Nails v. Blakney, No. 2:2007cv00941 - Document 3 (M.D. Ala. 2007)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting the motion to proceed in forma pauperis; ORDERING that this case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for want of subject matter jurisdiction. Signed by Judge Mark E. Fuller on 10/24/07. (djy, )

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Nails v. Blakney Doc. 3 Case 2:07-cv-00941-MEF-CSC Document 3 Filed 10/24/2007 Page 1 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA NORTHERN DIVISION ANGELA DENISE NAILS, PLAINTIFF, v. JAN BLAKNEY, DEFENDANT. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO.: 2:07-cv-941-MEF (WO-Not Recommended for Publication) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Plaintiff has filed a motion seeking to proceed in forma pauperis in this action (Doc. # 2). Upon consideration of the motion, it is ORDERED that the motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. Upon review of the complaint filed in this case, the court concludes that dismissal of the complaint prior to service of process is appropriate under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).1 On October 19, 2007, Angela Denise Nails ( Nails ) filed a lawsuit in this Court against Jan Blakney ( Blakney ), who like Nails is alleged to be a resident of Carrollton, Alabama, for $11,000.00. (Doc. # 1). Nails brings suit for Harassment because Blakney has been rude to her and because due to Blakney has displayed a nasty attitude to Nails 1 The statute provides, in pertinent part: [T]he court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal (i) is frivolous or malicious, (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:07-cv-00941-MEF-CSC Document 3 Filed 10/24/2007 Page 2 of 4 out in the public. Id. Nails has a long history of filing frivolous lawsuits in this Court.2 A federal court is a court of limited of jurisdiction. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). That is, a federal court is authorized to entertain only certain actions which the Constitution or Congress has authorized it to hear. Id. It is to be presumed that a cause lies outside this limited jurisdiction, ..., and the burden of establishing the contrary rests upon the party asserting jurisdiction,.... Id. (citations omitted). Therefore, a plaintiff is required by Rule 8(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to allege in his complaint a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court s jurisdiction depends. Indeed, a federal court s jurisdiction must be established by a plaintiff in the complaint by stating the basis of the court s jurisdiction and by pleading facts that demonstrate the existence of jurisdiction. Taylor v. Appleton, 30 F.3d 1365, 1367 (11th Cir. 1994); Kirkland Masonry, Inc. v. Comm'r, 614 F.2d 532, 533 (5th Cir. 1980) (same).3 Pro se litigants are not excused from compliance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Although the court is required to liberally construe a pro se litigant s pleadings, the court does not have license to serve as de facto counsel for a party ..., or to re-write an otherwise deficient pleading in order to sustain an action.... GJR Investments, Inc. v. County 2 Since March 17, 2006, Nails has filed thirty-two lawsuits in this Court. Six of these were filed within the past week. All twenty-six of Nails prior suits were dismissed. Most of them were dismissed for want of subject matter jurisdiction. 3 In Bonner v. City of Prichard, Ala., 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11 th Cir. Nov. 3, 1981) (en banc), the Eleventh Circuit adopted as binding precedent all Fifth Circuit decisions handed down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981. 2 Case 2:07-cv-00941-MEF-CSC Document 3 Filed 10/24/2007 Page 3 of 4 of Escambia, Fla., 132 F.3d 1359, 1369 (11th Cir. 1998). Consequently, a court may not excuse a pro se litigant from the requirement of stating the basis for the court s jurisdiction in her pleadings. [O]nce a court determines that there has been no [Congressional] grant that covers a particular case, the court s sole remaining act is to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction. Morrison v. Allstate Indemnity Co ., 228 F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2000). Accord, Barnett v. Bailey, 956 F.2d 1036, 1039-41 (11th Cir.1992) (holding that a court is required to examine its jurisdiction over an action at any time and dismiss an action sua sponte for lack of subject matter jurisdiction if jurisdiction is not found). Indeed, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3) specifically provides that [w]henever it appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that the court lack jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (emphasis added). After a careful review of the Complaint (Doc. # 1), the Court finds that Nails has failed to articulate any conceivable basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction. Moreover, given that this action is a personal injury action for $11,000 between private parties who all are citizens of Alabama,4 the Court cannot imagine any possible, but as yet unarticulated, basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction over this action. Neither the United States Constitution, nor any act of Congress authorizes this Court to entertain this cause of action. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for want of subject matter jurisdiction. 4 Nails has alleged that she and Blakney are citizens of Alabama. 3 Case 2:07-cv-00941-MEF-CSC Document 3 Filed 10/24/2007 Page 4 of 4 DONE this the 24th day of October, 2007. /s/ Mark E. Fuller CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 4

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