Opinion
Civ. No. 13-5141
2013-10-07
Shawn TRAPP, Plaintiff, v. David PROWN, et al., Defendants.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
OPINION
THOMPSON, U.S.D.J.
This matter has come before the Court on the application of pro se Plaintiff Shawn Trapp ("Plaintiff") to proceed in forma pauperis. (Docket Entry No. 1, Attach. 2). The Court has reviewed the affidavit of indigence and the Complaint. (Docket Entry No. 1). Although the Court will grant Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court must dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint without prejudice for failure to comply with the applicable pleading standards.
DISCUSSION
In considering applications to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court engages in a two-step analysis. Roman v. Jeffes, 904 F.2d 192, 194 n.1 (3d Cir. 1990). First, the Court determines whether the plaintiff is eligible to proceed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Id. Second, the Court determines whether the Complaint should be dismissed as frivolous or for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). See id.
1. Application to proceed in forma pauperis
The filing fee for a civil case in the United States District of New Jersey is $350.00, with an additional $50.00 administrative fee. To avoid paying these fees, a plaintiff may submit an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. "In making such application, a plaintiff must state the facts concerning his or her poverty with some degree of particularity, definiteness or certainty." Simon v. Mercer Cnty. Comm. College, No. 10-5505, 2011 WL 551196, at *1 (D.N.J. Feb. 9, 2011) (citing United States ex rel. Roberts v. Pennsylvania, 312 F. Supp. 1, 2 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 12, 1969)). A litigant need not be "absolutely destitute" to qualify. Mack v. Curran, 457 F. App'x 141, 144 (3d Cir. 2012) cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 139 (2012) (internal quotations omitted).
It appears from his application that Plaintiff receives monthly unemployment insurance payments of $490.00 and has no assets. Upon review, the Court believes that Plaintiff has shown sufficient economic disadvantage to proceed in forma pauperis.
2. Dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)
Having granted Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court must screen the Complaint to determine whether dismissal is warranted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Under § 1915(e), the Court shall sua sponte dismiss any claims that are "(1) . . . frivolous or malicious; (2) fail[] to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seek[] monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). In making this determination, the Court reviews the Complaint under the familiar pleading standards as reiterated and clarified in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009), and Bell Atlantic Court v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007). Under these tenants, "[d]ismissal is appropriate where, accepting all well-pleaded allegations in the Complaint as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, a court finds that the plaintiff has failed to set forth 'fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Simon, 2011 WL 551196, at *1 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). Any asserted claims must also be supported by "a short and plain statement . . . showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." See FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(2). Finally, as Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court must be mindful to construe the complaint liberally in his favor. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972); United States v. Day, 969 F.2d 39, 42 (3d Cir. 1992).
Upon review, the Court finds the Complaint must be dismissed for failure to comply with the requisite pleading standards. Plaintiff is seeking custody of his child and notes the child's mother is incarcerated. In the Complaint, Plaintiff alleges "systematic and premeditated deprivations of fundamental rights . . . by the State of New Jersey." (Docket Entry No. 1, ¶ 10). Plaintiff further alleges that "[i]t is a practice and policy by New Jersey . . . [to] break up African American families and keep the process of 'Whiteness' racial hatred, racial profiling, Klu Klux Klan-liken [sic] activity continuous and alive and well against African Americans." (Id. at ¶ 11). The Complaint contains many other conclusory allegations of racial discrimination; however, the Complaint fails to describe actionable conduct on the part of the Defendants. Without factual allegations to demonstrate the basis for Plaintiff's requested relief, Plaintiff has not satisfied the pleading requirements of Rule 8. In deference to Plaintiff's pro se status, however, and the possibility that a more detailed statement may reveal legitimate grounds for relief, the Court will dismiss the Complaint without prejudice and with permission to re-file.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis, (Docket Entry No. 1, Attach. 2), but will sua sponte dismiss the Complaint without prejudice, (Docket Entry No. 1). An appropriate Order accompanies this Opinion.
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ANNE E. THOMPSON, U.S.D.J.