Canders v. Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services et al

Filing 3

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION and ORDER: It is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis be DENIED and that she be ordered to pay the required $400 filing fee within 14 DAYS if she intends to proceed. Objections to R &R due by 1/23/2018. Plaintiff's Motion to Seal is DENIED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers on January 9, 2018. (jlk)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION

TIJUANA LAVERN CANDERS,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action 2:17-cv-867
Judge Algenon L. Marbley
Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers

v.

FRANKLIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT
OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES, et al.,
Defendants.

ORDER and REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This matter is before the Court for consideration of Plaintiff Tijuana L. Canders’
Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. (ECF No. 1.) For the reasons that follow, it is
RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s Application be DENIED. Further, Plaintiff’s Motion to Seal
Case is DENIED. (ECF No. 2.)
To ensure access to courts, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) permits an indigent plaintiff to avoid
payment of filing fees if the applicant demonstrates by affidavit the inability to pay such fees.
The United States Supreme Court, in Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331,
(1948), set forth the legal standards governing applications to proceed in forma pauperis. The
Adkins Court advised that “one must not be absolutely destitute to enjoy the benefit of the
statute” and that the statute does not require an individual to “contribute . . . the last dollar they
have or can get.” Id. at 339. The Court explained that “[t]he public would not be profited if
relieved of paying costs of a particular litigation only to have imposed on it the expense of
supporting the person thereby made an object of public support.” Id. Rather, what is required is

a demonstration via affidavit that “because of his [or her] poverty,” the applicant cannot pay the
fee and continue to provide for the necessities of life. Id. Courts evaluating applications to
proceed in forma pauperis, generally consider an applicant’s employment, annual income and
expenses, and any other property or assets the individual possesses. Giles v. Comm’r of Soc.
Sec., No. 14-CV-11553, 2014 WL 2217136, at *1 (E.D. Mich. May 29, 2014).
Here, the information set forth in Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis application does not
demonstrate her inability to pay. Plaintiff’s application indicates she receives approximately
$3,000 per month in income. (ECF No. 1 at 3.) It does not appear, therefore, that the cost of
filing the instant matter is beyond Plaintiff’s means. In view of Plaintiff’s income, the
Undersigned finds that Plaintiff has not demonstrated that, because of her poverty, she is unable
to pay for the costs of this litigation and still provide for herself.
Plaintiff also filed a Motion to Seal Case. (ECF No. 2.) Plaintiff did not file a
memorandum in support of her Motion, nor does she put forth any argument in her Motion for
Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis indicating why this matter should be sealed.
For the reasons explained above, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff’s Application to
Proceed In Forma Pauperis be DENIED and that she be ordered to pay the required $400 filing
fee within FOURTEEN (14) DAYS if she intends to proceed. (ECF No. 1.) Further, Plaintiff’s
Motion to Seal Case is DENIED. (ECF No. 2.)
PROCEDURE ON OBJECTIONS
If any party seeks review by the District Judge of this Report and Recommendation, that
party may, within fourteen (14) days, file and serve on all parties objections to the Report and
Recommendation, specifically designating this Report and Recommendation, and the part in

2

question, as well as the basis for objection. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
Response to objections must be filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
The parties are specifically advised that the failure to object to the Report and
Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to de novo review of by the District Judge
and waiver of the right to appeal the judgment of the District Court. See, e.g., Pfahler v. Nat’l
Latex Prod. Co., 517 F.3d 816, 829 (6th Cir. 2007) (holding that “failure to object to the
magistrate judge’s recommendations constituted a waiver of [th defendant’s] ability to appeal the
district court’s ruling”); United States v. Sullivan, 431 F.3d 976, 984 (6th Cir. 2005) (holding that
defendant waived appeal of district court’s denial of pretrial motion by failing to timely object to
magistrate judge’s report and recommendation). Even when timely objections are filed,
appellate review of issues not raised in those objections is waived. Robert v. Tesson, 507 F.3d
981, 994 (6th Cir. 2007) (“[A] general objection to a magistrate judge’s report, which fails to
specify the issues of contention, does not suffice to preserve an issue for appeal . . . .” (citation
omitted)).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: January 9, 2018

/s/ Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers
ELIZABETH A. PRESTON DEAVERS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

3