Judd v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue et al, No. 5:2013cv00033 - Document 11 (N.D.W. Va. 2013)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: Affirming and Adopting 5 Report and Recommendations; Denying 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis; Dismissing Case without Prejudice and Striking case from active docket of this Court. Clerk directed to enter Judgment pursuant to FRCP 58. Signed by Senior Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr on 4/8/13. (copy to Pltff by cert. mail)(soa) (Additional attachment(s) added on 4/9/2013: # 1 Certified Mail Return Receipt) (soa).

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA KEITH RUSSELL JUDD, Plaintiff, v. Civil Action No. 5:13CV33 (STAMP) COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, and U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, Defendants. MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AFFIRMING AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE AND DISMISSING CIVIL ACTION I. Procedural History On March 8, 2013, the plaintiff, who is an inmate at FCI Texarkana, filed this civil action in this Court. In his complaint, the plaintiff asks this Court to enjoin the defendants from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, specifically, he seeks to enjoin the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) from enforcing the tax penalty under 26 U.S.C. § 5000A of that Act. Also on that day, he filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis ( IFP ).1 Pursuant to Local Rule of Prisoner Litigation 2, this case was referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert for report and recommendation. Magistrate Judge Seibert then entered a report and recommendation recommending that the plaintiff s motion for leave 1 In forma pauperis refers to the filing status as a pauper, or indigent who is permitted to disregard filing fees and court costs. Black s Law Dictionary 849 (9th ed. 2009). to proceed IFP be denied, and that this case be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(g), because the plaintiff has filed over 1,000 actions in the federal courts, at least three of which have been dismissed as frivolous. The magistrate judge informed the plaintiff that he was required to file any objections to the report and recommendation recommending dismissal of this civil action within fourteen days of the entry of the report and recommendation. The plaintiff did not file objections. II. Applicable Law Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C), this Court must conduct a de novo review of any portion of the magistrate recommendation to which objection is timely made. judge s Because no objections were filed, all findings and recommendations will be upheld unless they are clearly erroneous or contrary to law. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A). III. Discussion The Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of 1995 generally prohibits prisoners from filing a complaint under IFP status if that prisoner has filed at least three IFP cases previously which have been dismissed as frivolous. Title 28, United States Code, Section 1915(g) specifically provides as follows: In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action . . . if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, 2 malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. The magistrate judge found that this section of the Prison Litigation Reform Act ( PLRA ) was applicable in this case, and thus recommended dismissal of this civil action. This Court has reviewed the record in this case, as well as Magistrate Judge Seibert s report and recommendation. This Court has confirmed that, while he has been incarcerated, the plaintiff has filed at least three civil actions in federal courts which have been dismissed as frivolous. Further, as the plaintiff s complaint in this case asks this Court to issue an injunction preventing the defendants from imposing a tax penalty upon the plaintiff, this Court finds that this case does not present any allegation that the plaintiff is in imminent danger of serious physical injury. Accordingly, this Court finds that the magistrate judge s recommendation of dismissal was not clear error. IV. Conclusion For the reasons described above, the report and recommendation of the magistrate judge is AFFIRMED and ADOPTED in its entirety. Accordingly, the plaintiff s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is PREJUDICE. DENIED. This civil action is DISMISSED WITHOUT It is ORDERED that this case be DISMISSED and STRICKEN from the active docket of this Court. Finally, this Court finds that the plaintiff was properly advised by the magistrate judge that failure to timely object to 3 the report and recommendation in this action would result in a waiver of appellate rights. Because the plaintiff has failed to object, he has waived his right to seek appellate review of this matter. See Wright v. Collins, 766 F.2d 841, 844-45 (4th Cir. 1985). IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this order to the pro se plaintiff by certified mail and to counsel of record herein. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58, the Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment on this matter. DATED: April 8, 2013 /s/ Frederick P. Stamp Jr. FREDERICK P. STAMP, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 4

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