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Thurston v. U.S.

United States District Court, D. Columbia
Jul 10, 2010
Civil Action No. 10 1239 (D.D.C. Jul. 10, 2010)

Opinion

Civil Action No. 10 1239.

July 10, 2010


MEMORANDUM OPINION


This matter is before the Court on plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and pro se complaint. The Court grants the application and dismisses the complaint with prejudice.

It appears that plaintiff has filed several civil actions in this and other federal district courts, all of which have been dismissed. See Compl. at 3-6. He alleges that the federal judges involved in these cases have abused their judicial power, deprived him of due process, and subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the United States Constitution. Plaintiff demands monetary damages totalling $200,002,040. Id. at 12.

The Court construes the complaint as a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the United States. Sovereign immunity bars a claim for money damages against the United States, and the complaint must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. See, e.g., Epps v. Howes, No. 06-717 (RMC), 2007 WL 2248072, at *3 (D.D.C. July 31, 2007) (dismissing claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the United States, the Department of Justice, and the USPC for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because these entities were protected from suit by sovereign immunity). Furthermore, to the extent that plaintiff brings claims against any of the federal judges mentioned in his complaint, these judges enjoy absolute immunity from liability for damages for acts committed within their judicial jurisdiction. See Mirales v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9 (1991); Forrester v. White, 484 U.S. 219 (1988); Bradley v. Fisher, 13 Wall. 335, 20 L.Ed. 646 (1872). In this respect, the complaint must be dismissed because it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii), 1915A(b)(2).

An Order is issued separately.


Summaries of

Thurston v. U.S.

United States District Court, D. Columbia
Jul 10, 2010
Civil Action No. 10 1239 (D.D.C. Jul. 10, 2010)
Case details for

Thurston v. U.S.

Case Details

Full title:NATHANIEL SMITH THURSTON, JR., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

Court:United States District Court, D. Columbia

Date published: Jul 10, 2010

Citations

Civil Action No. 10 1239 (D.D.C. Jul. 10, 2010)