Lamie v. Smith et al
Filing
166
ORDER DENYING IFP: Plaintiff's motion to appeal in forma pauperis 163 is denied; signed by Chief Judge Paul L. Maloney (Chief Judge Paul L. Maloney, kw)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ERVIN J. LAMIE,
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)
Plaintiff,
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v.
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GREG SMITH, et al.,
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)
Defendant.
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____________________________________)
Case No. 1:12-cv-201
Honorable Paul L. Maloney
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS
This was a civil action brought by a pro se plaintiff against his mother, sister, and
brother-in-law. The subject-matter of the case involved rights in real estate formerly owned by
plaintiff’s parents. By judgment entered March 6, 2013, this court granted a summary judgment for
all defendants on the ground of claim preclusion, on the basis of a previous judgment of the
Muskegon County Probate Court. The court also awarded sanctions against plaintiff to deter his
continued abuse of the privilege of proceeding in forma pauperis. Plaintiff has now filed a notice
of appeal, accompanied by a motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis.
Under Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, a party who has
proceeded in forma paupers in the district court is entitled to pauper status without further
authorization on appeal, 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 and states in writing its
reasons for the certification or finding. FED. R. APP. P. 24(a)(3)(A); see Callihan v. Schneider, 178
F.3d 800, 803 (6th Cir. 1999). Likewise, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) provides that an appeal may not
be taken in forma pauperis “if the trial court certifies in writing that the appeal is not taken in good
faith.” Where, as here, the party seeking to appeal in forma pauperis is not a prisoner, the court
must screen the proposed appeal to determine whether it meets these standards. Callihan, 178 F.3d
at 803. Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and section 1915(a)(3)
establish an objective standard. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962); Klinge
v. VandeCar, No. 1:13-cv-213, 2013 WL 754437, at * 3 (W.D. Mich. Feb. 27, 2013); Brewster v.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 11-1232, 2012 WL 4024749, at * 5 (W.D. Tenn. Sept. 12, 2012). In
order to meet the good-faith standard, an appellant must show that the appeal presents a substantial
question that is not frivolous. Ishaaq v. Compton, 900 F. Supp. 935, 945 (W.D. Tenn. 1995);
Oswald v. Graves, 819 F. Supp. 680, 685 (E.D. Mich. 1993). Rule 24(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) require an affidavit by plaintiff identifying the
issues the party intends to present on appeal which support his belief that he is a person entitled to
redress. FED. R. APP. P. 24(a)(1)(B), (C); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). This is designed to assist courts
in the process of determining whether an appeal is taken in good faith. See, e.g., Callihan, 178 F.3d
at 803 (“[T]he district court must ascertain both the individual’s pauper status and the merits of the
appeal.”); Overton v. I.R.S., 23 F. App’x 962, 963 (10th Cir. 2001); Powell v. Alcoa High Sch., No.
3:10-cv-212, 2010 WL 3087387, at * 2 (E.D. Tenn. Aug. 5, 2010); Ferguson v. Commissioner, No.
1:07-cv-247, 2008 WL 696610, at * 1 (W.D. Mar. 13, 2008).
Plaintiff has filed an affidavit of financial status (docket # 163), but has not submitted
an affidavit identifying a meritorious ground for appeal. This failure, standing alone, is sufficient
to deny in forma pauperis status on appeal. See Flippin v. Massey, 86 F. App’x 896 (6th Cir. 2004);
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Kahn v. General Motors Corp., No. 04-cv-73044, 2013 WL 979435, at * 2 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 13,
2013); Ferguson, 2008 WL 696610, at * 1. Beyond that, the record is devoid of any indication that
this court’s judgment was in error, or that the award of sanctions was an abuse of discretion. After
losing in probate court, plaintiff filed an abusive, duplicative action in state circuit court. That court
enjoined further re-litigation in the state courts and imposed a monetary sanction. Plaintiff ignored
both the injunction and the monetary sanctions, filing the present action within days. Enough is
enough. Plaintiff has not demonstrated any colorable merit, and the court concludes that review of
this matter on appeal would be a waste of the valuable resources of the Court of Appeals.
Accordingly:
IT IS ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis (docket
# 163) be and hereby is DENIED, the court certifying that the appeal is not taken in good faith.
Dated:
March 19, 2013
/s/ Paul L. Maloney
Paul L. Maloney
Chief United States District Judge
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