Douris v. Huff

Opinions of the United
2008 Decisions States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit
1-9-2008
Douris v. Huff
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential
Docket No. 06-4924
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NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
No. 06-4924
___________
JAMES GEORGE DOURIS,
Appellant
v.
RICHARD HUFF,
INDIVIDUAL AND OFFICIAL CAPACITY
_____________________
Appeal From the United States District Court
For the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D. C. Civil No. No. 06-cv-04957)
District Judge: Honorable R. Barclay Surrick
______________________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
December 26, 2007
BEFORE: RENDELL, JORDAN and GARTH, Circuit Judges
(Filed: January 9, 2008)
_____________
OPINION OF THE COURT
_____________
PER CURIAM
James Douris, proceeding pro se, appeals an order of the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denying his motion to proceed in forma
pauperis and dismissing his complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). We will
affirm the District Court’s order.
Douris filed a civil rights action against Richard Huff, a police officer in Newtown
Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Douris’ constitutional claims arise out of an
incident on September 13, 2004, when Huff stopped his car at 6:35 a.m. on Stoopville
Road. Huff issued Douris a traffic citation because he disobeyed a “Road Closed” sign.
Douris alleged that when he told Huff that he could not sign the citation due to
impairments in his hands, Huff told him that he was going to report him to the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to test his driving capability. Douris further
alleged that, while he was detained, Huff issued citations to at least six other drivers.
Douris contested the citation at a hearing and produced a Department of
Transportation news release stating that Stoopville Road would be closed at 7:00 a.m. for
utility work. Huff told the court that Stoopville Road was closed when he stopped Douris
and produced photographs of the “Road Closed” signs. The court found in Douris’ favor
and dismissed the citation. Douris also passed medical and driving tests administered by
the Department of Transportation as a result of Huff’s report that his driving capability
should be evaluated.
Douris sought leave to proceed in forma pauperis in District Court. The District
Court denied Douris’ motion because he had filed eight lawsuits in District Court since
1999, all of which were found to lack merit. Although Douris declared that he was
unemployed and without income, the District Court concluded that his abuse of the
judicial system constituted “extreme circumstances” that justified denying in forma
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pauperis status. The District Court further concluded that Douris’ complaint must be
dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) because it lacked an arguable basis in law or
in fact. The District Court entered an order denying the in forma pauperis motion and
dismissing Douris’ complaint pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B). We have jurisdiction over
Douris’ appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Deutsch v. United States, 67 F.3d 1080,
1083 (3d Cir. 1995).
Leave to proceed in forma pauperis is based on a showing of indigence. Id. at
1084 n.5. The court must review the affiant’s financial statement, and, if convinced that
he or she is unable to pay the court costs and filing fees, the court will grant leave to
proceed in forma pauperis. Id. Thereafter, the court considers whether the complaint
may be dismissed under § 1915(e)(2)(B). Id.1 As recognized by the District Court, we
have noted that “extreme circumstances” might justify denying an otherwise qualified
affiant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, but we have not delineated what might
constitute such circumstances. Id.
The District Court erred in ordering both the denial of the motion for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis and the dismissal of the complaint under § 1915(e)(2)(B).
Once the District Court determined that in forma pauperis status was not warranted, the
District Court should have given Douris the opportunity to pay the filing fee before
dismissing his complaint for non-payment. See, e.g., In re Sindram, 498 U.S. 177, 180
1
When Deutsche was decided, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) set forth the standard for dismissal
now set forth in § 1915(e)(2)(B).
3
(1991) (per curiam) (denying in forma pauperis motion and requiring petitioner to pay the
docketing fee if he wanted his petition considered on the merits). It is only when in forma
pauperis status is granted that it is appropriate to determine whether dismissal of the
complaint is warranted under § 1915(e)(2)(B). See Deutsche, 67 F.3d at 1084 n.5.
However, we will affirm the District Court’s order nonetheless because dismissal
of the complaint was proper under § 1915(e)(2)(B).2 3
A complaint may be dismissed as
“frivolous” under § 1915(e)(2)(B) where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.
Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). We agree with the District Court that
Douris’ procedural due process claim lacks an arguable legal or factual basis. Douris
based this claim on Huff’s failure to produce the news release reporting the hours the road
was closed and his allegedly false testimony at the hearing. Douris, however, was able to
obtain the news release from the township at a cost of fifty cents, and he succeeded in
having the citation dismissed. Douris was afforded due process. See Mathews v.
Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976) (stating that due process requires some form of a
hearing before an individual is deprived of a property interest). We also agree with the
District Court that Douris’ claim under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), based on
Huff’s alleged failure to turn over the news release, is meritless. Assuming Huff had a
2
Because we conclude that dismissal was warranted on this basis, we do not decide
whether Douris’ numerous lawsuits constitute “extreme circumstances” that justify
denying in forma pauperis status.
3
See Narin v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 206 F.3d 323, 333 n.8 (3d Cir. 2000) (noting
the Court may affirm on a ground other than that relied on by the district court).
4
duty to produce the release, Brady was not violated because the non-disclosure did not
prejudice Douris. United States v. Starusko, 729 F.2d 256, 262 (3d Cir. 1984).
Although not addressed by the District Court, Douris also claimed that Huff
violated his constitutional right to travel. We have recognized a right to travel locally
through public roadways as a matter of substantive due process, but that right is subject to
reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. Lutz v. City of York, Pa., 899 F.2d 255,
268-69 (3d Cir. 1990). The news release attached to Douris’ complaint reflects that
Stoopville Road was closed weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. for approximately six
weeks in order to install a sanitary sewer line. A detour route was available. Douris does
not contend that the road closure was unreasonable. Huff’s stop of Douris’ car based on
the posted “Road Closed” signs did not violate his constitutional right to travel.4
Douris also argues that Huff violated his Fourth Amendment rights when he
stopped the car. Huff, however, maintained at the hearing that the road on which he
stopped Douris was closed, and he produced photographs of the “Road Closed” signs.
When Huff pulled Douris over, Huff stated, “did you not see the large signs in the
roadway[?]” Complaint at 4. Although the road was not due to close for another twenty-
five minutes, there was no Fourth Amendment violation based on the fact that Huff was
mistaken. See United States v. Delfin-Colina, 464 F.3d 392, 398 (3d Cir. 2006) (stating
4
In his brief, Douris contends that Huff violated the Commerce Clause because he was
en route to New Jersey. Douris does not allege that the road closure burdened interstate
commerce, and he does not state a claim under the Commerce Clause. See id. at 265.
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that an officer need not be factually accurate in his belief that a traffic law was broken; he
need only produce facts showing a reasonable belief that there was a violation).
Finally, Douris’ claim that Huff violated the Americans with Disabilities Act lacks
an arguable basis in law or fact. Huff did not only stop Douris, who is allegedly disabled,
but he also stopped six other drivers. Douris’ allegations do not suggest that Huff acted
in a discriminatory manner. Douris also does not state an ADA claim based on Huff’s
report to the Department of Transportation that his driving capability should be evaluated.
See Theriault v. Flynn, 162 F.3d 46, 50 (1st Cir. 1998) (holding there was no ADA
violation where motorist with cerebral palsy was required to take a road test based on an
officer’s observation that he could not complete paperwork due to his shaking hands).
Because the District Court correctly determined that Douris’ complaint should be
dismissed under § 1915(e)(2)(B), we will affirm the District Court’s order on this basis.5
5
Douris’s motion for sanctions, supplemental motion for sanctions, motion to
reconsider the Clerk’s order of September 25, 2007, and second motion for sanctions are
denied. We also deny Huff’s motion for sanctions, although we note that the costs of this
appeal will be taxed against Douris because his appeal is meritless. That Douris filed a
motion for sanctions against Huff indicates a sad failure to appreciate when enough is
enough. Should he continue to pursue legally frivolous claims against Huff, Douris
should expect no further tolerance from the courts.
6