Anderson v. Astrue
Filing
5
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Granting 4 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Ronald L Anderson. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 5/27/11. (bkl)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
RONALD L. ANDERSON,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 11-cv-423-JPG
v.
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of
Social Security,
Defendant,
v.
SSAOGC,
Interested Party.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff Ronald L. Anderson’s Motion for Leave
to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Doc. 4).
A federal court may permit an indigent party to proceed without pre-payment of fees. 28
U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) (2006). Nevertheless, a court can deny a qualified plaintiff leave to file in
forma pauperis or can dismiss a case if the action is clearly frivolous or malicious. Id. §
1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The test for determining if an action is frivolous or without merit is whether
the plaintiff can make a rational argument on the law or facts in support of the claim. Neitzke v.
Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Corgain v. Miller, 708 F.2d 1241, 1247 (7th Cir. 1983).
When assessing a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, a district court should inquire into the
merits of the plaintiff’s claims, and if the court finds them to be frivolous, it should deny leave to
proceed in forma pauperis. Lucien v. Roegner, 682 F.2d 625, 626 (7th Cir. 1982).
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The Court is satisfied from Anderson’s affidavit that he is indigent. Furthermore, the
Court does not find anything in the file to indicate that this action is frivolous or malicious.
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Anderson’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis
(Doc. 4) without prepayment of fees and costs. The Court notes, however, that should it become
apparent that the action is frivolous or malicious at any time in the future, it may dismiss the case
pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
If Anderson wishes the United States Marshal Service to serve process in this case, the
Court DIRECTS him to provide to the United States Marshal Service the summons issued in
this case, the appropriately completed USM-285 forms and sufficient copies of the complaint for
service.
The Court further DIRECTS the United States Marshal, upon receipt of the
aforementioned documents from Anderson and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
4(c)(3), to serve a copy of the summons, complaint and this order upon the defendant in any
manner consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4, as directed by Anderson.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: May 27, 2011
s/ J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
DISTRICT JUDGE
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