Hollie v. Essentia Health Moose Lake Clinic

U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

Hollie v. Essentia Health Moose Lake Clinic

Trial Court Opinion

                UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                             
                    DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA                                

Shannon Hollie,                        Case No. 22-cv-314 (KMM/LIB)      

               Plaintiff,                                                

v.                                                                       

ORDER

Essentia Health Moose Lake Clinic;                                       
Benjamin Marsh, Medical Doctor,                                          
Essentia Health; and Jane/John Does                                      
(Unknown Individuals);                                                   

               Defendants.                                               


    On December 22, 2023, the  Court entered an Order adopting the Report and 
Recommendation  of  United  States  Magistrate  Judge  Leo  I.  Brisbois  and  dismissing 
Plaintiff’s claims. Judgment was entered on December 27, 2023. Plaintiff filed a Notice of 
Appeal and this matter is before the Court on his Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma 
Pauperis (“IFP”) on Appeal. Pl.’s IFP Mot., Doc. No. 154.                 
    Mr. Hollie is detained at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (“MSOP”) facility 
in Moose Lake, Minnesota, but he is not a “prisoner” subject to the provisions of the Prison 
Litigation Reform Act that require submission of inmate account statements, payment of 
an initial partial appellate filing fee, and ultimate payment, in installments, of the full filing 
fee. 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(2), (b)(1), and (b)(2); Kolocotronis v. Morgan, 
247 F.3d 726
, 728 
(8th Cir. 2001); Housman v. Ludeman, No. 11-cv-3035 (PAM/JFD), 
2022 WL 5196107
, 
at  *2  (D.  Minn.  Oct.  5,  2022).  Mr. Hollie’s  IFP  motion  and  supporting  documents 
demonstrate that he is financially eligible for IFP status.1 The Court finds that he qualifies 
for IFP status on appeal.                                                 
    “An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing 

that it is not taken in good faith.” 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(3); see also Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3). 
An appeal is taken in good faith and is not frivolous when the claims raised on appeal have 
an arguable basis in fact or law. Neitzke v. Williams, 
490 U.S. 319, 325
 (1989). Here, 
Mr. Hollie  seeks  to  appeal  the  Court’s  Order  granting  the  Defendants’  motions  for 
summary  judgment and argues  that the Court erred  in applying the Americans with 

Disabilities Act and in dismissing his claims under federal law. Notice of Appeal at 2, Doc. 
No. 157. Although the Court is satisfied that Mr. Hollie’s claims were properly resolved at 
the summary judgment stage, his appeal is not frivolous as that term has been defined by 
the Supreme Court. Therefore, Mr. Hollie’s appeal is considered to be taken in good faith 
for purposes of 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(3) and Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3), and the Court grants 

his IFP application.                                                      
    Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to 
Proceed In Forma Pauperis on Appeal, Doc. No. 154, is GRANTED.            

Date: February 6, 2024                                                    
                                    s/Katherine Menendez                 
                                  Katherine Menendez                     
                                  United States District Judge           

    1 Mr. Hollie’s application to proceed IFP in this District Court proceeding was granted. 
Order, Doc. No. 8.                                                        

Trial Court Opinion

                UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                             
                    DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA                                

Shannon Hollie,                        Case No. 22-cv-314 (KMM/LIB)      

               Plaintiff,                                                

v.                                                                       

ORDER

Essentia Health Moose Lake Clinic;                                       
Benjamin Marsh, Medical Doctor,                                          
Essentia Health; and Jane/John Does                                      
(Unknown Individuals);                                                   

               Defendants.                                               


    On December 22, 2023, the  Court entered an Order adopting the Report and 
Recommendation  of  United  States  Magistrate  Judge  Leo  I.  Brisbois  and  dismissing 
Plaintiff’s claims. Judgment was entered on December 27, 2023. Plaintiff filed a Notice of 
Appeal and this matter is before the Court on his Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma 
Pauperis (“IFP”) on Appeal. Pl.’s IFP Mot., Doc. No. 154.                 
    Mr. Hollie is detained at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (“MSOP”) facility 
in Moose Lake, Minnesota, but he is not a “prisoner” subject to the provisions of the Prison 
Litigation Reform Act that require submission of inmate account statements, payment of 
an initial partial appellate filing fee, and ultimate payment, in installments, of the full filing 
fee. 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(2), (b)(1), and (b)(2); Kolocotronis v. Morgan, 
247 F.3d 726
, 728 
(8th Cir. 2001); Housman v. Ludeman, No. 11-cv-3035 (PAM/JFD), 
2022 WL 5196107
, 
at  *2  (D.  Minn.  Oct.  5,  2022).  Mr. Hollie’s  IFP  motion  and  supporting  documents 
demonstrate that he is financially eligible for IFP status.1 The Court finds that he qualifies 
for IFP status on appeal.                                                 
    “An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing 

that it is not taken in good faith.” 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(3); see also Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3). 
An appeal is taken in good faith and is not frivolous when the claims raised on appeal have 
an arguable basis in fact or law. Neitzke v. Williams, 
490 U.S. 319, 325
 (1989). Here, 
Mr. Hollie  seeks  to  appeal  the  Court’s  Order  granting  the  Defendants’  motions  for 
summary  judgment and argues  that the Court erred  in applying the Americans with 

Disabilities Act and in dismissing his claims under federal law. Notice of Appeal at 2, Doc. 
No. 157. Although the Court is satisfied that Mr. Hollie’s claims were properly resolved at 
the summary judgment stage, his appeal is not frivolous as that term has been defined by 
the Supreme Court. Therefore, Mr. Hollie’s appeal is considered to be taken in good faith 
for purposes of 
28 U.S.C. § 1915
(a)(3) and Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3), and the Court grants 

his IFP application.                                                      
    Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to 
Proceed In Forma Pauperis on Appeal, Doc. No. 154, is GRANTED.            

Date: February 6, 2024                                                    
                                    s/Katherine Menendez                 
                                  Katherine Menendez                     
                                  United States District Judge           

    1 Mr. Hollie’s application to proceed IFP in this District Court proceeding was granted. 
Order, Doc. No. 8.                                                        

Reference

Status
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