Opinion
Case No. 3:15-cv-00300-MMD-WGC
06-09-2015
DELBERT M. GREENE et al., Plaintiffs, v. NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS et al., Defendants.
SCREENING ORDER
I. DISCUSSION
Forty-three pro se prisoners in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections ("NDOC") have submitted a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in an attempt to open a class action suit. (Dkt. no. 1-1 at 1.) Only one plaintiff, Delbert M. Greene, has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (Dkt. no. 1.) The complaint alleges extortion, laundering, embezzlement, and racketeering against Defendants NDOC and James Cox. (Dkt. no. 1-1 at 1-3.)
Pro se litigants have the right to plead and conduct their own cases personally. See 28 U.S.C. § 1654. However, pro se litigants have no authority to represent anyone other than themselves. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1105 n.1 (9th Cir. 1995); C.E. Pope Equity Trust v. United States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987).
The Court dismisses the complaint without prejudice. Based on the structure of the complaint and the filing of the application to proceed in forma pauperis, it appears that Plaintiff Greene is attempting to lead this class action lawsuit. However, Plaintiff Greene has no authority to represent these other litigants. As such, the Court dismisses this case without prejudice to give the litigants an opportunity to re-file this case when they have found an attorney who will represent them as a class and initiate the class action lawsuit on their behalf. Alternatively, each pro se plaintiff may initiate their own lawsuit by filing an individual application to proceed in forma pauperis and individual complaint with the Clerk's Office.
II. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is ordered that the application to proceed in forma pauperis (dkt. no.1) is denied as moot.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Court shall file the complaint (dkt. no. 1-1).
It is further ordered that the complaint is dismissed in its entirety, without prejudice.
It is further ordered that plaintiffs shall not file any further documents in this action. Plaintiffs are directed to re-file this case when they have obtained an attorney to represent them in a class action lawsuit. Alternatively, plaintiffs may file their own lawsuits with the Clerk's Office by filing individual applications to proceed in forma pauperis and individual complaints.
It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly.
DATED THIS 9th day of June 2015.
/s/_________
MIRANDA M. DU
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE