Hale v. New York City ( 2021 )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON , No. 3:21-cv-01286-HZ BRIAN HALE Plaintiff, OPINION & ORDER v. NEW YORK CITY and NEW YORK STATE Defendants. HERNÁNDEZ, District Judge: Pro se Plaintiff Brian Hale brings this action against New York City and New York State. Defendants have not yet been served with process. Plaintiff moves to proceed in forma pauperis [5]. Because Plaintiff has minimal income and assets, the Court grants the motion. However, for the reasons explained below, the Court dismisses the Complaint [1] without prejudice. STANDARDS A complaint filed in forma pauperis may be dismissed at any time, including before service of process, if the court determines that: (B) the action or appeal– (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see also Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324 (1989) (sua sponte dismissals under section 1915 “spare prospective defendants the inconvenience and expense of answering” complaints which are “frivolous, malicious, or repetitive”); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 n.7 (9th Cir. 2000) (section 1915(e) applies to all in forma pauperis complaints, not just those filed by inmates). A complaint is frivolous “where it lacks an arguable basis in law or in fact.” Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 325; Jackson v. State of Ariz., 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989). A complaint fails to state a claim when it does not contain sufficient factual matter which, when accepted as true, gives rise to a plausible inference that defendants violated plaintiff’s constitutional rights. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009); Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 556–57 (2007). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. As the Ninth Circuit has instructed, however, courts must “continue to construe pro se filings liberally.” Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010). A pro se complaint “‘must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.’” Id. (quoting Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (per curiam)). A pro se litigant will be given leave to amend his or her complaint unless it is clear that the deficiencies of the complaint cannot be cured by amendment. Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130–31. DISCUSSION Plaintiff asserts his claim under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiff alleges “fraud and discrimination on all levels” but does not assert any factual basis for his claims. Compl., ECF 1. Plaintiff’s threadbare complaint makes no allegations describing Defendants’ actions that caused Plaintiff harm or violated his rights. Plaintiff’s complaint includes numerous pages of attached exhibits which are presented without context. Submitted exhibits include lease agreements, medical bills, emails and other communications with various hotels, the New York State Department of Labor, the New York City Mayor’s office, and the office of the Governor of Florida. Compl., ECF 1, Ex. 1-2. From these documents, the Court cannot identify a cognizable legal claim. Because the Court is unable to discern a claim upon which relief can be granted from the submitted Complaint and accompanying documents, the Court dismisses the Complaint without prejudice and with leave to amend. CONCLUSION The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs application for leave to proceed IFP [5]. Plaintiffs Complaint [1] is dismissed with leave to amend. Plaintiff may file an amended complaint, curing deficiencies noted above, within 30 days of this Opinion & Order. The Clerk shall not issue a summons without direction from the Court. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED:_ September 29, 2021 __. ' . M Ae A. omni United States District Judge 3 — OPINION & ORDER