David Lange v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, et al.

District Court, E.D. Arkansas·Decided February 12, 2026·No. 3:25-cv-00297·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS NORTHERN DIVISION

DAVID LANGE PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 3:25-cv-00297-KGB

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA, et al. DEFENDANTS

ORDER Before the Court is plaintiff David Lange’s pro se complaint and application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) without prepaying fees or costs (Dkt. Nos. 1; 2). Also before the Court is Lange’s consolidated motion for a preliminary injunction, to assume supplemental jurisdiction, and for a temporary restraining order, with request for expedited consideration (“First Motion for Preliminary Injunction”) (Dkt. No. 5) and consolidated emergency motion for preservation order, for anti-interference injunction, and for an expedited discovery conference (“Second Motion For Preliminary Injunction”) (Dkt. No. 10). For the following reasons, the Court grants Lange’s application to proceed without prepaying fees or costs (Dkt. No. 1), dismisses without prejudice his complaint (Dkt. No. 2), denies Lange’s First Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. No. 5), and denies Lange’s Second Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. No. 10). In making its decisions, the Court has reviewed the entire record in this matter. I. IFP Application Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the decision to grant or deny an application to proceed without prepaying fees or costs is within the sound discretion of the district court. Cross v. General Motors Corp., 721 F.2d 1152, 1157 (8th Cir. 1983) (citations omitted). Although a claimant need not be “completely destitute” to take advantage of the IFP statute, he must show that paying the filing fee would result in an undue financial hardship. In re Williamson, 786 F.2d 1336, 1338 (8th Cir. 1986). Lange states that his take-home wages are between $500.00 and $750.00 per month (Dkt. No. 1, at 1). Lange represents that he has $1,500.00 in cash or in a checking or savings account

(Id., at 2). Lange lists monthly automobile expenses as $513.00, child support expenses as $600.00, and insurance as $475.00 (Id.). Based on the record as a whole, given that his reported monthly expenses exceed his reported monthly take-home pay or wages, the Court grants Lange’s application to proceed IFP without prepaying fees or costs (Id.). II. Screening Lange is not incarcerated pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), 28 U.S.C. § 1915. However, the Court must screen Lange’s complaint to determine whether it is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Key v. Does, 217 F. Supp. 3d 1006, 1007 (E.D. Ark. 2016) (“Although some district courts have limited

section 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) pre-service dismissal to litigants who are prisoners, . . . all of the circuit courts to address the issue have held that nonprisoner complaints can be screened and dismissed pursuant to section 1915(e)(2)(B).”) (citing Michau v. Charleston City, South Carolina, 434 F.3d 725, 728 (4th Cir. 2006); Lister v. Department of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 n.7 (9th Cir. 2000); McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 608 (6th Cir. 1997) overruled on other grounds by LaFountain v. Harry, 716 F.3d 944, 951 (6th Cir. 2013)). Lange’s complaint invokes federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 for alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1962 (c), (d) and for a conspiracy to deprive civil rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) (Dkt. No. 2, at 2). Lange also purports to bring claims for “Malicious prosecution, Fabrication of Evidence, Conscience-Shocking Abuse of Process, [and] Retaliatory Prosecution” under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Id.). In addition to his federal claims, Lange alleges state law claims including “Civil

Conspiracy, Malicious Prosecution, Fraud, Conversion, Tortious Interference with Business Expectancy, [and] Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress” (Id.). III. Factual Background First, Lange alleges that, almost ten years ago, Hennepin County, Minnesota, officials subjected Lange “to a malicious prosecution built on suppressed evidence” (Id., at 12). Lange asserts that the “original complainant[’]s brother was a jailed white supremacist in Florida, convicted of murdering two black men” (Id.). Lange alleges that Hennepin County prosecutor Thomas Braesch manipulated Lange’s race on warrants “to hide this racially-tainted fraud” by listing Lange as “[w]hite” (Id., at 12–13). Lange describes himself as black (Id., at 2). Lange then asserts that, after he entered a plea under duress, prosecutors “retaliatorily added six new felony

charges to ensure a prison sentence” (Id., at 13). While in custody, Lange alleges that his personal computer was seized and returned wiped clean, which previously held the sole digital copy of his exculpatory evidence (Id.). Second, Lange alleges that, in 2020, “upon discovering an illegally filed Washington County case,” Lange’s business partner Carly Williams demanded that Lange surrender his 40% ownership stake in “Luxury Laser Minnesota / MedSpa Institute of America,” a company valued at $10 million (Id.). Upon Lange’s refusal to surrender his ownership stake, Lange alleges that Williams filed a false police report which “led to a campaign of police harassment” (Id.). Lange asserts that “[t]his pattern of weaponizing legal process extended to other major projects including the deliberate collapse of a $20 million wedding venue development . . . and the ruin of a $450,000 real estate project” (Id., at 14). Third, Lange alleges that, on December 8, 2023, Fonce Chevalier Holding, L.L.C. (“Fonce Holdings”) entered a valid real estate contract with Theresa White (Id., at 9). Lange purports to

be the managing member of Fonce Holdings (Id.). Lange then states that White materially breached the contract with Fonce Holdings by failing to move her property into the required trust, refusing to allow showings by the company-secured realtor Brandon Bruning, and demanding an $82,000 last-minute design change (Id.). According to Lange, the contract explicitly required White to transfer her property into a designated trust “as a fundamental condition precedent,” but White willfully and deliberately refused to take this step (Id.). Lange asserts that, because of White’s breach, Fonce Holdings had the lawful right to retain a $58,000.00 deposit as a remedy for the breach (Id., at 10). Lange alleges that, after the breach, Keith Hines—acting at White’s behest—filed a false police report which accused Lange of theft (Id.). Lange asserts that Fulton County, Arkansas,

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David Lange v. Hennepin County, Minnesota, et al., (E.D. Ark. 2026).

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Related

§ 1915
28 U.S.C. § 1915
§ 1331
28 U.S.C. § 1331
§ 1962
18 U.S.C. § 1962
§ 1985
42 U.S.C. § 1985
§ 1983
42 U.S.C. § 1983
§ 1961
18 U.S.C. § 1961
§ 1367
28 U.S.C. § 1367