Johnson v. Staunton City Police Department, No. 7:2019cv00021 - Document 12 (W.D. Va. 2019)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge Jackson L. Kiser on 5/17/2019. (tvt)
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rn-q CLERIN OFFICEu,&.D1e%COURT ArDANVILLE,VA RLED IN TH E UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE W ESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA R O A N O K E D IW SIO N MAY I7 2212, JML G. UDLEY C RK BY. 'M DEPUW CLERK ORLANDO M AUW CE JOHNSON, Plaintiff, CA SE N O .7:19C V 00021 M EM O R AN D UM O PIN IO N STAU N TO N CITY PO LIC E D EPA RTM EN T, By: H on.Jackson L.K iser SeniorUnited StatesDistrictJudge D efendant. PlaintiffOrlando M atuiceJoimson,an inmateatthe M iddleRiverRegionalJail,hasfled this pro K civilrightsaction,pursuantto 42 U.S.C.j 1983,againstthe Staunton City Police . Departmentforitsallegedly inadequateinvestigation ofacomplaintJohnson filed. Afterreview ofhissubm issions,Iconcludethathiscomplaintmustbe summ arily dism issed. Johnson reported to the police department that a person nnm ed Jeanette Chnm bers som ehow obtained Johnson's lastpay check withouthispermission,forged his nnm e on it,and cashedit.Jolmson complainsthatseveralofficersandthepolicechiefhavepromisedtoinvestigate thismatter,whichwasallegedly:talonglistoflies,''becausetheyQ&didnothingtohelp.''(Compl. 4 (ECF No.1q.) The oftker in charge ofthe investigation Elnever showed any progress or evidence,''whileanotheroffcer,whotookinformationfrom Johnsonatthejailandsaidhewould rettmlin aweek,neverretlm led. Id.at2.Thechiefhastold Joimson to stop calling and m 'iting aboutthe case,which is Gtbeing handled.'' Id. Asreliefin this case,Jolmson demandsthathis Johnson v. Staunton City Police Department Doc. 12 FourteenthAmendmentrightsQtbeupheldoveracivilmatter.''J. Z. Thecourtisrequiredtodismissanyactionorclaim filedbyaprisonerproceedingLqforma pauperisifitdetenninesthe action orclaim is frivolous,m alicious,orfailsto state a claim on whichreliefmay begranted.28U.S.C.j1915A(b)(1).Tostateacauseofaction underj1983, Dockets.Justia.com 'A aplaintiffmustestablishthathehasbeendeprived ofrightsguranteedby theConstitution orlaws oftheUnhed Statesandthatthisdeprivation resulted from conductcomm itted by aperson acting undercolorofstatelaw.W estv.Atkins,487U.S.42(19884.Inotherwords,tsltlorthemisconduct ofastateofficialto berem ediableundersection 1983,''thatGtofficial'sactionsm usthaveviolated alegalrightoftheplaintiff'underthe Constitution orotherfederallaw. Sattlerv.Johnson,857 F.2d224,226(4th Cir.1988). Johnson's claim alleges that police department offcials have som ehow violated his constim tionalrightsby failing to investigate and prosecute Jeanette Chnmbers'crim e ofstealing Jolmson'spaycheck. EGNO citizen has an enforceable rightto institute a criminalprosecution,'' however. Lopez v.Robinson,914 F.2d 486,494 (4th Cir.1990)(citation omitted). ln fact,a citizen doesnothaveanyjudicially cognizableinterestin theprosecution ornon-prosecution of anotherperson.LindaR.S.v.RichardD.,410U.S.614,619(1973))seealsoDinmondv.Charles, 476 U.S.54,64-65 (1986)(applying Linda R.S.and collecting cases). Thus,Johnson hasno legally significant interest in the crim inal investigation or prosecution of M s. Chnmbers. Consequently,I cnnnot tind that his complaints about the quality and sincerity of the police investigation ofthatmattergiverisetoany cognizableclaim tmderj1983. Accordingly,Iwill dismissthiscivilaction withoutprejudiceaslegally frivolous. An appropriate orderwillenter herewith. TheClerk isdirected tosend copiesofthismem orandum opinion and accompanying order to plaintiff. ENTERED this lm edayofMay, 2019. 5 SE IOR U N ITE STA TES D ISTM CT JU D GE 2
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