Opinion
No. 14–CV–1292 MKB.
05-23-2014
Anthony BUSSIE, Plaintiff, v. John BOEHNER, Robert E. Andrews, Chris Christie, Paul Fishman and Unknown Attorney General of New Jersey, Defendants.
Anthony Bussie, Philadelphia, PA, pro se.
Anthony Bussie, Philadelphia, PA, pro se.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
MARGO K. BRODIE, District Judge:
Plaintiff Anthony Bussie, a pretrial detainee at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center, filed this action, proceeding pro se, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Senator John Boehner, Congressman Robert Andrews, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, United States Attorney Paul Fishman and an “unknown” Attorney General in New Jersey. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis is denied and he is ordered to pay the $400 filing fee within fourteen (14) days of this order in order to proceed with this action. Failure to do so will result in dismissal of this Complaint.
The Complaint's caption also names “Taron Bussie” as a plaintiff in this action, however, as a non-attorney pro se litigant, Plaintiff lacks the ability to bring claims on behalf of another. See Guest v. Hansen, 603 F.3d 15, 20 (2d Cir.2010) (“A person who has not been admitted to the practice of law may not represent anybody other than himself.”); KLA v. Windham S.E. Supervisory Union, 348 Fed.Appx. 604, 605–06 (2d Cir.2009) ( “Although litigants in federal court have a statutory right to act as their own counsel, 28 U.S.C. § 1654, the statute does not permit unlicensed laymen to represent anyone other than themselves.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)); Iannaccone v. Law, 142 F.3d 553, 558 (2d Cir.1998).
On April 25, 2014, Plaintiff filed another action against various government employees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Complaint, Bussie v. Government Accountability Office, No. 14–CV–2665 (E.D.N.Y.2014). By Memorandum and Order dated May 23, 2014, the Court denied Plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis and ordered Plaintiff to pay the $400 filing fee in order to proceed with that action.
I. Background
Plaintiff is being held in federal custody on allegations that he threatened to harm a member of the United States Congress. See United States v. Bussie, No. 12–CR–229 (D.N.J.2012). Court records reflect that Plaintiff's trial has been continued indefinitely for reasons related to concerns over his psychiatric health. The Complaint in this action is on a form for filing civil rights complaints pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and alleges various violations, including obstruction of justice, “intimidation,” “unconstitutional” fines, “unkind” license suspension and “unjust” child support payments. Plaintiff claims several injuries as a result of these alleged violations, including trauma and emotional illness and “minor head injuries.” Plaintiff seeks release from state prison in addition to monetary and other equitable relief.
II. Discussion
a. Standard of Review
A complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Although all allegations contained in the complaint are assumed to be true, this tenet is “inapplicable to legal conclusions.” Id. In reviewing a pro se complaint, the court must be mindful that the plaintiff's pleadings should be held to “less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9, 101 S.Ct. 173, 66 L.Ed.2d 163 (1980) (internal quotation marks omitted); Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (same). Nevertheless, the court must screen “a complaint in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity” and, “dismiss the complaint or any portion of the complaint,” if it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A ; see Abbas v. Dixon, 480 F.3d 636, 639 (2d Cir.2007). Similarly, the court is required to dismiss sua sponte an in forma pauperis action, if the court determines that it is (i) 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)(B) ; Abbas, 480 F.3d at 639.
b. Prison Litigation Reform Act's “Three Strikes Provision”
Prior to the filing of this action, Plaintiff accrued three strikes under the Prison Litigation Reform Act's “Three Strikes Provision.” The Prison Litigation Reform Act provides that:
In no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action ... 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, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Although this is only Plaintiff's second case filed in the Eastern District of New York, he has filed over sixty actions in federal district courts across the United States and is under a filing injunction in the District of New Jersey, his pre-incarceration domicile.See U.S. Party/Case Index, https://pacer/uspci.uscourts.gov (last visited May 9, 2014); Conjured Up Entertainment v. United States, No. 11–CV–2824 (D.N.J. July 26, 2011) (unpublished order). In at least three of his many civil actions, including his prior action in this Court, the actions were dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b). See Bussie v. Dep't of Defense, No. 13–CV–4574, 2013 WL 5348311, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2013) ; Bussie v. Attorney General, No. 13–CV–476, 2013 WL 3934179, at *3 (W.D.Wis. July 30, 2013) (consolidated action). In addition, multiple district courts have dismissed Plaintiff's recent cases as barred by three strikes. See Bussie v. Boehner, No. 14–CV–161, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27479, at *4–6 (D.Colo. Mar. 4, 2014); Bussie v. Boehner, No. 14–CV–279, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26229, at *1 (N.D.Tex. Feb. 28, 2014); Bussie v. Boehner, No. 14–CV–345, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25063, at *1, n. 2 (E.D.Mo. Feb. 27, 2014) (collecting prior strikes and dismissals under section 1915(g) ); Bussie v. Boehner, No. 14–CV–77, 2014 WL 585377, at *2 (S.D.Ill. Feb. 14, 2014).
Because Plaintiff has accumulated at least three “strikes” for purposes of Section 1915(g), he may not proceed in forma pauperis in this case unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. Plaintiff has failed to satisfy this requirement. For a “three-strikes” litigant to qualify for the imminent danger exception, the complaint “must reveal a nexus between the imminent danger it alleges and the claims it asserts.” Pettus v. Morgenthau, 554 F.3d 293, 298 (2d Cir.2009). Liberally construed, the Complaint presents no such claim. Plaintiff's Complaint is largely incomprehensible and contains no facts suggesting that Defendants took any action to harm him. Therefore, Plaintiff is barred from proceeding in forma pauperis under section 1915(g).
III. Conclusion
Plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis is denied pursuant to the three-strikes provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In order to proceed with this action, Plaintiff must pay the $400 filing fee within fourteen (14) days of this order. If Plaintiff fails to pay the filing fee within 14 days, the Complaint shall be dismissed. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of any appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444–45, 82 S.Ct. 917, 8 L.Ed.2d 21 (1962).
Plaintiff is advised that even a fee-paid pro se complaint may be dismissed sua sponte if the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction or if the complaint is frivolous. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3) ; Fitzgerald v. First East Seventh St. Tenants Corp., 221 F.3d 362, 363 (2d Cir.2000) (holding that a district court may dismiss a frivolous complaint sua sponte notwithstanding the fact that the plaintiff paid the statutory filing fee).
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SO ORDERED.