Gouch-Onassis v. Department of Defense, 4:25-cv-00139

Deborah Elizabeth Gouch-Onassis, proceeding pro se, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and others, alleging unlawful employment practices during her employment at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Gouch-Onassis sought leave to proceed in forma pauperis (without paying court filing fees) due to limited financial resources.
She reported receiving $1,578 per month in Social Security Disability and having $50 in cash/bank, with monthly expenses totaling $1,618.
Gouch-Onassis also requested permission to file court documents electronically.
The Court evaluated whether her claims should be allowed to proceed under statutory screening requirements for in forma pauperis filings.
The motions were decided in a preliminary order, with merits review of the complaint to follow separately.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
In forma pauperis eligibility	Cannot pay fee without hardship	N/A	Granted (sufficient financial hardship)
Permission for electronic filing	Requested via a non-local form	N/A	Denied (no good reason shown/rarely given)

Thomas v. Sec’y of Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, 358 F. App’x 115 (11th Cir. 2009) (upholding in forma pauperis access for indigent litigants)
McMahon v. Cleveland Clinic Found. Police Dep’t, 455 F. App’x 874 (11th Cir. 2011) (upholding denial of electronic filing permission to pro se litigants)