), but the pro se is still held to basic pleading requirements found in the Federal Rules

4

of Civil Procedure and case law. Avitts v. Amoco Prod. Co., 53 F.3d 690, 694 (5th Cir. 1995).

5

Subject-matter jurisdiction is created only by pleading a cause of action within the court’s

6

original jurisdiction. Id. Here, diversity is not possible and plaintiff has not identified any federal

7

statute or constitutional provision that would establish jurisdiction. ECF No. 1.

8
9
10

Further, the complaint is largely illegible, and states no facts that state a clear cause of
action on any basis.
Having failed to identify properly plead a basis for jurisdiction in this court or to state

11

facts that would clearly identify the basis for his claim for relief, his case must, at this stage, be

12

dismissed as frivolous. Plaintiff is advised to review the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the

13

Local Rules of the Eastern District of California which are available both on line and in the office

14

of the Clerk of the Court located on the 4th Floor of the federal courthouse at 501 I Street,

15

Sacramento, CA 95814.

16

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

17

1.

Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED;

18

2.

The complaint currently on file is dismissed with leave to amend to state both a

19

basis for federal jurisdiction and facts sufficient to state a claim against defendant in conformity

20

with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8 within 45 days of this Order if he is able to do so.

21
22
23
24
25
26

3.

Failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation that this action

be dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: July 11, 2017
/s/ Gregory G. Hollows
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

27
28
2