Hamilton- Hayyim v. Jackson et al
Filing
6
WRITTEN Opinion entered by the Honorable James F. Holderman on 8/17/2012: For the reasons set forth in the Statement section of this order, plaintiff Change Hamilton-Hayyim's "In Forma Pauperis Application" 4 is denied. Hamilton-Ha yyim is given until 8/31/2012 to pay the full $350 filing fee. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in summary dismissal of this case. Hamilton-Hayyims motion for appointment of counsel 5 is denied without prejudice. Signed by the Honorable James F. Holderman on 8/17/2012: Mailed notice (am)
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Order Form (01/2005)
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Name of Assigned Judge
or Magistrate Judge
James F. Holderman
CASE NUMBER
12 C 6392
CASE
TITLE
Sitting Judge if Other
than Assigned Judge
DATE
8/17/2012
Change Hamilton-Hayyim vs. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
DOCKET ENTRY TEXT
For the reasons set forth in the Statement section of this order, plaintiff Change Hamilton-Hayyim’s “In
Forma Pauperis Application” [4] is denied. Hamilton-Hayyim is given until 8/31/2012 to pay the full $350
filing fee. Failure to comply with this deadline will result in summary dismissal of this case. HamiltonHayyim’s motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice.
O[ For further details see text below.]
Notices mailed by Judicial staff.
STATEMENT
Plaintiff Change Hamilton-Hayyim (“Hamilton-Hayyim”) currently serves as the Director of
Community Outreach for defendant U.S. Representative Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (“Congressman Jackson”). On
August 13, 2012, Hamilton-Hayyim submitted to this court a complaint alleging that Congressman Jackson
and his staff — defendants Theresa Caldwell (“Caldwell”), Richard Bryant (“Bryant”), and Deborah Posey
(“Posey”) — discriminated against Hamilton-Hayyim on the basis of disability, race, and religion, in
violation of the Rehabilitation Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. (Dkt.
No. 1 (“Compl.”) ¶ 9.) Hamilton-Hyyim further alleges that she is bringing claims under Bivens v. Six
Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”),
and the Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act (“No-FEAR Act”). (Id.
¶¶ 10, 12.) Hamilton-Hayyim generally alleges that Congressman Jackson, Caldwell, Bryant, and Posey
failed to reasonably accommodate Hamilton-Hayyim’s religion, failed to stop harassment, retaliated against
Hamilton-Hayyim for asserting her protected rights, and subjected Hamilton-Hayyim to disparate conditions
of employment. (Id. ¶ 12.)
Along with the Complaint, Hamilton-Hayyim has submitted an “In Forma Pauperis Application” and
accompanying financial affidavit (Dkt. No. 4) and a “Motion for Appointment of Counsel” (Dkt. No. 5).
Requests to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) are reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. To ensure that
indigent litigants have meaningful access to the courts, § 1915 allows an indigent litigant to commence an
action in federal court without paying the administrative costs of the lawsuit. Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S.
25, 27 (1992); Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324 (1988). However, the court must deny a request to
proceed IFP if (1) the allegation of poverty is untrue; (2) the action is frivolous; (3) the action fails to state a
claim; or (4) the action seeks monetary relief against an immune defendant. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
12C6392 Change Hamilton-Hayyim vs. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Page 1 of 2
STATEMENT
Hamilton-Hayyim reports that she makes approximately $2,200 per month as Director of Community
Outreach, and that she received an additional $625 in unspecified “salary” during the past twelve months.
Her other stated assets include a single-family home valued at $9,500 (with no equity), a 2010 Chevrolet
Camaro worth $15,614 (with $3,179 in equity), and a condominium valued at $15,000 (with $15,000 in
equity). She reports that she does not have more than $200 in cash, checking accounts, or savings accounts,
nor does she own any stocks, bonds, securities, or other financial instruments. Hamilton-Hayyim’s expenses
include $220 per month in loan payments on her house, $698 per month in loan payments on her car, and
$150 per month in assessments on her condominium. Hamilton-Hayyim is also responsible for the support of
her sister ($700 per month) and her great-nephew ($385 per month).
Hamilton-Hayyim has signed her financial affidavit under penalty of perjury. The information
publically available from the Cook County Assessor’s Office website, www.cookcountyassessor.com, states
that Hamilton-Hayyim’s home at 7310 S. Kingston Ave., Chicago, had a total assessed value (including both
“land” and “building”) of $7,968 in 2011, but that the “estimated 2011 market value” was $79,680. The
website shows similar results for all condominium units at 1305 E. 71st Place.
The form financial affidavit submitted by Hamilton-Hayyim asks for the “current value” of her
property, but does not specify whether that value should be stated in terms of assessed value or estimated
market value. Regardless, as the owner of two homes and a 2010 Chevrolet Camero, the court finds that
Hamilton-Hayyim is not indigent and can afford the $350 filing fee in this case. Hamilton-Hayyim’s motion
for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is therefore denied.
12C6392 Change Hamilton-Hayyim vs. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Page 2 of 2
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