Key v. Does
Key v. Does
Opinion of the Court
OPINION AND ORDER
Genise Key filed a pro se complaint against unnamed defendants alleging violations of her constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. She has also filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. The Eighth Circuit has directed courts to undertake a two-step screening process with in forma pauperis litigants. Martin-Tri
Although some district courts have limited section 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) pre-service dismissal to litigants who are prisoners, see, e.g., Johnson v. Bloomington Police, No. 16-CV-0560 (WMW/LIB), 193 F.Supp.3d 1020, 1023-24, 2016 WL 3563320, at *3 (D. Minn. June 27, 2016), all of the circuit courts to address the issue have held that nonprisoner complaints can be screened and dismissed pursuant to section 1915(e)(2)(B). See Michau v. Charleston Cty., S.C., 434 F.3d 725, 728 (4th Cir. 2006) (holding that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) “governs IFP filings in addition to complaints filed by prisoners”); Lister v. Dep’t of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005) (applying section 1915(e)(2)(B) to nonprisoner after explaining that “Section 1915(a) applies to all persons applying for IFP status, and not just to prisoners”); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 n.7 (9th Cir. 2000) (“While section 1915(e) applies to all in forma pauperis complaints, section 1915A applies only to actions in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or employee”); Rowe v. Shake, 196 F.3d 778, 783 (7th Cir. 1999) (holding that “district courts have the power to screen complaints filed by all litigants, prisoners and non-prisoners alike”); McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 608 (6th Cir. 1997) overruled on other grounds by LaFountain v. Harry, 716 F.3d 944, 951 (6th Cir. 2013) (noting that in contrast to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, “§ 1915(e)(2) is restricted neither to actions brought by prisoners, nor to cases involving government defendants”); see also Merryfield v. Jordan, 584 F.3d 923, 926 n.3 (10th Cir. 2009); Newsome v. EEOC, 301 F.3d 227, 231-33 (5th Cir. 2002); Cieszkowska v. Gray Line N.Y., 295 F.3d 204, 205-06 (2d Cir. 2002). The Eighth Circuit has on several occasions affirmed decisions dismissing nonprisoner cases under section 1915. See, e.g., Stebbins v. Stebbins, 575 Fed.Appx. 705 (8th Cir. 2014) (unpublished per curiam); Fogle v. Blake, 227 Fed.Appx. 542 (8th Cir. 2007); Benter v. Iowa, 221 Fed.Appx. 471 (8th Cir. 2007); Carter v. Bickhaus, 142 Fed.Appx. 937 (8th Cir. 2005) (unpublished per curiam).
The argument for the proposition that section 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) applies only to prisoners is that section 1915, as. a whole, pertains to civil actions by prisoners. See Johnson, 193 F.Supp.3d at 1022-23, 2006 WL 3563320, at *2. That argument overlooks the history and structure of the statute. The federal informa pauperis statute was enacted in 1892 and subsequently codified as 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 1831, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). Prior to 1996, section 1915(d) authorized" a court to request an attorney to represent a person who was unablé to afford counsel and to dismiss the case if the allegation of poverty was untrue or the action was frivolous or malicious. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (1994). Although section 1915 was extensively amended by the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of 1996, it remains the statutory authority for a federal court to authorize persons—not only prisoners—to proceed in forma pauperis. With the enactment of the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act, the former section 1915(d), which,
With respect to Key’s allegation of poverty, the Court concludes that she has provided sufficient financial information to proceed in forma pauperis. Accordingly, her motion to so proceed is granted. Document # 1.
Turning to section 1915(e)(2)(B), Key’s complaint must be dismissed if it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary relief from a party immune to suit. Because she is a pro se litigant, Key’s complaint must be construed liberally. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976). Nevertheless, pro se litigants must allege sufficient facts to support the claims contained in the complaint. Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir. 2004).
Key’s complaint is unclear, but it appears that the relief sought stems from an Arkansas state court judgment. The complaint seems to attack a conviction that Key received years back. Key seems to allege that she was charged in an Arkansas District Court for failing to pay a light bill. She states that she “accepted the charge to prevent from being incarcerated [sic] by the state.” However, Key now says that she did not commit the crime and was mistakenly charged simply because her name appeared on the light bill. The conviction resulted in a $35 fine, but due to nonpayment, the fine has ballooned to $845. Key claims to have been incarcerated twice over this issue. She also mentions that there is an outstanding warrant regaining the fine.
The complaint is unclear as to the current status of Key’s Arkansas charges. The complaint labels the charges as criminal, but they appear civil in substance. Regardless, the Court sees no path forward for Key’s federal action no matter the status or natui-e of her state charges. If Key is requesting relief based on the wrongfulness of the conviction, this Court must dismiss the complaint until the conviction “has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into question
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
1. Key’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. Document # 1.
2. Key’s complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Document # 2.
3. The Court certifies that an in forma pauperis appeal from this order and judgment would not be taken in good faith.
. “The Supreme Court held in Neitzke ... that section 1915(d) did not authorize district courts to dismiss, sua sponte, a complaint for failure to state a claim, and it is clear that Congress intended that the PLRA overrule that decision.” Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1126-27.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Genise KEY v. DOES
- Cited By
- 115 cases
- Status
- Published