Henry v. Jefferson Transit Authority (JTA)

Filing 9

ORDER denying 6 Motion to Appoint Counsel; this matter is DISMISSED for failure to pay filing fee. Signed by Judge Ronald B. Leighton.(DN) Modified on 5/2/2013 (DN). (cc to pltf)

HONORABLE RONALD B. LEIGHTON

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

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Order

Plaintiff,

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No. 12-cv-6063 RBL

BRENDA MARY HENRY,

v.
[Dkts. #6]
JEFFERSON TRANSIT AUTHORITY,
Defendant.

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Plaintiff moves for an order appointing counsel. (Dkt. #6.) A district court may permit

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indigent litigants to proceed in forma pauperis upon completion of a proper affidavit of

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indigency. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The court has broad discretion in resolving the application,

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but “the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis in civil actions for damages should be

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sparingly granted.” Weller v. Dickson, 314 F.2d 598, 600 (9th Cir. 1963), cert. denied 375 U.S.

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845 (1963). Moreover, a court should “deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis at the outset if it

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appears from the face of the proposed complaint that the action is frivolous or without merit.”

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Tripati v. First Nat’l Bank & Trust, 821 F.2d 1368, 1369 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted); see

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also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). An in forma pauperis complaint is frivolous if “it ha[s] no

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arguable substance in law or fact.” Id. (citing Rizzo v. Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 529 (9th Cir.

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1985); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984).

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Here, the Court must deny Plaintiff’s application because the Complaint lacks factual

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allegations upon which relief could be granted. The Motion for Appointment of Counsel (Dkt.

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#6) is DENIED.

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Moreover, Plaintiff has failed to pay the filing fee and the case is therefore DISMISSED.

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Dated this 2nd day of May 2013.

A
RONALD B. LEIGHTON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Order - 2