Opinion
CIVIL NO. 13-2068
03-07-2013
NATALIE MCCOY PLAINTIFF v. CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Commissioner Social Security Administration DEFENDANT
ORDER
On March 6, 2013, Plaintiff submitted a complaint for filing in this district, together with a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). ECF Nos. 1, 2. For reasons stated below, Plaintiff's motion is denied.
Federal courts have the statutory authority to permit the commencement of a civil action without prepayment of fees or costs by a person who submits an affidavit that he or she is unable to pay such costs or give security therefor. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The purpose of 28 U.S.C. § 1915 is to ensure that indigent litigants have an entre, not a barrier, to the federal courts. In re Williamson, 786 F.2d 1336, 1338 (8th Cir. 1986) (quoting Souder v. McGuire, 516 F.2d 820, 823 (3rd Cir. 1975)). Although a claimant need not be "completely destitute" to take advantage of the IFP statute, he or she must show that paying the filing fee would result in an undue financial hardship. Williamson, 786 F.2d at 1338.
Plaintiff's IFP application reveals that she is employed and receives approximately $5970.00 per month in take-home pay. ECF No. 2. Additionally, Plaintiff has the following assets: checking/savings account with a $200.00 balance; 401K account totaling $98,000.00; a home; two cars; and jewelry valued at $4,000.00. Plaintiff has the following monthly expenses: mortgage payment- $1625.00; Equity loan- $800.00; car payments- $1025.00; student loan-$130.00; Kohl's account- $100.00; QVC account- $100.00; doctor's bill- $70.00; Pier 1 account-$60.00; Best Buy account- $100.00; UAMS- $250.00; ANPAC- $150.00; utilities- $470.00; food/groceries- $300.00; and gasoline- $150.00. She has a total of $188,600.00 in debt or financial obligations. Plaintiff has one dependent, to whom she contributes $700.00 per month.
Here, although Plaintiff has acquired an exceedingly large amount of debt, she is by no means destitute. According to the information supplied by Plaintiff, she receives an annual net income of $71,640.00. Section 1915 is designed to protect those litigants who suffer from true financial hardship, not those who are well-equipped to pay the filing fee but choose to allocate their resources in a different manner. As such, Plaintiff has not shown that paying the filing fee would create an undue financial hardship. For these reasons, the undersigned finds that a waiver of the filing fee would be inappropriate in this instance.
Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed IFP is DENIED. Plaintiff is directed to tender the filing fee of $350.00 by April 8, 2013. Should Plaintiff fail to comply within the required period of time, her complaint will become subject to summary dismissal for failure to obey a court order.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 7th day of March 2013.
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HONORABLE JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI
CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE