Ayala v. New Mexico

Full title: BENJAMIN AYALA, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES OF…

Court: United States District Court, District of New Mexico

Date published: Dec 29, 2022

1:22-cv-00979-KK (D.N.M. Dec. 29, 2022)

Opinion

1:22-cv-00979-KK

12-29-2022

BENJAMIN AYALA, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, STATE OF TEXAS, et al. Defendants.

KIRTAN KHALSA, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND ORDER FOR AMENDED COMPLAINT

KIRTAN KHALSA, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on pro se Plaintiff's Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Doc. 1, filed December 28, 2022 ("Complaint"), and Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. 3, filed December 28, 2022.

Application to Proceed in forma pauperis

The statute for proceedings in forma pauperis, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), provides that the Court may authorize the commencement of any suit without prepayment of fees by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets the person possesses and that the person is unable to pay such fees.

When a district court receives an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, it should examine the papers and determine if the requirements of [28 U.S.C.] § 1915(a) are satisfied. If they are, leave should be granted. Thereafter, if the court finds that the allegations of poverty are untrue or that the action is frivolous or malicious, it may dismiss the case[.]

Menefee v. Werholtz, 368 Fed.Appx. 879, 884 (10th Cir. 2010) (citing Ragan v. Cox, 305 F.2d 58, 60 (10th Cir. 1962). “The statute [allowing a litigant to proceed in forma pauperis] was intended for the benefit of those too poor to pay or give security for costs....” Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 344 (1948). While a litigant need not be “absolutely destitute,” “an affidavit is sufficient which states that one cannot because of his poverty pay or give security for the costs and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life.” Id. at 339.

The Court grants Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. Plaintiff signed an affidavit stating he is unable to pay the costs of these proceedings and provided the following information: (i) Plaintiff's total monthly income is $436.00; (ii) Plaintiff's monthly expenses total "?;" and (iii) Plaintiff has $30.00 in cash and no bank accounts. The Court finds that Plaintiff is unable to pay the costs of this proceeding because he signed an affidavit stating he is unable to pay the costs of these proceedings, and because of his low monthly income.

The Complaint

Plaintiff states the following for the background of his case:

Invioce needs submitting & accurring overt tryanny damages by Defendants are at telos, at the process of completing & submitting the Appellant Record "Exhibit A" where I can not afford, indigent pro se: Being Deined Cash Assistance, or General Assistane, or Unemployment, or employment, or Public Assistance, or Any Home Fund assistance, or Rental Assistance, or Bus voucher to an opreating welfare Program. Just Food stamps.

[sic] Complaint at 2. Plaintiff asserts claims for "abuse of power & authority by invisible powers by undercover law enforcement or posing as a law officer with no assertion for fundamental prohibitions of the law" and supports those claims with the following facts: "Attached is a temporary relief & is both a restraiting order task and temporary claims court relief to personal arbitrational awards toward full compensation, including a public & multi-city & state Gov. controvesy and would benefit this court proceedings for a docket no. or hearing." Complaint at 3.

The Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiff fails to state with any particularity what each Defendant did to Plaintiff, when the Defendants committed these alleged unspecified actions, or how those actions harmed Plaintiff. "[T]o state a claim in federal court, a complaint must explain what each defendant did to him or her; when the defendant did it; how the defendant's action harmed him or her; and, what specific legal right the plaintiff believes the defendant violated.” Nasious v. Two Unknown B.I.C.E. Agents, at Arapahoe County Justice Center, 492 F.3d 1158, 1163 (10th Cir. 2007). The Complaint does not describe what each Defendant did to Plaintiff, when they did it, how each Defendant's action harmed Plaintiff or what specific right Plaintiff believes each Defendant violated.

Furthermore, it appears the Complaint should be dismissed because it does not allege facts showing the Court has jurisdiction over this matter. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3) (“If the court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action”). As the party seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court, Plaintiff bears the burden of alleging facts that support jurisdiction. See Dutcher v. Matheson, 733 F.3d 980, 985 (10th Cir. 2013) (“Since federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, we presume no jurisdiction exists absent an adequate showing by the party invoking federal jurisdiction”); Evitt v. Durland, 243 F.3d 388 *2 (10th Cir. 2000) (“even if the parties do not raise the question themselves, it is our duty to address the apparent lack of jurisdiction sua sponte”) (quoting Tuck v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 859 F.2d 842, 843 (10th Cir.1988). The Complaint names the State of New Mexico, the State of Texas, the United States of America, the United States Department of Homeland Security and unidentified persons as Defendants. See Complaint at 1.

The Eleventh Amendment ordinarily grants a state immunity from suits brought in federal court by its own citizens or those of another state. Chamber of Commerce of U.S. v. Edmondson, 594 F.3d 742, 760 (10th Cir.2010). The immunity extends to arms of the state and to state officials who are sued for damages in their official capacity. Peterson v. Martinez, 707 F.3d 1197, 1205 (10th Cir.2013). But sovereign immunity does not prevent suit: “(1) when Congress has abrogated the states' immunity, as in legislation enacted to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment; [or] (2) when a state waives its immunity.” Pettigrew v. Okla. ex rel. Okla. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 722 F.3d 1209, 1212 (10th Cir.2013).

Turner v. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., 561 Fed.Appx. 661, 665 (10th Cir. 2014). The Complaint does not allege facts showing that Congress has abrogated New Mexico and Texas' immunity or that New Mexico and Texas have waived immunity. "Sovereign immunity generally shields the United States, its agencies, and its officer acting in their official capacity from suit ... a party seeking to assert a claim against the government ... must also point to a specific waiver of immunity in order to establish jurisdiction." Normandy Apartments, Ltd. v. U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 554 F.3d 1290, 1295 (10th Cir. 2009). The Complaint does not identify a waiver of the United States' immunity.

Proceedings in forma pauperis

Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis. The statute governing proceedings in forma pauperis states "the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that ... the action ... fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see also Webb v. Caldwell, 640 Fed.Appx. 800, 802 (10th Cir. 2016) ("We have held that a pro se complaint filed under a grant of ifp can be dismissed under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim ... only where it is obvious that the plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts he has alleged and it would be futile to give him an opportunity to amend").

While the Complaint can be dismissed under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim, it is not obvious that it would be futile to give Plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint. If Plaintiff does not timely file an amended complaint, the Court may dismiss this case.

Service on Defendants

Section 1915 provides that the “officers of the court shall issue and serve all process, and perform all duties in [proceedings in forma pauperis]”). 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d). The Court will not order service at this time because the Court is ordering Plaintiff to file an amended complaint. The Court will order service if Plaintiff files: (i) an amended complaint that states a claim over which the Court has subject-matter jurisdiction; and (ii) a motion for service which includes the address of each Defendant.

IT IS ORDERED that:

(i) Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. 3, filed December 28, 2022, is GRANTED.

(ii) Plaintiff shall, within 21 days of entry of this Order, file an amended complaint. Failure to timely file an amended complaint may result in dismissal of this case.