Opinion
Case No.: 2:20-cv-326-FtM-38MRM
05-07-2020
ISABELLA MIGLIOZZI, Plaintiff, v. LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM, THE PAVILION AT HEALTHPARK, LLC and JOHN DOE, Defendants.
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Before the Court is Plaintiff Isabella Migliozzi's Complaint filed on May 5, 2020. (Doc. 1). A federal judge must "disqualify [her]self in any proceeding in which [her] impartiality might reasonably be questioned." 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). Any doubt "must be resolved in favor of recusal." Id. The purpose of § 455 is "to promote confidence in the judiciary by avoiding even the appearance of impropriety whenever possible." Liljeberg v. Health Servs. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 865 (1988); see also United States v. Cerceda, 188 F.3d 1291, 1293 (11th Cir. 1999) (requiring recusal when the objective circumstances create an appearing of partiality). Recusal is appropriate when "an objective, disinterested, lay observer fully informed of the facts underlying the grounds on which recusal was sought would entertain a significant doubt about the judge's impartiality." Parker v. Connors Steel Co., 855 F.2d 1510, 1524 (11th Cir. 1988). Any doubts must resolve in favor of the moving party. See Murray v. Scott, 253 F.3d 1308, 1310 (11th Cir. 2001). Because a member of the Undersigned's immediate family works for one of the named Defendants, there is a conflict of interest. So, to avoid even the appearance of partiality (or impartiality), the Undersigned must recuse from this case.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
(1) The Honorable Sheri Polster Chappell is RECUSED from the above-captioned case.
(2) The Clerk of the Court is directed to REASSIGN the case to another United States District Judge.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on this 7th day of May 2020.
/s/ _________
SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Copies: All Parties of Record