Opinion
Case No. 19-2529-CM
09-03-2019
TERRY M. DUDLEY, Plaintiff, v. NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL, et al., Defendants.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
The pro se plaintiff, Terry M. Dudley, filed this employment-discrimination action against her former employer. She has moved to proceed with this action in forma pauperis (ECF No. 3). The undersigned U.S. Magistrate Judge, James P. O'Hara, respectfully recommends that the motion be denied, but that plaintiff be given three months to pay the filing fee.
The undersigned is not herein addressing whether plaintiff has filed this lawsuit in the correct U.S. District Court, given that all defendants appear to be residents of Missouri and the events giving rise to the lawsuit appear to have occurred in Missouri.
Section 1915 of Title 28 of the United States Code allows the court to authorize the commencement of a civil action "without prepayment of fees or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that . . . the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor." To succeed on a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, the movant must show a financial inability to pay the required filing fees. "One need not be 'absolutely destitute' to proceed [in forma pauperis], but [in forma pauperis] need not be granted where one can pay or give security for the costs 'and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life.'" "Proceeding in forma pauperis in a civil case 'is a privilege, not a right—fundamental or otherwise.'" The decision to grant or deny in forma pauperis status under § 1915 lies within the "wide discretion" of the trial court.
Lister v. Dept. of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005); United States v. Garcia, 164 Fed. App'x 785, 786 n.1 (10th Cir. Jan. 26, 2006).
Lewis v. Center Market, 378 F. App'x 780, 785 (10th Cir. 2010) (quoting Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339 (1948)).
Green v. Suthers, No. 99-1447, 208 F.3d 226 (table), 2000 WL 309268, at *2 (10th Cir. Mar. 27, 2000) (quoting White v. Colo., 157 F.3d 1226, 1233 (10th Cir. 1998)).
Garcia, 164 Fed. App'x at 786 n.1. See also Lister, 408 F.3d at 1312 ("[W]e review the district court's denial of IFP status for an abuse of discretion.").
Plaintiff's affidavit of financial status indicates that although his income is "not large, it allow[s] [her] some discretionary spending money." Plaintiff is employed and earns a net income of approximately $2,200 a month. Plaintiff's monthly expenses are not excessive, totaling about $1,483. The difference between plaintiff's monthly income and expenses is $717. In addition, plaintiff reports having cash on hand in the amount of $50. She owns a Chrysler 200 automobile valued at $12,000. Plaintiff has no dependents.
Lewis, 378 F. App'x at 785.
Based on this information, the undersigned concludes that plaintiff has sufficient financial resources to pay the court's filing fees. Accordingly, pursuant to Lister v. Dept. of Treasury, the undersigned hereby issues this report and recommendation to the presiding U.S. District Judge, Carlos Murguia, that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis be denied and that plaintiff be permitted to pay the requisite filing fee in three equal monthly installments. If plaintiff does not pay the fee, the undersigned recommends that this case be dismissed without prejudice.
408 F.3d at 1312 (holding that because denial of in forma pauperis is a dispositive decision, the magistrate judge should issue a report and recommendation to the district judge rather than deciding the issue outright).
Plaintiff is hereby informed that, within 14 days after she is served with a copy of this report and recommendation, she may, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72, file written objections to the report and recommendation. Plaintiff must file any objections within the 14-day period allowed if she wants to have appellate review of the proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, or the recommended disposition. If plaintiff does not timely file her objections, no court will allow appellate review.
September 3, 2019, at Kansas City, Kansas.
s/ James P. O'Hara
James P. O'Hara
U. S. Magistrate Judge