Steele v. California Safe Roads Alliance ( 2024 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 4 Robert Steele, 5 Case No. 2:23-cv-02084-JAD-MDC 6 Plaintiff, Order vs. 7 Application to proceed in forma pauperis (EFC California Safe Roads Alliance, et al., No. 1) and Complaint (ECF No. 1-1) 8 Defendants. 9 10 Pro se plaintiff Robert Steele filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) and a 11 complaint. ECF Nos. 1 and 1-1. The Court grants his IFP application and dismisses his complaint with 12 leave to refile. Id. 13 DISCUSSION 14 Plaintiff’s filings present two questions: (1) whether plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis under 15 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) and (2) whether plaintiff’s complaint states a plausible claim for relief. 16 I. Whether plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis 17 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), a plaintiff may bring a civil action “without prepayment of fees or 18 19 security thereof” if the plaintiff submits a financial affidavit that demonstrates the plaintiff “is unable to 20 pay such fees or give security therefor.” Plaintiff filled out the long IFP form. ECF No. 1. He states that 21 he is currently unemployed and that his spouse makes $2,300 per month. Id. Plaintiff states that he has 22 about $500 in savings and that his rent every month is $1,716.91. Id. The Court grants plaintiff’s IFP 23 application. Id. 24 25 II. Whether plaintiff’s complaint states a plausible claim 1 a. Legal standard 2 Since the Court grants plaintiff’s IFP application, the Court reviews plaintiff’s complaint to 3 4 determine whether the complaint is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a plausible claim. 28 U.S.C. § 5 1915(e)(2)(B). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) provides that a complaint must contain “a short 6 and plain statement of the claim showing that the [plaintiff] is entitled to relief.” Rule 8 ensures that each 7 defendant has "fair notice of what the plaintiff's claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Dura 8 Pharms., Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 346, 125 S. Ct. 1627, 161 L. Ed. 2d 577 (2005). The Supreme 9 Court’s decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal states that to satisfy Rule 8’s requirements, a complaint’s allegations 10 must cross “the line from conceivable to plausible.” 556 U.S. 662, 680 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. 11 v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 547, (2007)). Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides 12 for dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. A complaint 13 should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(6), “if it appears beyond a doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set 14 of facts in support of his claims that would entitle him to relief.” Buckey v. Los Angeles, 968 F.2d 791, 15 794 (9th Cir. 1992). 16 17 “[A] pro se complaint, however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than 18 formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (quoting Estelle v. 19 Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976)). If the Court dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should 20 be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from 21 the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. Cato v. United States, 22 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 23 b. Complaint 24 Plaintiff’s allegations are sparse: he alleges that he was arrested (he does not say when he was 25 2 arrested) and charged with driving under the influence. ECF No. 1-1. He alleges that the subsequent 1 medical assessment at the hospital showed that he was not intoxicated. Id. Plaintiff alleges that he had a 2 prior concussion which led to the officer believing he was drunk. Id. He sues the California Safe Roads 3 4 Alliance and the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for engaging in a conspiracy pursuant to the Racketeer 5 Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968. 6 i. RICO 7 The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ("RICO") Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968, 8 which creates a private right of action for persons harmed by the conduct of an enterprise through a pattern 9 of racketeering, defined to include acts indictable under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and § 1512. 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961, 10 1964(c). It is not clear from the plaintiff’s allegations how the defendants engaged in a conspiracy and are 11 thus responsible for the plaintiff’s arrest. Plaintiff also does not state any facts about the defendants to put 12 them on notice of the claims against them per Rule 8. Plaintiff does not state when he was arrested or why 13 he believes these two defendants are engaged in a conspiracy. The pleading fails to allege facts sufficient 14 to establish any of the elements required to state a civil RICO claim. Even if the complaint could somehow 15 be construed to allege that defendants had formed an enterprise, plaintiff has failed to allege that 16 17 defendants engaged in "a pattern of racketeering activity." See 18 U.S.C. § 1961. The complaint does not 18 allege that defendants engaged in any of the criminal acts that constitute racketeering activity under 18 19 U.S.C. § 1961(1) and fails to allege "at least two acts of racketeering activity" within ten years under 18 20 U.S.C. § 1961(5). The Court dismisses the plaintiff’s claim against the only two defendants. 21 c. Conclusion 22 Plaintiff fails to articulate a claim or claims against any defendant. It is possible that these 23 deficiencies may be cured through amendment. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed without prejudice. 24 Plaintiff must file an amended complaint explaining how this Court has jurisdiction over the defendants, 25 3 the circumstances of the case, the relief plaintiff seeks, and the law upon which he relies in bringing the 1 case. The amended complaint must be “complete in and of itself without reference to the superseded 2 pleading and must include copies of all exhibits referred to in the proposed amended pleading. LR 15- 3 4 1(a). The Court also notes that plaintiff is a frequent litigator in this Court, and that his cases are frequently 5 dismissed. The Court warns plaintiff that his behavior is bordering on vexatious. 6 It is so Ordered: 7 1. That plaintiff Robert Steele’s application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 1) is 8 GRANTED. 9 2. That plaintiff Robert Steele’s complaint (ECF No. 1-1) is DISMISSED without prejudice. 10 3. That plaintiff has until Monday, April 1, 2024 to file an amended complaint addressing the 11 issues discussed above. Failure to timely file an amended complaint that addresses the 12 deficiencies noted in this Order may result in a recommendation for dismissal with prejudice. 13 4. The Clerk of the Court is directed NOT to issue summons if plaintiff files an amended 14 complaint. The Court will issue a screening order on the amended complaint and address the 15 issuance of summons at that time, if applicable. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 16 17 5. The Court cautions plaintiff Robert Steele that continuing to file duplicative and/or frivolous 18 lawsuits may result in adverse consequences, including possible sanctions or a finding that he 19 is a vexatious litigant. 20 NOTICE 21 Pursuant to Local Rules IB 3-1 and IB 3-2, a party may object to orders and reports and 22 recommendations issued by the magistrate judge. Objections must be in writing and filed with the Clerk 23 of the Court within fourteen days. LR IB 3-1, 3-2. The Supreme Court has held that the courts of appeal 24 25 4 may determine that an appeal has been waived due to the failure to file objections within the specified 5 time. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 142 (1985). 3 This circuit has also held that (1) failure to file objections within the specified time and (2) failure 4 || to properly address and brief the objectionable issues waives the right to appeal the District Court's order 5 || and/or appeal factual issues from the order of the District Court. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1157 6 || (9th Cir. 1991); Britt v. Simi Valley United Sch. Dist., 708 F.2d 452, 454 (9th Cir. 1983). Pursuant to LR 7 3-1, plaintiffs must immediately file written notification with the court of any change of address. The 8 |! notification must include proof of service upon each opposing party’s attorney, or upon the opposing party ° if the party is unrepresented by counsel. Failure to comply with this rule may result in dismissal of the 10 action. 11 It is so ordered. a - 3 Dated this 29th day of February 2024. 4 } x TL 15 United States Magigtrate Judge 16 Py 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25