Aunhkhotep v. Jordan

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedNovember 14, 2024
Docket4:24-cv-01278
StatusUnknown

This text of Aunhkhotep v. Jordan (Aunhkhotep v. Jordan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aunhkhotep v. Jordan, (E.D. Mo. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION

AUNHK RA AUNHKHOTEP,1 ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 4:24-CV-01278 JSD ) JOHN D. JORDAN, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is before the Court on plaintiff Aunhk Ra Aunhkhotep’s Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs. [ECF No. 2]. Having reviewed the Application and the financial information provided in support, the Court finds that plaintiff is unable to pay the costs of this litigation. The Court will therefore grant the Application and waive the filing fee in this matter. Additionally, for the reasons discussed below, the Court will dismiss all claims and defendants from this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Legal Standard on Initial Review Federal law allows individuals who cannot afford court fees to file lawsuits without prepaying those fees, a status known as proceeding "in forma pauperis" or "IFP." See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). While this provision promotes access to the courts, it includes statutory safeguards that require the Court to evaluate a complaint before issuing service of process on defendants. Under this initial screening process, the Court must dismiss any complaint that (1) is frivolous or malicious, (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or (3) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).

1Plaintiff is also known as (a/k/a) Jimmy Walker, as well as Khalifa Ahdnahd, in this Court. The Court must liberally construe complaints filed by self-represented individuals under § 1915(e)(2). Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). If the essence of an allegation is discernible, the district court should interpret the complaint in a way that allows the claim to be

considered within the proper legal framework. Solomon v. Petray, 795 F.3d 777, 787 (8th Cir. 2015). Liberal construction, however, does not exempt self-represented plaintiffs from the fundamental requirement of pleading facts sufficient to state an actionable claim. Martin v. Aubuchon, 623 F.2d 1282, 1286 (8th Cir. 1980). The Court will not supply additional facts or construct legal theories to support the plaintiff's claims. Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914-15 (8th Cir. 2004). To adequately state a claim for relief, a complaint must include sufficient factual detail to demonstrate that the claim is plausible. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). Legal conclusions and “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action" are insufficient. Id. at 678. A claim is plausible if it "allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant

is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. The Complaint This case arises from plaintiff’s visit, on April 19, 2024, to the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse, which houses the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Plaintiff complains that on that date, prior to reaching the “check-in” station in the lobby at the Federal Courthouse, an unnamed person told him that he was on the U.S. Marshals Security Watch/Escort List. Plaintiff was informed that as a result, he had to be escorted while visiting the Federal Courthouse. Plaintiff states that an unnamed person then told him that the Courthouse had received a flyer from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department with plaintiff’s name, photo and identifying information, indicating that plaintiff uses his personal cellphone illegally to record public officials while visiting public buildings.

Plaintiff objects to having his name placed on the Security Watch/Escort List at the Federal Courthouse. He brings eight counts for relief2 in this action against two named defendants, John D. Jordan (United States Marshal) and Justin Barlow (Supervising United States Marshal). Plaintiff also brings claims against Unknown U.S. Marshal Deputies, Unknown U.S. Court Security Officers and United States Marshals Service.3 Plaintiff brings this action against all of the defendants in their individual capacities, except for the U.S. Marshals Service, which is named in its official capacity only. Plaintiff enumerates his causes of action as follows. In counts I and IV of the complaint, he brings claims against defendants John Jordan and Jason Barlow, respectively, for “Privacy Rights Violation[s]” under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(5). In counts II and V of the complaint, he brings

claims against defendants Jordan and Barlow, respectively, for “Failure to Maintain Accurate Records” in violation of 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(1)(C). In counts III and VI of the complaint, plaintiff brings claims under Bivens against defendants Jordan and Barlow, respectively, for violations of his Fifth Amendment due process rights (both substantive and procedural). He asserts that defendants failed to establish a grievance procedure under which plaintiff could challenge being placed on the Security Watch/Escort List.

2Plaintiff misnumbers the Counts enumerated in his complaint. The Court will designate the Counts in the complaint numerically utilizing roman numerals.

3Plaintiff identifies the United States Marshals Service as the United States Marshals Office. The Court will instruct the Clerk to update the docket with the proper name. Count VII of plaintiff’s complaint is brought against “All Defendants, Known and Unknown,” for “Retaliation for Exercising First Amendment Rights.” He asserts that defendants placed him on the Security Watch/Escort List because he engaged in purported illegal photography when using his personal cellphone to record officials in public. (emphasis taken from plaintiff’s

complaint). Plaintiff believes that the allegation from St. Louis Metropolitan Police was that he acted illegally in photographing public officials was a violation of his First Amendment rights, and that placing him on the Security Watch/Escort List by someone at the Federal Courthouse was done in retaliation for exercising those rights. He has not, however, connected the two purported incidents, i.e., the photography that allegedly occurred in St. Louis City and the alleged retaliation at the Federal Courthouse. Count VIII of plaintiff’s complaint alleges a claim against the United States Marshals Service for failing to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in violation of 5 U.S.C. § 552. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages and injunctive relief in this action.

Discussion A. Plaintiff’s Allegations Against the John Doe Defendants Fails to State a Claim for Relief

Plaintiff indicates that he is bringing claims against two fictitious or unknown entities in this action: Unknown U.S. Marshal Deputies and Unknown U.S. Court Security Officers. Plaintiff has not described these two groups of individuals/entities, nor has he specifically indicated how these individuals or entities allegedly violated his rights. Generally, fictitious parties may not be named as defendants in a civil action. Phelps v. United States, 15 F.3d 735, 739 (8th Cir. 1994).

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