Legal Definitions - dispauper

To dispauper someone means to legally revoke their status as someone unable to afford court costs. When a court "dispaupers" an individual, it determines that they are no longer financially eligible for special benefits, such as the ability to file a lawsuit or appeal without paying court fees (a status often referred to as in forma pauperis). This action requires the person to assume responsibility for the standard legal expenses they were previously excused from paying.

• Example 1: Inheritance or Windfall

  A plaintiff initially granted in forma pauperis status to sue for wrongful termination later wins a substantial amount in a lottery. The defendant's attorney learns of this new wealth and files a motion with the court to dispauper the plaintiff. If the court agrees that the plaintiff's financial situation has significantly improved, it will revoke their fee waiver, requiring them to pay all subsequent court fees and potentially reimburse past waived costs.

• Example 2: Change in Employment Status

  A person files for bankruptcy and is granted in forma pauperis status because they are unemployed and have no assets. Several months into the proceedings, they secure a high-paying job. The bankruptcy trustee or a creditor might petition the court to dispauper the individual, arguing that their new income makes them capable of paying the remaining filing fees and other administrative costs associated with their bankruptcy case.

• Example 3: Discovery of Undisclosed Assets

  A litigant is allowed to proceed with an appeal without paying fees after submitting an affidavit claiming extreme poverty. Later, it is discovered through public records that the litigant owns a valuable piece of real estate that was not disclosed in their initial financial statement. The appellate court, upon reviewing this new information, might decide to dispauper the litigant, concluding that they misrepresented their financial state and are, in fact, capable of covering the appeal costs.