Cristo v. The Charles Schwab Corporation et al

Filing 11

ORDER Granting Plaintiff's 5 Motion for Reconsideration and Granting Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. US Marshal shall effect service of complaint. Signed by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel on 11/8/17. (Per Order, Plaintiff provided with a certified copy of this Order and a certified copy of his Complaint and the summons so that he may serve the Defendants).(All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(dlg)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CONSTANTINE GUS CRISTO,

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CASE NO. 17cv1843-GPC(MDD)

Plaintiff,

ORDER:

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(1) GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION FOR
RECONSIDERATION AND
GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN
FORMA PAUPERIS

v.

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(2) DIRECTING U.S. MARSHAL
TO EFFECT SERVICE OF
SUMMONS AND AMENDED
COMPLAINT

THE CHARLES SCHWAB
CORPORATION; SCHWAB
HOLDINGS, INC; CHARLES
SCHWAB & CO., INC.; CHARLES
SCHWAB BANK; and CHARLES
SCHWAB INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT, INC.,

[Dkt. No. 5.]

Defendants.

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Before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of his application to

23 proceed in forma pauperis. (Dkt. No. 5.)
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On September 25, 2017, the Court denied Plaintiff’s application to proceed in

25 forma pauperis because he submitted a declaration reporting that he is currently
26 employed but did not indicate his gross monthly pay. (Dkt. No. 2 at 2.) In his motion,
27 he explains that he is the founder of the Protognosis Institute and is an employee who
28 has chosen not to take any income as it is a charitable organization. In consideration
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[17cv1843-GPC(MDD)]

1 of his lack of income from his position at Protognosis Institute, the Court GRANTS
2 Plaintiff’s motion to reconsider the Court’s order denying his application to proceed
3 in forma pauperis.
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All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of

5 the United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee
6 of $400. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a).1 An action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure
7 to prepay the entire fee only if he is granted leave to proceed IFP pursuant to § 1915(a).
8 See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007); Rodriguez v. Cook,
9 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). The plaintiff must submit an affidavit
10 demonstrating his inability to pay the filing fee, and the affidavit must include a
11 complete statement of the plaintiff’s assets. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1).
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He reports retirement income of $853.90/month, gifts of $100/month and has

13 $500 in his Charles Schwab account. (Dkt. No. 2.) However, he also has $945.48 in
14 monthly living expenses. (Id. at 4-5.) Plaintiff further claims he has no real property,
15 vehicles or other assets. (Id. at 2-3.) Therefore, based on his declaration indicating no
16 surplus income, the Court GRANTS his application to proceed IFP.
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk shall issue a summons

18 as to Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint [Dkt. No. 8] upon Defendants and shall forward
19 it to Plaintiff along with a blank U.S. Marshal Form 285 for the Defendants. In
20 addition, the Clerk shall provide Plaintiff with a certified copy of this Order and a
21 certified copy of his Complaint and the summons so that he may serve the Defendants.
22 Upon receipt of this "IFP Package," Plaintiff is directed to complete the Form 285s as
23 completely and accurately as possible, and to return them to the United States Marshal
24 according to the instructions provided by the Clerk in the letter accompanying his IFP
25 package. Upon receipt, the U.S. Marshal shall serve a copy of the Amended Complaint
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In addition to the $350 statutory fee, civil litigants must pay an additional administrative fee
of $50. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (Judicial Conference Schedule of Fees, District Court Misc. Fee
Schedule, § 14 (eff. Dec. 1, 2014)). The additional $50 administrative fee does not apply to persons
granted leave to proceed IFP. Id.
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[17cv1843-GPC(MDD)]

1 and summons upon the Defendants as directed by Plaintiff on the USM Form 285s. All
2 costs of service shall be advanced by the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed.
3 R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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6 DATED: November 8, 2017
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HON. GONZALO P. CURIEL
United States District Judge

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[17cv1843-GPC(MDD)]