Opinion
No. 12-2449-JDT-tmp
06-13-2014
EMMA COCHRAN, Plaintiff, v. CITY OF GERMANTOWN, Defendant.
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE GRANTING DEFENDANT'S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
AND
ORDER CERTIFYING APPEAL NOT TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH
AND
NOTICE OF APPELLATE FILING FEE
On May 29, 2014, Magistrate Judge Tu M. Pham issued a report and recommendation [DE# 28] that Defendant's motion for summary judgment be granted. Plaintiff filed objections on June 12, 2014 [DE# 30].
Having carefully reviewed the record, the controlling case law, and Plaintiff's objections, the court agrees with the Magistrate Judge's decision. Because the Magistrate Judge thoroughly explained his decision and because an issuance of a more detailed written opinion would be unnecessarily duplicative and would not enhance this court's jurisprudence, the court ADOPTS the report and recommendation of the Magistrate Judge for the reasons set forth in his order. Consequently, Defendant's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, and the case is hereby DISMISSED.
The court must also consider whether Plaintiff should be allowed to appeal this decision in forma pauperis, should she seek to do so. Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, a non-prisoner desiring to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis must obtain pauper status under Fed. R. App. P. 24(a). See Callihan v. Schneider, 178 F.3d 800, 803-04 (6th Cir. 1999). Rule 24(a)(3) provides that if a party was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the district court, he may also proceed on appeal in forma pauperis without further authorization unless the district court "certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith or finds that the party is not otherwise entitled to proceed in forma pauperis." If the district court denies pauper status, the party may file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the Court of Appeals. Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(4)-(5).
The good faith standard is an objective one. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). The test for whether an appeal is taken in good faith is whether the litigant seeks appellate review of any issue that is not frivolous. Id. It would be inconsistent for a district court to determine that a complaint should be dismissed prior to service on the defendants, but has sufficient merit to support an appeal in forma pauperis. See Williams v. Kullman, 722 F.2d 1048, 1050 n.1 (2d Cir. 1983). The same considerations that lead the court to grant Defendant's motion for summary judgment compel the conclusion that an appeal would not be taken in good faith.
It is CERTIFIED, pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 24(a), that any appeal in this matter by Plaintiff is not taken in good faith. Leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis is, therefore, DENIED. Accordingly, if Plaintiff files a notice of appeal, she must also pay the full appellate filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis and supporting affidavit in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals within thirty (30) days.
Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 3(a), any notice of appeal should be filed in this court. A motion to appeal in forma pauperis then should be filed directly in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Unless she is specifically instructed to do so, Plaintiff should not send to this court copies of motions intended for filing in the Sixth Circuit.
The clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly. IT IS SO ORDERED.
__________
JAMES D. TODD
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE