Opinion
Civil Action No. 18-415
05-16-2018
ASIA JOHNSON, Plaintiff, v. CHRISTOPHER WYLIE, ALEKSANDR KOGAN, JOHN BOLTON, and CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff, Asia Johnson, pro se, filed an "Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs," (ECF No. 1), with an attached complaint that purports to sue Christopher Wylie, Aleksandr Kogan, John Bolton and Cambridge Analytica and contains rather disjointed averments. Attached to the complaint is a copy of correspondence dated February 2, 2018 indicating that it is from Michael Glassner, Executive Director of Trump Make America Great Again Committee, to plaintiff requesting that she complete a questionnaire and make a contribution to the committee. (ECF No. 3-1). Also attached to the complaint is what appears to be a March 2, 2018 letter from President Donald J. Trump requesting a contribution to his re-election campaign and indicating that by making such a contribution plaintiff would be placed on a Presidential Honor Roll. (ECF No. 3-2).
This court granted plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis based on her showing of indigence. Gray v. Martinez, 352 F. App'x 656, 658 (3d Cir. 2009) (indicating that in "this Circuit, . . . if [the court] is convinced that [plaintiff] is unable to pay the court costs and filing fees, the court will grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis . . . [and] thereafter considers the separate question whether the complaint should be dismissed."). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e), prior to ordering service of the complaint without payment of the filing fee, however, the court must dismiss the case if it determines that the action is "frivolous or malicious," 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), or "fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted," 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). Roman v. Jeffes, 904 F.2d 192, 195 ("the appropriate time to make a decision to dismiss a case pursuant to § 1915 is before service of a complaint).
The purpose of the in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915, is to assure equal and meaningful access to the courts for indigent litigants. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324, 329 (1989). Congress also provided in the in forma pauperis statute for dismissal of complaints under certain circumstances in order to "prevent abusive or captious litigation" that could result because a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis does not have the economic incentive ordinarily created by otherwise required filing fees and costs to refrain from filing frivolous, malicious or repetitive lawsuits. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 324.
A complaint filed pursuant to the in forma pauperis statute is subject to preservice dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) where it is based upon indisputably meritless legal theory or factual assertions that are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327. In determining whether the factual assertions are clearly baseless, and the complaint therefore is frivolous, the court may pierce the veil of the complaint and need not accept its allegations as true. Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992). Examples of baseless claims include "claims describing fantastic or delusional scenarios, claims with which federal district judges are all too familiar." 490 U.S. at 328. Additionally, as provided for expressly by § 1915(e)(2)(ii), the court also must dismiss the complaint if it fails to state a claim on which relief can be granted, which is the same standard for dismissing a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Scheib v. Butcher, Civ. Act. No. 14-cv-1247, 2014 WL 4851902, at * 1 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 25, 2014).
Section 1915(e)(2)(B) was formerly codified at § 1915(d).
Plaintiff's complaint indicates that the action is brought pursuant to the "1 Amendment" and "Royal Law." (ECF No. 3 at 4). It lists the names of the defendants in the caption and in the section requesting identification of the defendants, (ECF No. 3 at 1-3), but does not provide their addresses or further mention them anywhere in the complaint. With respect to the amount in controversy, the complaint states "How much I lost I was honored by the President and my facebook data was giving out." (ECF No. 3 at 5). The statement of her claims is that: "2016 my facebook was took with only police access all my information was exposed my address my phone number for me and my family photos of us my son and I ID was exposed." (ECF No. 3 at 6). Finally, with respect to relief the complaint states only that plaintiff seeks from defendants "facebook data." (ECF No. 3 at 6).
Based upon review of the complaint, the court determines that the claims presented and relief sought by plaintiff are based on a fantastic or delusional factual scenario. Neitzke, 490 at 327-328. Ordinarily, upon dismissing a complaint a court must grant plaintiff the opportunity to amend, if amendment can cure the deficiencies in the complaint. Where, however, amendment cannot cure the deficiencies, such as where the complaint is frivolous under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), the court may dismiss the complaint with prejudice without leave to amend. Grayson v. Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 112-113 (3d Cir. 2002) ("[D]ismissals of frivolous claims do not require leave to amend."). Based upon the court's determination that the complaint is frivolous, it will dismiss the complaint without leave to amend.
On May 8, 2018, plaintiff filed a completed Washington state form RCW 4.28.100 motion for service by mail. (ECF No. 4). As a result of the court's determination that it will dismiss the complaint as frivolous, the motion will be denied as moot. --------
An appropriate order follows. Dated: May 16, 2018
By the court,
s/ Joy Flowers Conti
Joy Flowers Conti
Chief United States District Judge cc: Asia Johnson
1807 West St., Apt. 2
Munhall, PA 15120