MICHAEL JAMES HICKS v. BOBBALLA (2017)

MEMORANDUM*

California state prisoner Michael James Hicks appeals pro se from the district court's judgment denying him leave to proceed in forma pauperis in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging constitutional violations in connection with his medical treatment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district court's interpretation and application of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1052 (9th Cir. 2007), and for an abuse of discretion its denial of leave to proceed in forma pauperis, O'Loughlin v. Doe, 920 F.2d 614, 616 (9th Cir. 1990). We reverse and remand.

The district court improperly denied Hicks' request to proceed in forma pauperis because Hicks made plausible allegations that he was “under imminent danger of serious physical injury” at the time he lodged the complaint, including that the inadequate physical therapy he received caused paralysis in his left arm and his prescribed pain medication puts him at heightened risk for liver disease because he suffers from hepatitis C. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g); see also Andrews, 493 F.3d at 1055 (an exception to the three-strikes rule exists “if the complaint makes a plausible allegation that the prisoner faced ‘imminent danger of serious physical injury’ at the time of filing”).

REVERSED and REMANDED.