Bell v. Grant
Opinion
FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SEP 3 0 2009 FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NANCY MAYER WHITTINGTON, CLERK U S. DISTRICT COURT
LLOYD BELL,
Plaintiff, 1 v. ) CivilActionNo. u9 1868 ) JILL R. GRANT, 1 ) Defendant. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the Court on review of plaintiffs pro se complaint and
application to proceed in forma pauperis. The application will be granted, but the complaint will
be dismissed.
Plaintiff alleges that Dr. Jill Grant engaged in a criminal conspiracy by prescribing
medication for the treatment of plaintiffs mental illness with knowledge of its objectionable side
affects. See Compl. at 2. Plaintiff "is seeking restitutional punishment money for the crimes
exposed in this complaint" in the amount of $1 million. Id. at 3.
Generally, "in the criminal context, the Supreme Court has refused to imply a private
right of action in 'a bare criminal statute."' Prunte v. Universal Music Group,
484 F. Supp. 2d 32,42(D.D.C. 2006) (quoting Cort v. Ash,
422 U.S. 66, 79-80(1975)). The criminal statute on
which plaintiff appears to rely, 18 U.S.C. 5 241, does not create a private right of action. See
Ibrahim v. Latham & Watkins, No. 09-0732,
2009 WL 1076695(D.D.C. Apr. 22,2009)
(dismissing criminal conspiracy claim on the ground that "[o]nly the federal government can
bring an action for criminal conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. 5 24lW), aff'd, No. 09-7048,
2009 WL 12762198 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 28,2009). The Court will dismiss this action because the complaint fails to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted. See 28 U.S.C. 44 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii), 1915A(b)(l).
An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.
United States District Judge
Reference
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