Rochanda Zigler, et al. v. Nelnet, et al.

Zigler v. Nelnet · United States District Court for the Eastern District of California · October 22, 2025 · No. 2:25-cv-02996-DAD-CKD PS

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California grants Rochanda Ziegler’s request to proceed in forma pauperis. The court dismisses the complaint for failure to identify a legal cause of action or allege sufficient facts, but grants leave to amend within thirty days.

Holdings

  1. The plaintiff's application satisfied the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), so the request to proceed in forma pauperis was granted.
  2. The complaint failed to state a claim because it identified no specific cause of action and alleged no facts from which the court could infer a claim within the court's original jurisdiction.
  3. The complaint was dismissed with leave to amend because it was not absolutely clear that amendment could not cure the pleading defects.

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis satisfied the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
  2. Whether the complaint stated a plausible claim for relief under the screening standard applicable to in forma pauperis proceedings.
  3. Whether the complaint should be dismissed with leave to amend because its deficiencies might be cured by amendment.

Disposition

dismissed

Cases Cited (11)

  • Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (2000)(followed)
  • Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1137 (1987)(followed)
  • Boag v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364, 365 (1982) (per curiam)(followed)
  • Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 327 (1989)(followed)
  • Von Saher v. Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, 592 F.3d 954, 960 (2010), cert. denied, 564 U.S. 1037 (2011)(followed)
  • Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972)(followed)
  • Western Mining Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (1981)(followed)
  • Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-57, 570 (2007)(followed)
  • Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)(followed)
  • Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (1987)(followed)

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Cited In (0)

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