Opinion
1:1:24-CV-4616 (LTS)
08-29-2024
TARNELL LEON JONES, Plaintiff, v. ALL IN-VOLED IN CASE, et al., Defendants.
ORDER OF DISMISSAL UNDER
28 U.S.C. § 1915(G)LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:
Plaintiff Tarnell Leon Jones, who is currently incarcerated in the San Carlos Correctional Facility, in Pueblo, Colorado, brings this action pro se. He requests to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (“IFP”). Plaintiff is barred, however, from filing any new federal civil action IFP while he is a prisoner. See Jones v. All Cops Since 1992 to 96, No. 1:22-CV-6493 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 28, 2022) (memorandum and order recognizing Plaintiff as barred under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)). That cited memorandum and order relied on the “three-strikes” provision of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), which provides that
[i]n no event shall a prisoner bring a civil action . . . [IFP] if the prisoner has, on 3 or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Although Plaintiff has filed this new federal civil action seeking IFP status, his complaint does not show that he was under imminent danger of serious physical injury at the time that he filed his complaint.Instead, Plaintiff alleges that he is the deceased recording artist Tupac Shakur, that he is “God -[Allah] - Jesus [and] more,” and that he has been robbed. (ECF 1, at 2.) Plaintiff is therefore barred, under Section 1915(g), from filing this action IFP as a prisoner.
For the purposes of the exception to the Section 1915(g) filing bar, a danger “that has dissipated by the time a complaint is filed,” Pettus v. Morgenthau, 554 F.3d 293, 296 (2d Cir. 2009), is not an imminent one; rather, the danger must be one “existing at the time the complaint is filed,” Malik v. McGinnis, 293 F.3d 559, 563 (2d Cir. 2002).
CONCLUSION
The Court denies Plaintiff's request to proceed IFP, and dismisses this action without prejudice, under the PLRA's “three-strikes” rule. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Plaintiff remains barred from filing any future federal civil action IFP while he is a prisoner, unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. Id.
Plaintiff may commence a new federal action by paying the relevant fees. If Plaintiff does so, his complaint will be reviewed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, which requires the court to dismiss any civil rights complaint from a prisoner if it “(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b).
The court may bar any vexatious litigant (including a nonprisoner) from filing future federal civil actions in this court (even if the relevant fees are paid) without first obtaining leave from the court. See In re Martin-Trigona, 9 F.3d 226, 228-30 (2d Cir. 1993) (discussing sanctions courts may impose on vexatious litigants, including a “leave to file” requirement).
The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and, therefore, IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).
The Court directs the Clerk of Court to enter a judgment dismissing this action without prejudice for the reason set forth in this order.
SO ORDERED.