noting that “the question is whether the court costs can be paid without undue hardship”
How later courts described this case
- noting that “the question is whether the court costs can be paid without undue hardship”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
JESSICA THOMAS,
Case No. 2:21-cv-1117
Plaintiff, Judge Sarah D. Morrison
Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson
v.
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS, et al.,
Defendants.
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