Opinion
Case No. 2:21-cv-1117
03-18-2021
JESSICA THOMAS, Plaintiff, v. COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS, et al., Defendants.
Judge Sarah D. Morrison
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
On March 15, 2021, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). (Doc. 1). The Supreme Court, in Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., set forth the legal standard applicable to a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. 335 U.S. 331 (1948). An affidavit of poverty is sufficient if it reflects that the plaintiff cannot pay the court's filing fee without depriving herself the "necessities of life." Id . at 339 (internal quotation marks omitted). Although the plaintiff need not be totally destitute in order to proceed in forma pauperis, paying the filing fee must be more than a mere hardship. See Foster v. Cuyahoga Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 21 F. App'x 239, 240 (6th Cir. 2001) (noting that "the question is whether the court costs can be paid without undue hardship"). Consequently, unless it is clear that the one-time payment of the court's filing fee will render the plaintiff unable to provide for herself, the court cannot grant her in forma pauperis status. See Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339.
In her affidavit, Plaintiff attests that she is currently employed and earns approximately $2,400 per month. (Doc. 1 at 1). Plaintiff also attests that she has $2,500 "in cash or in a checking or savings account[.]" (Id.). While Plaintiff does have some monthly expenses, including a mortgage, utilities, and a credit card payment, none of these are overly onerous, particularly considering her monthly income. (Id. at 2). Similarly, Plaintiff's debt obligations are not overly burdensome given her employment and income. (Id.). Finally, Plaintiff represents she has several significant assets, including a $56,000 single family home and a $4,000 automobile. (Id.). Importantly, she has no dependents. (Id. at 2).
Based on these representations, it does not appear that paying the one-time filing fee would cause Plaintiff to be deprived the necessities of life. See Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339; see also Bush v. Ohio Dep't of Rehab. & Corr., No. 2:05-CV-0667, 2007 WL 4365381, at *1 (S.D. Ohio Dec. 10, 2007) (noting that "[i]n forma pauperis status is usually reserved either for indigent prisoners or for persons who subsist on small fixed-income payments such as social security, unemployment compensation, or public assistance and who would truly be required to forego food, shelter, clothing, or some other necessity were they to devote any of their scant resources to paying a judicial filing fee"). Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 1) be DENIED. If this recommendation is adopted, it is further RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff be required to pay the filing fee within seven (7) days of adoption.
Procedure on Objections
If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Report, file and serve on all parties written objections to those specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with supporting authority for the objection(s). A Judge of this Court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the Report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a Judge of this Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive further evidence or may recommit this matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to have the District Judge review the Report and Recommendation de novo, and also operates as a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).
IT IS SO ORDERED. Date: March 18, 2021
/s/Kimberly A. Jolson
KIMBERLY A. JOLSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE