Closser v. Blake, No. 4:2007cv00600 - Document 4 (E.D. Mo. 2007)

Court Description: OPINION,MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis[Doc. #2] is GRANTED.IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [Doc. #3]is DENIED as moot.IT IS F URTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall not issue process or cause process to issueupon the complaint, because the complaint is legally frivolous and/or fails to state a claim upon whichrelief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B). An appropriate order shall accompany this order and memorandum.. Signed by Judge Henry E. Autrey on 4/5/07. (JWJ, )

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Closser v. Blake Doc. 4 Case 4:07-cv-00600-FRB Document 4 Filed 04/05/2007 Page 1 of 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION RICHARD CLOSSER, Plaintiff, v. ALAN BLAKE, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. 4:07CV600 FRB OPINION, ORDER AND MEMORANDUM This matter is before the Court upon the application of Richard Closser for leave to commence this action without payment of the required filing fee. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Upon consideration of the financial information provided with the application, the Court finds that plaintiff is financially unable to pay any portion of the filing fee. Therefore, plaintiff will be granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court may dismiss a complaint filed in forma pauperis at any time if the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. An action is frivolous if "it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). An action fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957); Jackson Sawmill Co. v. United States, 580 F.2d Dockets.Justia.com Case 4:07-cv-00600-FRB Document 4 Filed 04/05/2007 Page 2 of 3 302, 306 (8th Cir. 1978). In reviewing a pro se complaint under § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must give the complaint the benefit of a liberal construction. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). The Court must also weigh all factual allegations in favor of the plaintiff, unless the facts alleged are clearly baseless. Denton v. Hernandez, 112 S. Ct. 1728, 1733 (1992); Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974). The complaint Plaintiff, a civilly-committed resident of the Missouri Sexual Offender Treatment Center ("MSOTC"), seeks monetary relief in this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against defendant Alan Blake. For his "Statement of Claim," plaintiff has simply listed the Fourteenth Amendment, a page of state and federal case citations, and several Missouri state statute citations. Although the Court must liberally construe plaintiff's factual allegations, it will not supply additional facts or construct a legal theory for plaintiff that assumes facts that have not been pleaded. Plaintiff has failed to assert any allegations against the named defendant, Alan Blake. Therefore, the complaint will be dismissed as legally frivolous. In accordance with the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. #2] is GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [Doc. #3] is DENIED as moot. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall not issue process or cause process to issue upon the complaint, because the complaint is legally frivolous and/or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). 2 Case 4:07-cv-00600-FRB Document 4 Filed 04/05/2007 Page 3 of 3 An appropriate order shall accompany this order and memorandum. Dated this 5th day of April, 2007. HENRY EDWARD AUTREY UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 3

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