Montoya et al v. Colvin

Filing 3

ORDER Denying 1 Motion/Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiffs shall have until Friday, 9/20/2013 to file a new, completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis along with a complaint. Plaintiffs may make the necessary arrangements to pay the filing fee of $400 accompanied by a copy of this Order. Signed by Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman on 8/22/2013. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - SLD)

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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DEBBIE MONTOYA, et al., ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) vs. ) ) CAROLYN W. COLVIN, ) ACTING COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL ) SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, ) ) Defendant. ) __________________________________________) Case No. 2:13-cv-01505-JCM-CWH ORDER 13 This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs’ Motion/Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis 14 (#1), filed on August 21, 2013. Additionally, the Court considered the Sealed Death Certificate and 15 Will of Laurie Wainwright (#2), filed on August 21, 2013. Plaintiffs are proceeding in this action pro 16 se. 17 This Court may only authorize the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees and 18 costs or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement showing the 19 person is unable to pay such costs. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). This Court’s Local Rules provide that 20 “[a]ny person, who is unable to prepay the fee in a civil case, may apply to the Court for authority to 21 proceed in forma pauperis. The application shall be made on the form provided by the Court and shall 22 include a financial affidavit disclosing the applicant’s income, assets, expenses and liabilities.” LSR 123 1. Plaintiffs have requested authority pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis and 24 submitted a complaint along with the application. The Court finds that Plaintiffs’ application is 25 incomplete. Plaintiff Debbie Montoya (“Montoya”) appears to be filing this lawsuit on behalf of Laurie 26 Wainwright (“Wainwright”) who is deceased. However, Montoya failed to answer any of the 27 application questions based on her own income, but rather, relied on the Wainwright’s income. While 28 Montoya provided proof of the Deceased’s Will that appoints her as executor of Wainwright’s estate, 1 this is insufficient to excuse her from this Court’s requirement to complete an application based on her 2 own income, assets, and expenses. As a result, the Court cannot determine whether Plaintiffs are 3 eligible to proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiffs’ Motion/Application shall be denied without prejudice 4 and they will be given thirty (30) days to submit a second, completed application along with a 5 complaint. 6 Having concluded that Plaintiffs are not entitled at this time to proceed in forma pauperis, the 7 Court need not screen the complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), which requires the dismissal of 8 the case at any time if the Court determines that it is frivolous or malicious or fails to state a claim upon 9 which relief can be granted or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such 10 relief. 11 Based on the foregoing and good cause appearing therefore, 12 IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion/Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (#1) is 13 14 denied without prejudice. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall have until Friday, September 20, 2013 to 15 file a new, completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis along with a complaint. In the 16 alternative, Plaintiffs may make the necessary arrangements to pay the filing fee of four hundred dollars 17 ($400), accompanied by a copy of this Order. Failure to comply with this Order will result in a 18 recommendation to the District Judge that this action be dismissed. 19 Dated this 22nd day of August, 2013. 20 21 22 23 ___________________________________ C.W. Hoffman, Jr. United States Magistrate Judge 24 25 26 27 28 2

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