Boatman v. Sawyer

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

FORT MYERS DIVISION

RAYVON L. BOATMAN,

Plaintiff, v. Case No: 2:21-cv-61-SPC-MRM DONALD SAWYER, MELINDA

MASTERS, EMILY SALEMA,

ELIZABETH PORFERT, KERI

FITZPATRICK, M. JOHNSON,

GEO CARE GROUP, INC., D.

RIDDLE, SEXUALLY VIOLENT

PREDATOR PROGRAM

DIRECTORS, BILLING,

COCHRAN, LYLES, MAURO &

RAMSEY, P.A., DCF and

WELLPATH RECOVERY

SOLUTIONS,

Defendants. /

OPINION AND ORDER1

Before the Court is Plaintiff Rayvon Boatman’s Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 4), which triggers the Court’s obligation to review the Complaint to determine whether it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a Disclaimer: Documents hyperlinked to CM/ECF are subject to PACER fees. By using hyperlinks, the Court does not endorse, recommend, approve, or guarantee any third parties or the services or products they provide, nor does it have any agreements with them. The Court is also not responsible for a hyperlink’s availability and functionality, and a failed hyperlink does not affect this Order. claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii) (requiring district courts to screen cases sua sponte when plaintiffs wish to proceed in forma pauperis).

In determining the sufficiency of a pro se complaint, the Court must construe the allegations liberally. Erickson v. Pardus 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). The Court must also accept the allegations as true. Boxer v. Harris, 437 F.3d 1107, 1110 (11th Cir. 2006). But the Court need not credit a pro se plaintiff’s “naked assertions” or “legal conclusions.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).

The standards that apply to a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) apply to dismissal under § 1915. Alba v. Montford, 517 F.3d 1249, 1252 (11th Cir. 2008). A complaint is subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim if the facts as pled do not state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face. Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556 (2007). A claim is plausible where the plaintiff alleges facts that “allow[] the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. The plausibility standard requires that a plaintiff allege sufficient facts “to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence” that supports the plaintiff’s claim. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556.

Specifically, although a complaint “does not need detailed factual allegations…a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. at 555 (citations omitted). Thus, “the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation” is not enough. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement.” Id.

Boatman—a frequent filer in this Court—is detained at Florida Civil Commitment Center (FCCC) after a state court deemed him a sexually violent predator, and he sues a slew of people and entities associated with the FCCC. His Complaint is rife with confusing, general, and conclusory allegations. They seem to fit into two categories: (1) Boatman’s clinical treatment is not progressing as quickly as he would like; and (2) another FCCC resident is stalking Boatman.

The Court finds dismissal of the Complaint appropriate under § 1915.

The Complaint does not comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, which requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief[.]” The Complaint also fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Even reading the Complaint liberally, the Court cannot discern a plausible cause of action against any Defendant.

Accordingly, it is now

ORDERED:

Plaintiff Rayvon L. Boatman’s Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED. The Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment, terminate all pending motions and deadlines, and close the file.

DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on February 10, 2021.

, Lh platrathe 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE SA: FTMP-1

Copies: All Parties of Record