Opinion
8:19CV291
07-18-2019
UJU ONUACHI, Plaintiff, v. MASTER BUILDERS INC., HARRY S. PETERSON COMPANY, WESTERN WATERPROOFING CO., INC., THE WESTERN GROUP, MEYLAN ENTERPRISES INC., ALLIANCE GROUP INC, CASSEM, ADAMS, GOTCH, & DOUGLAS, TIMMERMIER, GROSS & PRENTISS, and PICKENS, GREEN & CLEASON L.L.P., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the Order, ECF No. 22, from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. In that Order, the District Judge adopted the Report and Recommendation, ECF No. 6, of the Magistrate Judge recommending that Plaintiff Uju Onuachi's action be dismissed. The Order also recognized that Onuachi's action was closely related to prior frivolous cases filed with this Court and transferred the case "to the District of Nebraska for further proceedings, including sanctions if appropriate." ECF No. 22. See generally Onuachi v. Master Builders, Inc., 4:17CV3114, 2018 WL 922135, at *4 (D. Neb. Feb. 15, 2018) (identifying six prior, repetitive lawsuits based on the same work-related injury and warning Onuachi that further filings would result in an injunction and an award of attorney fees against him); Onuachi v. Master Builders, Inc., 4:18CV3147 (D. Neb. Dec. 31, 2018) (enjoining Onuachi "from filing any further complaints, pleadings, motions, or other items with this Court based on the work-related injuries alleged in his Amended Complaint").
After the case was transferred to this Court, Defendants Harry S Peterson Company, Master Builders Inc., The Western Group, Western Waterproofing Co., Inc., filed a Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 33; Onuachi filed a Motion to Set Aside Judgment, ECF No. 34; and Defendant Alliance Group Inc. filed a Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 35. The moving Defendants also ask the Court to sanction Onuachi for violating the permanent injunction entered in Onuachi v. Master Builders, Inc., 4:18CV3147 (D. Neb. Dec. 31, 2018).
The Court will enter a final judgment dismissing this action, with prejudice, and the Defendants may seek their attorney fees as provided by Rule 54(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court will not, however, sanction Onuachi for violating the injunction entered in Case No. 4:18CV3147 because he filed this action in the Southern District of Ohio and the Court enjoined him "from filing any further complaints, pleadings, motions, or other items with this Court based on the work-related injuries" that were the subject of his prior lawsuits. (emphasis added). That injunction remains in place, and the Court will summarily dismiss any further actions filed by Onuachi which touch on the subject matter of his prior lawsuits, i.e., Onuachi v. Master Builders, Inc., 4:17CV3114, 2018 WL 922135, at *4 (D. Neb. Feb. 15, 2018), Onuachi v. Master Builders, Inc., 4:18CV3147 (D. Neb. Dec. 31, 2018). Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED:
1. The Motions to Dismiss, ECF Nos. 33 & 35, are granted;
2. The Motion to Set Aside Judgment, ECF No. 34, filed by Plaintiff Uju Onuachi, is denied;
3. The above-captioned action is dismissed, with prejudice; and
4. A separate judgment will be entered.
Dated this 18th day of July 2019.
BY THE COURT:
s/Laurie Smith Camp
Senior United States District Judge