J.B. et al v Tacoma School District No. 10

Filing 8

ORDER granting 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis; signed by Judge Ronald B. Leighton.(DN)

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HONORABLE RONALD B. LEIGHTON

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

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J.B., an minor child and with his legal
guardian, ANNBEL BLAS,

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Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 16-cv-05952RBL
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR
LEAVE TO PROCEED IFP

v.
TACOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10,
A Washington Municipal Corporation,,

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Defendant.
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THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiffs Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma

16 pauperis [Dkt. #2].
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A district court may permit indigent litigants to proceed in forma pauperis upon

18 completion of a proper affidavit of indigency. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The court has broad
19 discretion in resolving the application, but “the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis in civil
20 actions for damages should be sparingly granted.” Weller v. Dickson, 314 F.2d 598, 600 (9th
21 Cir. 1963), cert. denied 375 U.S. 845 (1963). Moreover, a court should “deny leave to proceed
22 in forma pauperis at the outset if it appears from the face of the proposed complaint that the
23 action is frivolous or without merit.” Tripati v. First Nat’l Bank & Trust, 821 F.2d 1368, 1369
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ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO
PROCEED IFP - 1

1 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). An in forma pauperis
2 complaint is frivolous if “it ha[s] no arguable substance in law or fact.” Id. (citing Rizzo v.
3 Dawson, 778 F.2d 527, 529 (9th Cir. 1985); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir.
4 1984).
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Plaintiffs have met this standard. The Motion to Proceed IFP [Dkt. #2] is GRANTED.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated this 17th day of January, 2017.

A

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Ronald B. Leighton
United States District Judge

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ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO
PROCEED IFP - 2