Danny Sellers v. United States

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
No. 12-855 C
(Filed: March 25, 2013)
)
DANNY SELLERS et al., ) Lack of Subject Matter
) Jurisdiction; RCFC 12(b)(1);
Plaintiffs, ) Federal Tort Claims Act;
) Tort Claims; Eighth Amendment;
v. ) Constitutional Claims; Transfer to
) District Court; Pro Se; Bad-Faith
THE UNITED STATES, ) Conduct; Sanction Pursuant to
) Court’s Inherent Power
Defendant. )
)
Danny Sellers and Tyrone Nunn, Beaumont, TX, pro se.
Joseph A. Pixley, Trial Attorney, with whom were Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy
Assistant Attorney General, Jeanne E. Davidson, Director, and Kirk T. Manhardt,
Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, United States
Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for defendant.
OPINION AND ORDER
HEWITT, Chief Judge
I. Background
Plaintiffs Danny Sellers and Tyrone Nunn, appearing pro se, filed the above-
captioned case on December 10, 2012,1 which they have identified as a “class action”
1
Plaintiffs neither paid the court’s filing fee nor submitted an application to proceed in
forma pauperis. Nevertheless, the court infers a request to proceed in forma pauperis and
GRANTS that request for the limited purpose of determining whether the court has jurisdiction
over this case, notwithstanding that at least one of the plaintiffs is barred from proceeding in
forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) (2006).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), a prisoner is barred from bringing a civil action in forma
pauperis “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, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,
suit. See Fed. Tort Claim (Complaint or Compl.), Docket Number (Dkt. No.) 1, at 1
(capitalization and emphasis omitted); see also id. at 2 (stating that the plaintiffs “bring[]
this claim as a class action”). Plaintiffs, who are incarcerated at the Federal Correctional
Institution-Low in Beaumont, Texas, see id. at 3 (referencing “F.C.I.LOW”), 8
(certificate of service giving plaintiffs’ location as Beaumont, Texas); id. at Ex. 2
(Federal Bureau of Prisons form for request of administrative remedy identifying the
relevant institution as “F.C.I. LOW”) 1, allege that their “future health” is threatened by
incarceration “in a Carcinogenic . . . environment,” Compl. 1. More specifically,
plaintiffs allege that defendants--who are listed in the caption as the United States, Eric
Holder in his capacity as Attorney General, or M. Martin and Carlos Rivera, see id.; cf.
id. at 3 (describing defendants “as the wardens of F.C.I.LOW”)--“subjected the plaintiffs
to a []carcinogenic living environment against their will[s] for prolonged periods of
time,” owing “to the use of scented fabric soft[e]ners and scented laundry detergent in the
unit washers,” id. at 3 (capitalization and emphasis omitted).
More specifically, plaintiffs complain that their clothes were washed and dried
using these products and that “[t]he unit dryers were not ventilated[,] causing . . . fumes
to be emitted . . . [and] carried through out [sic] the entire unit.” Id. Plaintiffs state that
“[t]he unit washer and dryers operated from 5 AM to 12 PM [sic] at night . . . spewing
out over 25 toxic volatile organic compounds” and “seriously threaten[ing] the future
health of the plaintiffs.” Id. In support of their position, plaintiffs have attached as
Exhibit 1 to their Complaint a page from Men’s Health magazine, which warns readers
that researchers at the University of Washington found that, “[a]fter washing laundry in
scented detergent and drying it with scented softener sheets, . . . the dryer exhaust
contained 25 toxic volatile organic compounds.” Id. at Ex. 1 (Men’s Health article) 1.
The article suggests that readers “[r]educe [their] risk by using fragrance-free products,
unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
The court observes that plaintiff Tyrone Nunn, while incarcerated, has brought three or more
claims that were dismissed as frivolous. See, e.g., In re Nunn, No. 12-40257, slip op. at 2-3 (5th
Cir. May 3, 2012) (per curiam) (sanctioning plaintiff for filing a petition for writ of mandamus
“three times over the past twelve months” and stating that “Nunn’s challenge to the authority of
the federal district courts over federal criminal offenses is frivolous”); Nunn v. Martin, No. 1:11-
CV-448, slip op. at 1 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 14, 2011), Docket Number (Dkt. No.) 18 (adopting report
of magistrate judge, who recommended dismissing the case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 “as
frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted”); Nunn v. Rivera, No.
1:12cv233, slip op. at 1 (E.D. Tex. May 30, 2012), Dkt. No. 4 (dismissing case pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1915(g)); see also infra Part III.C (discussing instances of filing in bad faith). Plaintiff
Danny Sellers has also brought at least one claim while incarcerated that was dismissed as
frivolous. E.g., Sellers v. Martin, No. 1:11-CV-624, slip op. at 1-2 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 15, 2013),
Dkt. No. 5 (adopting report of magistrate judge, who recommended dismissing the action “as
frivolous and for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted”); see also Sellers v.
Vasquez, No. 1:13cv21, slip op. at 4 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 13, 2013), Dkt. No. 4 (recommending that
plaintiff’s complaint be “dismissed as frivolous and for failing to state a claim upon which relief
may be granted” in magistrate judge’s report not yet ruled on by the court).
2
and if [their] dryer[s] vent[] outside, [by] keep[ing] nearby windows closed.” Id.Plaintiff Tyrone Nunn previously submitted a request to the prison to have the unit dryers
ventilated. See Compl. Ex. 2 (Federal Bureau of Prisons form for request of
administrative remedy, dated August 13, 2012) 1. Plaintiffs contend that “defendants are
still acting negligent for failing to make sure the unit dryers are all ventilated after
receiving our complaint.” Compl. 4.
Plaintiffs now seek “$ 10 Billion Dollars for this negligent act by the defendants
acting under color of federal authority,” id. at 4, and also claim that defendants’ conduct
violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, id. at 2. Plaintiffs
assert that jurisdiction in this court is proper pursuant to the Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. §
1491(a)(1) (2006), and the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-80, and invoke
the Eighth Amendment.2 See id. at 2 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2674 and the Tucker Act in
support of jurisdiction and stating that the “claim involves the 8th Amendment”). The
United States (defendant or the government) has filed a motion to dismiss for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction on the basis that “the Court does not possess jurisdiction to
entertain claims that sound in tort.” Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss (defendant’s Motion or Def.’s
Mot.), Dkt. No. 4, at 1.
Now before the court are plaintiffs’ Complaint, filed December 10, 2012, and
defendant’s Motion, filed February 8, 2013. Pursuant to the Rules of the United States
Court of Federal Claims (RCFC), plaintiffs had thirty-one days to file a response to
defendant’s Motion. See RCFC 7.2(b)(1) (allowing twenty-eight days to respond to a
motion to dismiss); RCFC 6(d) (allowing three additional days when a motion to dismiss
is served by mail). As of the date of this Opinion and Order, plaintiffs have failed to
submit a response. Nevertheless, because the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction for the
reasons stated below, defendant’s Motion is GRANTED and plaintiffs’ claims are
dismissed.
II. Legal Standards
A. Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Rule 12(b)(1) of the RCFC governs motions to dismiss for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction. See RCFC 12(b)(1). Because subject matter jurisdiction is a threshold
2
Plaintiffs also cite to the Judicial Code of 1911, ch. 7, Pub. L. No. 61-475, 36 Stat.
1087, 1135-43 (governing the United States Court of Claims), in support of jurisdiction. See
Fed. Tort Claim (Complaint or Compl.), Dkt. No. 1, at 2. The United States Court of Claims
(Court of Claims) was the predecessor court to this court and a predecessor to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Section 145 of the Judicial Code of 1911, which
preceded the Tucker Act, established the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims over “cases not
sounding in tort, in respect of which claims the party would be entitled to redress against the
United States.” 36 Stat. 1136. The Judicial Code of 1911 does not provide plaintiffs with a basis
for jurisdiction in this court.
3
matter, it must be established before the case can proceed on the merits. Steel Co. v.
Citizens for a Better Env’t (Steel Co.), 523 U.S. 83, 94-95 (1998); PODS, Inc. v. Porta
Stor, Inc., 484 F.3d 1359, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2007). Pursuant to the Tucker Act, this court
has jurisdiction over “claim[s] against the United States founded . . . upon the
Constitution, or any Act of Congress or any regulation of an executive department, or
upon any express or implied contract with the United States, or for liquidated or
unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort.” 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1) (emphasis
added). Although the Tucker Act serves as a waiver of sovereign immunity and a
jurisdictional grant, it does not create a substantive cause of action. Jan’s Helicopter
Serv., Inc. v. Fed. Aviation Admin., 525 F.3d 1299, 1306 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Therefore, a
plaintiff must satisfy the court that “‘a separate source of substantive law . . . creates the
right to money damages.’” Id. (quoting Fisher v. United States, 402 F.3d 1167, 1172
(Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc in relevant part)).
This court has no authority to hear tort claims against the United States because
the Tucker Act expressly excludes such claims from the jurisdiction of the court. See
Brown v. United States, 105 F.3d 621, 623 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)
and Keene Corp. v. United States, 508 U.S. 200, 214 (1993)); see, e.g., Souders v. S.C.
Pub. Serv. Auth., 497 F.3d 1303, 1307 & n.5 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (holding that the plaintiff’s
negligence claims sounded in tort and thus were beyond the jurisdiction of the United
States Court of Federal Claims (Court of Federal Claims)); Moore v. Durango Jail, 77
Fed. Cl. 92, 96 (2007) (holding that the Court of Federal Claims did not have jurisdiction
over the plaintiff’s claim because the “plaintiff’s claim of negligence sounds in tort”).
The proper forum for federal tort claims is a United States district court.3 28 U.S.C. §
1346(b)(1). This court also lacks “jurisdiction over claims arising under the Eighth
Amendment, as the Eighth Amendment is not a money-mandating provision.” Trafny v.
United States, 503 F.3d 1339, 1340 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (per curiam) (internal quotation
marks omitted).
Further, the Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction only over claims against the
United States. 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1); see United States v. King, 395 U.S. 1, 2-3 (1969)
(stating that the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims “has been limited to money
claims against the United States Government” since Congress created the court in 1855);
RCFC 10(a) (stating that the title of the complaint must designate the United States as
defendant); see also RCFC 4 rules committee note (2002) (stating that “only the United
States is properly the named defendant”).
3
United States district courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear tort claims against the
United States, including all claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-80(2006). See 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). However, before a Federal Tort Claims Act claim may
proceed in a district court, the claimant must first present his claim to the appropriate federal
agency. Id. § 2675(a). Only after the appropriate agency issues a final decision denying a
Federal Tort Claims Act claim may it be brought in a United States district court. Id.
4
In evaluating a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction under RCFC 12(b)(1), the
court must accept as true the nonmoving party’s allegations of fact and draw all
reasonable inferences in the nonmoving party’s favor. Henke v. United States, 60 F.3d
795, 797 (Fed. Cir. 1995); see also Reynolds v. Army & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d
746, 747 (Fed. Cir. 1988). Nevertheless, plaintiffs have the burden of establishing the
court’s subject matter jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence. McNutt v. Gen.
Motors Acceptance Corp. of Ind., 298 U.S. 178, 189 (1936); Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 748.
Pro se plaintiffs are “[held] to less stringent standards than . . . lawyers,” see Haines v.
Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), but must still meet basic jurisdictional requirements,
Kelley v. Sec’y, U.S. Dep’t of Labor, 812 F.2d 1378, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 1987); see Henke,
60 F.3d at 799 (“The fact that [the plaintiff] acted pro se in the drafting of his complaint
may explain its ambiguities, but it does not excuse its failures . . . .”). If the court
determines that it lacks jurisdiction, it must dismiss the action. RCFC 12(h)(3).
B. Transfer to District Court
When the court dismisses a case for lack of jurisdiction, it has an obligation to
determine whether transfer to another federal court that may have jurisdiction over the
claims is appropriate. See 28 U.S.C. § 1631 (stating that “the court shall, if it is in the
interest of justice, transfer [a case over which it lacks jurisdiction] to any other such court
in which the action or appeal could have been brought at the time it was filed or
noticed”); Tex. Peanut Farmers v. United States, 409 F.3d 1370, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
(recognizing “the statutory requirement that transfer be considered to cure jurisdictional
defects”); see also 28 U.S.C. § 610 (defining “courts” to which transfer is allowed under
28 U.S.C. § 1631).
C. Authority to Order Sanctions
The court has “inherent powers enabling it to manage its cases and courtroom
effectively and to ensure obedience to its orders.” Pac. Gas & Electric Co. v. United
States (PG&E), 82 Fed. Cl. 474, 480 (2008) (internal quotation marks and brackets
omitted); see In re Bailey, 182 F.3d 860, 864 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“The United States
Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals have repeatedly recognized that regulation
of attorney behavior is an inherent power of any court of law and falls within the
discretion of such court.”). “These powers are governed not by rule or statute but by the
control necessarily vested in courts to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the
orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.” Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32,
43 (1991) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Because of their very potency, inherent
powers must be exercised with restraint and discretion. A primary aspect of that
discretion is the ability to fashion an appropriate sanction for conduct which abuses the
judicial process.” Id. at 44-45 (internal citation omitted).
5
The court also has authority to sanction based on Rule 11 of the RCFC.4 Rule 11
requires an attorney or unrepresented party to make certain certifications about any
documents presented to the court, based on “an inquiry reasonable under the
circumstances.” RCFC 11(b). Rule 11 sanctions are appropriate when an attorney or
unrepresented party fails to act with “candor and truthfulness” in making such
certifications. See PG&E, 82 Fed. Cl. at 478 n.2; cf. RCFC 11(b)-(c) (describing bases
for Rule 11 sanctions). “In evaluating whether the signer of a filing has violated Rule 11,
the . . . court applies an objective standard of reasonableness. . . .” Colida v. Nokia, Inc.,
347 F. App’x 568, 571 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (unpublished) (internal quotation marks omitted).
In determining whether an anti-filing injunction is appropriate under Rule 11, the trial
court “should make findings ‘as to any pattern’ of behavior, looking to ‘both the number
and content of the filings as indicia of frivolousness and harassment.’” Hemphill v.
Kimberly-Clark Corp., 374 F. App’x 41, 45 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (unpublished) (quoting In re
Powell, 851 F.2d 427, 431 (D.C. Cir. 1988)).
A court’s rules do not displace its inherent power to impose sanctions for bad-faith
conduct. Chambers, 501 U.S. at 46. Indeed, this “[inherent] power is both broader and
narrower than other means of imposing sanctions.” Id. It is broader in that it “extends to
a full range of litigation abuses.” Id. And it is narrower in that “a court’s inherent power
to impose attorney’s fees as a sanction” is effectively limited to “cases in which a litigant
has engaged in bad-faith conduct or willful disobedience of a court’s orders,” as
distinguished from “conduct which merely fails to meet a reasonableness standard.” Id.
at 47; cf. RCFC 11(b) (imposing a reasonableness standard). “[W]hen there is bad-faith
conduct in the course of litigation that could be adequately sanctioned under the Rules,
the court ordinarily should rely on the Rules rather than the inherent power. But if in the
informed discretion of the court, . . . the Rules are [not] up to the task, the court may
safely rely on its inherent power.” Chambers, 501 U.S. at 50.
III. Discussion
A. Dismissal for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Defendant argues that plaintiffs “cannot meet their burden of establishing subject
matter jurisdiction for the Court to entertain this case.” Def.’s Mot. 3. Defendant is
correct. To the extent that plaintiffs bring suit against defendants other than the United
States, see Compl. 1 (listing Eric Holder, M. Martin and Carlos Rivera as defendants on
the caption), 3 (describing defendants “as the wardens of F.C.I.LOW”), the Court of
4
The Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (RCFC) generally mirror the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). See RCFC 2002 rules committee note
(“[I]nterpretation of the court’s rules will be guided by case law and the Advisory Committee
Notes that accompany the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”). RCFC 11 is substantially
identical to Rule 11 of the FRCP. Compare RCFC 11, with FRCP 11. Therefore, the court relies
on cases interpreting FRCP 11 as well as those interpreting RCFC 11.
6
Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claims against these other defendants,
cf. 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1) (providing the Court of Federal Claims with jurisdiction over
certain types of claims against the United States); King, 395 U.S. at 2-3.
Further, even assuming the truth of plaintiffs’ allegations and drawing all
inferences in favor of plaintiffs, cf. Henke, 60 F.3d at 797; Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 747, the
court, for the following reasons, concludes that it lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claims
to the extent that they are alleged against the United States and finds that plaintiffs have
not met their burden of establishing the court’s subject matter jurisdiction by a
preponderance of the evidence, cf. McNutt, 298 U.S. at 189; Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 748.
Plaintiffs assert the Tucker Act and the Federal Tort Claims Act as the bases of
this court’s jurisdiction over their claims. See Compl. 2 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2674 and the
Tucker Act in support of jurisdiction); see also id. at 1 (titling Complaint “Federal Tort
Claim”). However, this court lacks jurisdiction over claims brought under the Federal
Tort Claims Act; United States district courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear tort
claims against the United States, including all claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
See 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). Moreover, cases sounding in tort are expressly excluded
from the court’s jurisdiction pursuant to the Tucker Act. 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1)
(providing for jurisdiction over “claim[s] against the United States . . . not sounding in
tort” (emphasis added)); see Brown, 105 F.3d at 623. Plaintiffs characterize their claim
as “a claim of negligence.” Compl. 1; see also id. at 2 (discussing defendants’
“negligence”), 3 (stating that defendants “acted negligently” and “failed to use care that a
prudent person exercises”), 4 (similar). Because a claim of negligence is a claim
sounding in tort, the Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ negligence
claim under the Tucker Act. Cf. Souders, 497 F.3d at 1307 & n.5 (holding that the
plaintiff’s negligence claims sounded in tort and thus were beyond the jurisdiction of the
Court of Federal Claims); Moore, 77 Fed. Cl. at 96 (holding that the Court of Federal
Claims did not have jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claim because the “plaintiff’s claim
of negligence sounds in tort”). Therefore, neither the Tucker Act nor the Federal Tort
Claims Act provides the court with jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ negligence claim.
Plaintiffs also assert that their “claim ‘arises under’ the VIII Amendment,” Compl.
2, but this assertion, too, fails to bring plaintiffs’ claim within the court’s jurisdiction.
Because the Tucker Act does not itself create a substantive cause of action, Jan’s
Helicopter Serv., Inc., 525 F.3d at 1306, plaintiffs must identify “a separate source of
substantive law . . . [that] creates the right to money damages,” id. (internal quotation
marks omitted). To the extent that plaintiffs attempt to identify the Eighth Amendment
as a money-mandating source, see Compl. 2 (stating under the heading “Jurisdiction” that
“[t]his claim involves the 8th Amendment”), such an attempt fails, cf. Trafny, 503 F.3d at
1340 (stating that this court lacks “jurisdiction over claims arising under the Eighth
Amendment, as the Eighth Amendment is not a money-mandating provision” (internal
quotation marks omitted)).
7
Because plaintiffs have failed to identify any basis for jurisdiction in this court, cf.
McNutt, 298 U.S. at 189 (stating that plaintiffs have the burden of establishing the court’s
jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence); Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 748 (same), and
the court cannot infer any other basis for jurisdiction from plaintiffs’ Complaint,
plaintiffs’ claims must be dismissed, see RCFC 12(h)(3). Accordingly, defendant’s
Motion is GRANTED.
B. Transfer Is Not Appropriate
After determining that it lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs’ claims, the court must
consider whether transfer to another federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1631 is appropriate
to “cure jurisdictional defects.” Cf. Tex. Peanut Farmers, 409 F.3d at 1375; 28 U.S.C. §
1631; id. § 610 (defining “courts” to which transfer is allowed under 28 U.S.C. § 1631).
Transfer is appropriate when “the action or appeal could have been brought [in the
transferee court] at the time it was filed or noticed,” and transfer “is in the interest of
justice.” 28 U.S.C. § 1631.
Here, the court finds that transfer is not in the interest of justice because plaintiff’s
have failed to pay the court’s filing fee or file an application to proceed in forma
pauperis, see supra note 1, and have failed to file a response to defendant’s Motion in
accordance with the RCFC, see supra Part I. Further, plaintiffs have a history of
initiating numerous actions that appear to be without merit, and, because these filings by
plaintiffs appear to be part of a pattern of filing in bad faith, see infra Part III.C
(discussing plaintiffs’ litigation history), it is not in the interest of justice to transfer this
case, cf. 28 U.S.C. § 1631.
In addition, plaintiffs’ claims against the government likely could not have been
brought in a district court at the time their Complaint was filed because plaintiffs have
not presented any evidence that they received a final decision from the appropriate
federal agency. Cf. id. § 2675(a) (requiring a final decision denying a Federal Tort
Claims Act claim at the agency level before the claim may be brought in a district court);
see also supra note 3 (describing process for bringing a Federal Tort Claims Act claim in
a district court). Although plaintiffs have submitted a request for an administrative
remedy to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, see Compl. Ex. 2 (Federal Bureau of Prisons
form for request of administrative remedy, dated August 13, 2012), this does not
constitute a final agency decision. To receive a final agency decision, plaintiffs would
have had to complete a four-step process (used in all institutions run by the Bureau of
Prisons): make an informal complaint; file a request for an administrative remedy;
appeal to the regional director; and appeal to the general counsel to the Bureau of Prisons.
Cf. 28 C.F.R. §§ 542.10-19 (2012) (describing the administrative remedy program);
Jordan v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, No. 09 Civ. 8561(ALC), 2013 WL 1143617, at *3
(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 19, 2013) (describing the four-step process); Compl. Ex. 2 (Federal
Bureau of Prisons form for request of administrative remedy, stating, “If dissatisfied with
8
this response, you may appeal to the Regional Director”). Further, because United States
district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over tort claims against the government, see 28
U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1), no other forum exists to which this claim could be transferred.
Accordingly, the court finds that transfer of plaintiffs’ claims against the government
would not be in the interest of justice. Cf. id. § 1631.
To the extent that plaintiffs assert additional claims against individuals other than
the government, see Compl. 1 (listing Eric Holder, M. Martin and Carlos Rivera as
defendants on the caption), 3 (describing defendants “as the wardens of F.C.I.LOW”), the
court has not been able to identify a claim that is cognizable under federal law and finds
inadequate grounds in plaintiffs’ Complaint for concluding that plaintiffs have met the
requirements for bringing any state claim against any of the individual defendants in a
diversity action in federal court, cf. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a) (providing for diversity
jurisdiction in federal court when certain conditions are met); John Birch Soc’y v. Nat’l
Broad. Co., 377 F.2d 194, 197 (2d Cir. 1967) (stating that “diversity of citizenship must
be apparent from the pleadings” in cases based on diversity jurisdiction). Moreover,
claims by both plaintiffs filed in federal court and dismissed as frivolous appear to be
against some of these same individuals. See supra note 1 (describing claims dismissed as
frivolous by plaintiff Tyrone Nunn against Rivera and Martin, and by plaintiff Danny
Sellers against Martin); see also Nunn v. Rivera, No. 1:12cv509, slip op. at 1-2 (E.D.
Tex. Oct. 30, 2012), Dkt. No. 5 (recommending that plaintiff’s claim, based on the same
facts as those pleaded in this case, be dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)).
Therefore, the court also finds that transfer of plaintiffs’ claims against any individuals
other than the government would not be in the interest of justice. Cf. 28 U.S.C. § 1631.
C. Sanctions Warranted
Based on a review of plaintiffs’ Complaint and of cases filed by plaintiffs in other
federal courts, plaintiffs’ conduct warrants sanction pursuant to the court’s inherent
power. Cf. Chambers, 501 U.S. at 50-51 (affirming appeals court finding of “no abuse of
discretion in resorting to the inherent power” even though sanctions pursuant to Rule 11
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure could have been employed because only the
inherent power could reach an “entire course of conduct” that “evidenced bad faith and
an attempt to perpetrate a fraud on the court”). Sanctions under the court’s inherent
power are more appropriate in the present case than sanctions under Rule 11 of the RCFC
because plaintiffs have not failed to act with candor and truthfulness in their dealings
with the court. Compare PG&E, 82 Fed. Cl. at 478 n.2 (“Because counsel never
attempted to mislead the court nor acted with dishonesty toward the court in a pleading or
filing, RCFC 11 is not an appropriate basis upon which to fashion sanctions or remedies
in this case.”), and RCFC 11(b)-(c) (describing bases for Rule 11 sanctions), with
Chambers, 501 U.S. at 50-51 (stating that only the inherent power could provide
authority to sanction an “entire course of conduct” that “evidenced bad faith”). As
9
described below, plaintiffs’ filings demonstrate an entire course of conduct evidencing
bad faith. Cf. Chambers, 501 U.S. at 50-51.
Specifically, plaintiff Tyrone Nunn, while incarcerated, has brought numerous
claims that were dismissed as frivolous and that appear to have been filed in bad faith.
See supra note 1 (citing three previous actions dismissed as frivolous and concluding that,
as a result, plaintiff is barred from proceeding in forma pauperis); see also Nunn v.
Vasquez, No. 1:13cv97, slip op. at 2 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 26, 2013), Dkt. No. 4 (“[P]laintiff
has, on at least four prior occasions, while incarcerated, brought actions or appeals that
were dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failing to state a claim upon which relief
may be granted.”); Nunn v. Martin, No. 1:11-CV-571, 2011 WL 7006302, at *1 (E.D.
Tex. Dec. 1, 2011) (describing plaintiff as a “serial litigant in [the Eastern District of
Texas] and other districts in the states of Alabama and Georgia” and citing five other
cases, in addition to the cases cited by this court, as evidence that plaintiff is barred from
proceeding in forma pauperis). Plaintiff Tyrone Nunn has also repeatedly filed petitions
for a writ of mandamus that demonstrate indicia of bad faith. See In re Nunn, No. 12-
14651-E, slip op. at 2 (11th Cir. Oct. 16, 2012) (stating that “Nunn’s request for a
mandamus order . . . is not warranted because he had the adequate alternative remedy of
appealing his convictions and sentences, which he exercised” and dismissing plaintiff’s
petition as “frivolous”); In re Nunn, No. 12-40257, slip op. at 3 (5th Cir. May 3, 2012)
(per curiam) (stating that “Nunn has three times sought mandamus relief only a few
weeks, and in this instance only one week, after filing his suit in district court” and
warning plaintiff “that he should allow a minimum of six months to pass . . . before he
considers whether it is appropriate to move this court for mandamus relief” and that
“frivolous arguments, such as the present one, will not be tolerated”).
Plaintiff Danny Sellers has filed at least one claim while incarcerated that was
dismissed as frivolous, see supra note 1, and has filed other complaints in collaboration
with Tyrone Nunn that appear to be frivolous. See Compl. at 1-2, Sellers v. Vasquez, No.
1:13cv21 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 17, 2013), Dkt. No. 1 (listing Danny Sellers and Tyrone Nunn,
among others, as plaintiffs5); Sellers v. Vasquez, No. 1:13cv21, slip op. at 4 (E.D. Tex.
Feb. 13, 2013), Dkt. No. 4 (recommending that the complaint be “dismissed as frivolous
and for failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted” in magistrate judge’s
report not yet ruled on by the court). Moreover, both plaintiffs have had claims
dismissed for failure to prosecute after failing to comply with court rules requiring
payment of filing fees. E.g., Entry of Dismissal at 2, Nunn v. United States, No. 12-
14665-A (11th Cir. Oct. 26, 2012); Entry of Dismissal at 2, In re Nunn, No. 12-12608-A
(11th Cir. July 10, 2012); Sellers v. Rivera, No. 1:12-CV-460, slip op. at 2 (E.D. Tex.
Jan. 2, 2013), Dkt. No. 9 (recommendation of magistrate judge adopted by the court).
5
The court notes that the claims of each plaintiff were severed and that, although Danny
Sellers’ claims proceeded under the case number originally assigned to the case, the claims of the
remaining plaintiffs were assigned separate case numbers. See Order Severing the Case at 2,
Sellers v. Vasquez, No. 1:13cv21 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 13, 2013), Dkt. No. 2.
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Through this course of conduct, plaintiffs have demonstrated “conduct which
abuses the judicial process.” Cf. Chambers, 501 U.S. at 44-45. Such conduct is the
proper subject of an exercise of this court’s discretion to “fashion an appropriate
sanction” pursuant to its inherent power. See id. at 44.
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons stated, the court concludes that it lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs’
claims and that the transfer of any of plaintiffs’ claims is not in the interest of justice.
Defendant’s Motion is GRANTED and plaintiff’s Complaint is DISMISSED. The Clerk
of Court shall ENTER JUDGMENT in favor of defendant.
Further, the court finds that plaintiffs have filed suit in this court in bad faith and
deserve to be sanctioned pursuant to the court’s inherent power. The office of the Clerk
of Court SHALL REFER, unfiled, any future proposed filing by either of the plaintiffs,
together with a copy of this Opinion and Order, to a judge of the court, who will
determine if any such proposed filing demonstrates indicia of being filed in bad faith. If
so directed by a judge of the court, the office of the Clerk of Court will reject such
document for filing.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
_______________
EMILY C. HEWITT
Chief Judge
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