Fdm Manufacturing Company, Inc. v. Scottsdale Insurance Company

We are called upon today to determine whether corporations are entitled to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Concluding that Congress did not intend corporations to be “persons” for purposes of that statute, we hold that corporations may not be granted IFP status.

I

Plaintiff FDM Manufacturing Company, Inc. (“FDM”), is a Louisiana corporation organized and managed by Frank Morgan. Frank Morgan’s brother, Alford Morgan, owned a building which FDM and Frank Morgan leased to operate a business. Defendant Scottsdale Insurance Company (“Scottsdale”) issued a fire insurance…