Chapman v. Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO

EASTERN DIVISION

TASHA CHAPMAN,

Plaintiff,

Case No. 2:24-cv-1789

Judge Michael H. Watson

v. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers

COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN

HOUSING AUTHORITY, et al.,

Defendants.

ORDER AND INITIAL SCREEN REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Plaintiff Tasha Chapman’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) and (2) is GRANTED. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff is required to pay the full

amount of the Court’s $405.00 filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). It is ORDERED that

Plaintiff be allowed to prosecute her action without prepayment of fees or costs and that judicial

officers who render services in this action shall do so as if the costs had been prepaid.

This matter is also before the Court for consideration of the Motion by Pro Se Litigant to

Obtain Electronic Case Filing Rights. (ECF No. 2.) Plaintiff, appearing pro se, seeks leave to

participate in electronic case filing (e-filing) in this action. (Id.) Plaintiff’s Motion, ECF No. 2,

is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE given the following Recommendation.

This matter is also before the Court for an initial screen of Plaintiff’s Complaint under 28

U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2), 1915A to identify cognizable claims and to recommend dismissal of

Plaintiff’s Complaint, or any portion of it, which is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim

upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune

from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2), 1915A. Having performed the initial screen of the

Complaint required by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e), 1915A, for the reasons that follow, it is

RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s Complaint be DISMISSED in its entirety.

I.

Congress enacted 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the federal in forma pauperis statute, seeking to

“lower judicial access barriers to the indigent.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31 (1992).

In doing so, however, “Congress recognized that ‘a litigant whose filing fees and court costs are

assumed by the public, unlike a paying litigant, lacks an economic incentive to refrain from

filing frivolous, malicious, or repetitive lawsuits.’” Id. at 31 (quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 490

U.S. 319, 324 (1989)). To address this concern, Congress included subsection (e)1 as part of the

statute, which provides in pertinent part:

(2) Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been

paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that--

* * *

(B) the action or appeal--

(i) is frivolous or malicious;

(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or . . . .

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) & (ii); Denton, 504 U.S. at 31. Thus, § 1915(e) requires sua sponte

dismissal of an action upon the Court’s determination that the action is frivolous or malicious, or

upon determination that the action fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

To properly state a claim upon which relief may be granted, a plaintiff must satisfy the

basic federal pleading requirements set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). See also

Hill v. Lappin, 630 F.3d 468, 470–71 (6th Cir. 2010) (applying Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

1 Formerly 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).

12(b)(6) standards to review under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A and 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)). Under Rule

8(a)(2), a complaint must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the

pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Thus, Rule 8(a) “imposes legal and factual

demands on the authors of complaints.” 16630 Southfield Ltd., P’Ship v. Flagstar Bank, F.S.B.,

727 F.3d 502, 503 (6th Cir. 2013).

Although this pleading standard does not require “‘detailed factual allegations,’ . . . [a]

pleading that offers ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause

of action,’” is insufficient. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic

Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). A complaint will not “suffice if it tenders ‘naked

assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557).

Instead, to survive a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), “a

complaint must contain sufficient factual matter . . . to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on

its face.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). Facial plausibility is established “when the

plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the

defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. “The plausibility of an inference depends on

a host of considerations, including common sense and the strength of competing explanations for

the defendant’s conduct.” Flagstar Bank, 727 F.3d at 504 (citations omitted). Further, the Court

holds pro se ain complaints “‘to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by

lawyers.’” Garrett v. Belmont Cnty. Sheriff’s Dep’t., No. 08-3978, 2010 WL 1252923, at *2 (6th

Cir. April 1, 2010) (quoting Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972)). This lenient

treatment, however, has limits; “‘courts should not have to guess at the nature of the claim

asserted.’” Frengler v. Gen. Motors, 482 F. App’x 975, 976–77 (6th Cir. 2012) (quoting Wells v.

Brown, 891 F.2d 591, 594 (6th Cir. 1989)).

II.

Plaintiff, proceeding without the assistance of counsel, brings this action pursuant to Title

VII of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604, alleging unlawful discrimination “either on the

basis of [her] family status or disability.” (See ECF No. 1-1.) Under the Fair Housing Act, “it

shall be unlawful . . . to make, print, or publish . . . any notice, statement, or advertisement, with

respect to the . . . rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination

based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin[.]” 42 U.S.C. §

3604(c). A § 3604(c) claim has three elements. Miami Valley Fair Hous. Ctr., Inc. v. Connor

Grp., 805 F. Supp. 2d 396, 406–07 (S.D. Ohio 2011). A plaintiff must prove that: (1) defendant

made a statement; (2) the statement was made with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling; and

(3) the statement indicated a preference, or limitation or discrimination on the basis of a

protected class. Id. (citing White v. United States Dep't of Hous. & Urban Dev., 475 F.3d 898,

904 (7th Cir. 2007)).

Here, Plaintiff asserts claims against the following Defendants: (1) Columbus

Metropolitan Housing Authority (the “CMHA”), which Plaintiff alleges administers the Housing

Choice Voucher (“HCV”) program in which Plaintiff participates; (2) Consultants to

Government and Industry Incorporation (“CGI”), which Plaintiff alleges acts in tandem with the

CMHA; (3) Heels Homes Ltd., which Plaintiff alleges owns the house Plaintiff rents and

accordingly serves as Plaintiff’s landlord; (4) 4 Real Property, through Corey Barnes

(collectively, “4 Real Property”), which Plaintiff alleges acts on behalf of Heels Homes Ltd.

(ECF No. 1-1.) Plaintiff asserts claims of family status discrimination against CMHA and HCV,

and disability discrimination against Heels Homes Ltd. and 4 Real Property. (Id.) The Court

will address these claims in turn.

First, Plaintiff has failed to allege a family status discrimination claim against CMHA and

HCV. While Plaintiff alleges that CMHA and HCV made statements which related to the rental

of Plaintiff’s home, Plaintiff has failed to allege that such statements “indicated a preference, or

limitation or discrimination” on the basis of Plaintiff’s family status (due to the fact that Plaintiff

has children). Instead, Plaintiff alleges that CMHA and HCV’s statements “accus[ing] members

of [Plaintiff’s] household of crime, drugs and alcohol” and “alleging laws that point to crime,

drugs, alcohol and poor housing quality standards.” (See ECF No. 1-1 at PAGEID ## 8-9, ¶¶

14, 18 (emphasis in original).) Even taking these allegations as true, Plaintiff only has

demonstrated that Defendants CMHA and HCV were concerned about crime, drugs, alcohol, and

other housing quality standards – not the family status of the people engaging in any such

activity. And to the extent the CMHA and HCV’s statements are construed as suggesting that

Plaintiff’s children are no longer permitted to live at the subject property, such statements are

again only tied to the nature of their alleged activity – not to Plaintiff’s family status.

Plaintiff’s disability discrimination claim against Heels Homes Ltd. and 4 Real Property

suffers a similar defect. While Plaintiff has alleged that Heels Homes Ltd. and 4 Real Property

made statements pertaining to the rental of Plaintiff’s home, she again has failed to allege that

such statements “indicated a preference, or limitation or discrimination” on the basis of

Plaintiff’s disability. Instead, the statements Plaintiff places at issue only relate to requests to

replace the locks on the subject property and for documentation related to Plaintiff’s her

emotional support animal (“ESA”).1 (ECF No. 1-1 at PAGEID ## 13-20.) While Plaintiff seems

1 Plaintiff does not affirmatively allege that she is disabled. (ECF No. 1-1.) Nevertheless,

liberally construing Plaintiff’s Complaint for purposes of this initial screening only, the Court

will interpret Plaintiff’s allegation of having an ESA as having properly alleged that she is

disabled. O'Neill v. Adams Cnty. Jail, No. 1:23-CV-200, 2023 WL 6481844, at *3 (S.D. Ohio

Oct. 5, 2023) (“A complaint filed by a pro se plaintiff must be ‘liberally construed’ and ‘held to

to interpret these requests as imposing undue burdens on her due to her ESA, the statements

clearly are not discriminatory:

If your animal is a service animal I have no issues with that. But you are supposed

to notify your landlord that you have a (2 /4) service animal. The old owner was

not aware that you had a dog on the property. You are not being asked to leave.

The only thing we want is access to the (3 /4) building. We need to rekey your front

door. Let me know a good time and date so we can change the locks and provide

you with a new key. Also we need the ( 4 /4 )service animals records showing they

are up to date on all their shots. You can email that to me with the email I have

previously provided. Thanks

***

[A]ll [] we need is the records for [Plaintiff’s ESA] showing he/she is up to date on

vaccines and shots.

***

I need . . . . either a letter from the vet for [Plaintiff’s ESA] stating [Plaintiff’s ESA]

has been vaccinated and up to date on shots.

Id. (emphasis added).

Plaintiff also alleges that Heels Homes Ltd. and 4 Real Property made statements relating

to an upcoming appraisal and inspection, but nothing in those messages references Plaintiff’s

disability or her ESA. (Id. at PAGEID ## 17-18.) Despite this, Plaintiff alleges that “all of this I

feel is discriminatory retaliation . . . to just infringe upon my entire life at will; even if I have a

disability that prevents that.” (Id. at PAGEID # 19, ¶ 63.) But, even taking Plaintiff’s

allegations as true, the subject messages only pertain to a landlord’s right to enter Plaintiff’s

property (both under the terms of Plaintiff’s lease and under Ohio law). Plaintiff therefore has

failed to allege any discriminatory statement, let alone that any such statement is connected to a

disability.

less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’”) (citing Erickson v. Pardus,

551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976))).

In sum, regardless of whether Plaintiff believes she has legitimate disputes with

Defendants, she has failed to allege any discrimination claims under the Fair Housing Act based

on her family status or disability. Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that the Court

DISMISS Plaintiff’s claims in their entirety pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) for failure to

state a claim for which relief can be granted.

III.

For the reasons explained above, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s Complaint be

DISMISSED in its entirety for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. It is

FURTHER RECOMMENDED that the Court certify pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that

for the foregoing reasons an appeal of any Order adopting this Report and Recommendation

would not be taken in good faith and therefore deny Plaintiff leave to appeal in forma pauperis.

See McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601 (6th Cir. 1997).

PROCEDURE ON OBJECTIONS

If any party seeks review by the District Judge of this Report and Recommendation, that

party may, within fourteen (14) days, file and serve on all parties objections to the Report and

Recommendation, specifically designating this Report and Recommendation, and the part in

question, as well as the basis for objection. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).

Response to objections must be filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).

The parties are specifically advised that the failure to object to the Report and

Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to de novo review of by the District Judge

and waiver of the right to appeal the judgment of the District Court. Even when timely

objections are filed, appellate review of issues not raised in those objections is waived. Robert v.

Tesson, 507 F.3d 981, 994 (6th Cir. 2007) (“[A] general objection to a magistrate judge’s report,

which fails to specify the issues of contention, does not suffice to preserve an issue for appeal . . .

.” (citation omitted)).

Date: April 19, 2024 /s/ Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers

ELIZABETH A. PRESTON DEAVERS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE