Madison v. Cach, LLC ( 2016 )


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  • FILED
    JUL 1 ll 2016
    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
    FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUl\/IBIA Clerk, U.S. Dlstrict & Bankruptcy
    Courts for the District m‘ Colurv.ri»~
    Elbert Madison Jr., )
    )
    Pl"‘i“tiff» l case 1;16-¢\/-01453
    ) Assigned To ; Unassigned
    v 5 Assagn. pate ; 7/14/2016 g
    ) Descr\ption: Pro Se Gen. Civ\| (F Deck)
    )
    CACH, LLC, elal., )
    )
    Defendants. )
    MEMORANDUM OPlNION
    Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, has submitted a complaint and an application to proceed in
    forma pauperis. The Court will grant the application and will dismiss this case for lack of
    subject matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. l2(h)(3) (requiring dismissal of an action "at any
    time" the Court determines that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction).
    Plaintiff claims that he "is being subjected to a judgment issued by the courts of
    Montgomery County, Maryland on purchased consumer credit card debt" owed lead defendant
    CACH, LLC, by assignment from Bank of America. Compl. at 2. Plaintiff also sues the circuit
    and district courts of Montgomery County. He claims that the creditor "illegally" sued him in a
    court system that is more favorable to collection agencies; therefore, he faults "the collection
    agency and the courts as a professional body" for failing to "follow the professional standards of
    due care in vetting for the residency of the plaintiff and the place where the debt was incurred by
    the plaintif ." Ia’. at 2-3. But questions surrounding the proper forum for a lawsuit are the
    province of the presiding judge, and the federal district courts generally have no power to review
    such decisions. See Um'tea' States v. Choi, 
    818 F. Supp. 2d 79
    , 85 (D.D.C. 2011) (district courts
    '  ~=_~qvvqm
    "generally lack[] appellate jurisdiction over other judicial bodies, and cannot exercise appellate
    mandamus over other courts") (citing Lewis v. Green, 
    629 F. Supp. 546
    , 553 (D.D.C. 1986)).
    More importantly, a "district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction [over a] complaint
    [that] ‘is patently insubstantial, presenting no federal question suitable for decision."’ Caldwell
    v. Kagan, 777 F. Supp. 2d l77, 178 (D.D.C. 201 l) (quoting Tooley v. Napolitano, 
    586 F.3d 1006
    , 1009 (D.C. Cir. 2()09)). And "federal courts are without power to entertain claims
    otherwise within their jurisdiction if they are ‘so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely
    devoid of merit."’ Hagans v. Lavl``ne, 
    415 U.S. 528
    , 536-7 (1974) (quoting Newburyport Water
    C0. v. Newburyporl, 
    193 U.S. 56l
    , 579 (1904)). The instant complaint satisfies the foregoing
    standard and thus will be dismissed with prejudice. A separate Order accompanies this
    Memorandum Opinion.
    /
    United §tates District Judge
    DATE; July /Z?U,”zoie
    

Document Info

Docket Number: Civil Action No. 2016-1453

Judges: Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell

Filed Date: 7/14/2016

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 7/14/2016