Opinion
Civil Action 2:18-cv-1488
11-28-2018
BEVERLY JO LITTLE, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
Judge George C. Smith
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
On November 19, 2018, Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). (Doc. 1). In Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 335 U.S. 331 (1948), the Supreme Court set forth the legal standard applicable to a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. An affidavit of poverty is sufficient if it reflects that the plaintiff cannot pay the Court's filing fee without depriving himself and his dependents 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 himself and his dependents, the Court cannot grant him in forma pauperis status. See Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339.
In Plaintiff's affidavit, she explains that she is employed and makes $600 per month. (Doc. 1 at 2). She is divorced and does not have any dependents. (Id.). Plaintiff has $3,000 in cash on hand or in a bank account, and in the past twelve months received $10,000 from an annuity and $30,000 in spousal support. (Id. at 2-3). Plaintiff owns a car valued at $10,000. (Id. at 3). Her monthly expenses include, among other things, rent, utilities, car payments, credit card payments, a cellphone bill, and cable. (Id. at 4).
Based on the information Plaintiff provided in her affidavit, it appears that she has access to sufficient assets such that paying the one-time filing fee of $400.00 would not impose an undue hardship upon her. With the resources available to her, it also appears that paying the filing fee would not cause Plaintiff to deprive herself the necessities of life. Accordingly, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 1) be DENIED.
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: November 28, 2018
/s/ Kimberly A. Jolson
KIMBERLY A. JOLSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE