Edmundson v. Flathead County Sheriff Depatment et al

Filing 23

ORDER denying 22 Motion for Transcript. Edmundson's appeal was not taken in good faith and he should not be permitted to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. Signed by Jeremiah C. Lynch on 1/29/2014. Mailed to Edmundson and USCA. (TAG, )

FILED

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
JAN 29 201+
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
CIeD~' u.s Distri
MISSOULA DIVISION
/Strict OfM ct Court
M'
ISSoulOntana
a

CV 13-00032-M-JCL

RODNEY A. EDMUNDSON,
Plaintiff,
vs.

ORDER

FLATHEAD COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, DOCTOR DUSING,
and TAMMY BOWEN,
Defendants.
Plaintiff Rodney Edmundson, a pro se prisoner litigant, proceeding in forma
pauperis filed his Amended Complaint against the Flathead County Sheriff's
Department, Doctor Dusing, and Tammy Bowen. (Doc.6.) After conducting a
prescreening of the amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A,
this Court ordered the Amended Complaint served upon Defendant Bowen and
recommended the dismissal of Defendants Dusing and Flathead County Sheriff's
Department. (October 15, 2013 Order, Doc. 8.) Defendant Bowen filed an
Answer to the Amended Complaint on December 5,2013 (Answer, Doc. II.) A
Scheduling Order was issued December 6,2013. (Scheduling Order, Doc. 13.)
Judge Christensen adopted the Court's recommendation on January 3,2014

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and dismissed Defendants Dusing and the Flathead County Sheriffs Department
and all claims except those against Defendant Bowen arising from her alleged
denial of Tylenol on June 14 and 15,2012. (Order Adopting F&R, Doc. 15.)
Despite this not being a final or appealable order, Edmundson filed a Notice of
Appeal of this Order on January 15,2014. (Notice of Appeal, Doc. 16.) On
January 16,2014, pursuant to the consent of the parties, this matter was assigned
to this Court for all further proceedings. (Doc.20.)
Edmundson's appeal was docketed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on
January 15,2014 and a briefing schedule was set. See 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals Docket #: 14-35034. The filing fee was not paid.
On January 29, 2014, Edmundson filed a "Motion and Request for Order of

Transcript." (Doc. 22.} The motion requests transcripts from the Court's January
3,2014 Order, a written copy of the Ninth Circuit Rules, a waiver of fees, and
excerpts of record. The motion will be denied because there are no transcripts for
this matter and pursuant to Circuit Rule 30-1.2, pro se litigants need not file
excerpts of record. Edmundson can obtain a copy of the Ninth Circuit by sending
a written request to the Ninth Circuit.
To the extent, Edmundson's motion can be construed as a motion for leave
to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, it is denied. The Federal Rules of

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Appellate Procedure provide:
[A] party who was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the
district-court action, or who was determined to be financially unable
to obtain an adequate defense in a criminal case, may proceed on
appeal in forma pauperis without further authorization, unless:
(A) the district court-before or after the notice of appeal is
filed-certifies that the appeal is not taken in good faith or finds
that the party is not otherwise entitled to proceed in forma
pauperis andstates in writing its reasons for the certification or
finding;

Fed.R.App.P.24(a)(3)(A).
Analogously, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) provides "[a]n appeal may not be
taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing that it is not taken in
good faith." The good faith standard is an objective one. Coppedge v. United

States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). A plaintiff satisfies the "good faith"
requirement ifhe or she seeks review of any issue that is "not frivolous." Gardner
v. Pogue, 558 F.2d 548, 551 (9th Cir. 1977) (quoting Coppedge, 369 U.S. at 445).
For purposes of section 1915, an appeal is frivolous if it lacks any arguable basis
in law or fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,325,327 (1989); Franklin v.

Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1225 (9th Cir. 1984).
The appeal in this action has not been made pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292
(interlocutory decisions) and is otherwise without merit. Edmundson is attempting
to appeal a non-appealable interlocutory order. Fletcher v. Gagosian, 604 F.2d

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637,638 (9th Cir. 1979) (if a district court dismisses less than all claims in an
action or fewer than all defendants, such a dismissal is not a final order appealable
under 28 U.S.C. § 1291). In addition, the appeal of the January 3, 2014 Order has
no basis in law or fact. No reasonable person could suppose an appeal would have
merit. Edmundson's appeal was not taken in good faith and Edmundson should
not be permitted to proceed in forma pauperis.
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Edmundson's "Motion and Request for Order of Transcript (Doc. 22) is
denied.
2. Pursuant to Fed.R.App.P. 24(a)(3)(A), the Court finds that Edmundson's
appeal was not taken in good faith and he should not be permitted to proceed in
forma pauperis on appeal.
3. Pursuant to Fed.R.App.P. 24(a)(4), the Clerk of Court is directed to serve
this order on the parties and the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

DATEDthis~ay of January, 2014.

e miah C. Lynch
nited States Magistrate

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