3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 5 6 JAMES J. SHARP, Case No. 2:25-cv-02252-CDS-NJK
7 Plaintiff, ORDER AND REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 8 v. [Docket No. 1] 9 X CORPORATION, 10 Defendant. 11 Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and has requested authority pursuant to 12 28 U.S.C. § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis.1 13 I. In Forma Pauperis Application 14 Plaintiff filed an affidavit required by § 1915(a). Docket No. 1. Plaintiff has shown an 15 inability to prepay fees and costs or give security for them. Accordingly, the request to proceed 16 in forma pauperis will be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Clerk’s Office is further 17 INSTRUCTED to file the complaint (Docket No. 1-1) on the docket. 18 II. Screening the Complaint 19 Upon granting an application to proceed in forma pauperis, courts additionally screen the 20 complaint pursuant to § 1915(e). Federal courts are given the authority to dismiss a case if the 21 action is legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, 22 or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 23 When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915, the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the 24 complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the 25 complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 26 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 27 1 The Court liberally construes the filings of pro se litigants. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 28 89, 94 (2007). 1 Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for dismissal of a complaint 2 for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is 3 essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 719, 723 4 (9th Cir. 2000). A properly pled complaint must provide a short and plain statement of the claim 5 showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Bell Atlantic Corp. v. 6 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Although Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, 7 it demands “more than labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause 8 of action.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 9 286 (1986)). The court must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations contained in the 10 complaint, but the same requirement does not apply to legal conclusions. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. 11 Mere recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported only by conclusory allegations, do 12 not suffice. Id. at 678. Secondly, where the claims in the complaint have not crossed the line from 13 conceivable to plausible, the complaint should be dismissed. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. 14 Allegations of a pro se complaint are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted 15 by lawyers. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010) (finding that liberal 16 construction of pro se pleadings is required after Twombly and Iqbal). 17 District courts have the authority to dismiss cases sua sponte without notice when the 18 plaintiff “cannot possibly win relief.” Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 635, 638 (9th 19 Cir. 1988). A complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be 20 granted “if it appears beyond a doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his 21 claims that would entitle him to relief.” Buckey v. Los Angeles, 968 F.2d 791, 794 (9th Cir. 1992). 22 A complaint may be dismissed as frivolous if it is premised on a nonexistent legal interest or 23 delusional factual scenario. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989). Moreover, “a 24 finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the 25 irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to 26 contradict them.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992). When a court dismisses a 27 complaint, the plaintiff should be given leave to amend with directions as to curing its deficiencies, 28 unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by 1 amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). “When a case may 2 be classified as frivolous or malicious, there is, by definition, no merit to the underlying action and 3 so no reason to grant leave to amend.” Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 n.8 (9th Cir. 2000) 4 (en banc). 5 Construing the complaint liberally, Plaintiff alleges that 1) he posted on the X social media 6 platform about President Donald Trump’s policies; 2) the Department of Government Efficiency 7 (DOGE) began an investigation into Plaintiff; 3) Plaintiff was harmed by DOGE’s invasive 8 techniques, which included drugging and harming Plaintiff; 4) Plaintiff went to California to learn 9 to program; 5) Plaintiff continued to be drugged and harassed by DOGE, resulting in financial, 10 professional, emotional, and psychological harm to Plaintiff; 6) X Corporation failed to warn 11 Plaintiff that exercising his free speech would result in professional and financial harm; and 7) 12 Plaintiff was hospitalized in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 12, 2025. See Docket No. 1-1 at 4- 13 5. Further, Plaintiff submits that he has been unable to practice as a professional investment 14 advisor in nearly all states and that securities regulators will not issue him an IAR license because 15 of the damage done to his professional reputation. See id. Plaintiff seeks $10 million in damages. 16 See id. at 5. The complaint is frivolous and delusional and does not state a claim upon which relief 17 can be granted.2 18 III. Conclusion 19 Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis 20 (Docket No. 1) is GRANTED. Plaintiff is not required to pay the filing fee. Plaintiff is permitted 21 to maintain this action to conclusion without the necessity of prepayment of any additional fees or 22 2 Plaintiff attempts to bring a claim against X Corporation and Elon Musk under Section 23 230 of the Communications Decency Act. See Docket No. 1-1 at 3 (citing 47 U.S.C. § 230 as the basis for federal question jurisdiction). Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides 24 interactive computer services broad immunity from liability for content posted to their platforms by third parties. See Fleites v. MindGeek S.A.R.L., No. 2:21-CV-04920-WLH-ADS, 2025 WL 25 2902301, at *5 (C.D.
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3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 5 6 JAMES J. SHARP, Case No. 2:25-cv-02252-CDS-NJK
7 Plaintiff, ORDER AND REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 8 v. [Docket No. 1] 9 X CORPORATION, 10 Defendant. 11 Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and has requested authority pursuant to 12 28 U.S.C. § 1915 to proceed in forma pauperis.1 13 I. In Forma Pauperis Application 14 Plaintiff filed an affidavit required by § 1915(a). Docket No. 1. Plaintiff has shown an 15 inability to prepay fees and costs or give security for them. Accordingly, the request to proceed 16 in forma pauperis will be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Clerk’s Office is further 17 INSTRUCTED to file the complaint (Docket No. 1-1) on the docket. 18 II. Screening the Complaint 19 Upon granting an application to proceed in forma pauperis, courts additionally screen the 20 complaint pursuant to § 1915(e). Federal courts are given the authority to dismiss a case if the 21 action is legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, 22 or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). 23 When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915, the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the 24 complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the 25 complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 26 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). 27 1 The Court liberally construes the filings of pro se litigants. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 28 89, 94 (2007). 1 Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for dismissal of a complaint 2 for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is 3 essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 719, 723 4 (9th Cir. 2000). A properly pled complaint must provide a short and plain statement of the claim 5 showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Bell Atlantic Corp. v. 6 Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Although Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, 7 it demands “more than labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause 8 of action.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 9 286 (1986)). The court must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations contained in the 10 complaint, but the same requirement does not apply to legal conclusions. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. 11 Mere recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported only by conclusory allegations, do 12 not suffice. Id. at 678. Secondly, where the claims in the complaint have not crossed the line from 13 conceivable to plausible, the complaint should be dismissed. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. 14 Allegations of a pro se complaint are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted 15 by lawyers. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010) (finding that liberal 16 construction of pro se pleadings is required after Twombly and Iqbal). 17 District courts have the authority to dismiss cases sua sponte without notice when the 18 plaintiff “cannot possibly win relief.” Sparling v. Hoffman Constr. Co., 864 F.2d 635, 638 (9th 19 Cir. 1988). A complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be 20 granted “if it appears beyond a doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his 21 claims that would entitle him to relief.” Buckey v. Los Angeles, 968 F.2d 791, 794 (9th Cir. 1992). 22 A complaint may be dismissed as frivolous if it is premised on a nonexistent legal interest or 23 delusional factual scenario. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989). Moreover, “a 24 finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the 25 irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to 26 contradict them.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992). When a court dismisses a 27 complaint, the plaintiff should be given leave to amend with directions as to curing its deficiencies, 28 unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by 1 amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995). “When a case may 2 be classified as frivolous or malicious, there is, by definition, no merit to the underlying action and 3 so no reason to grant leave to amend.” Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 n.8 (9th Cir. 2000) 4 (en banc). 5 Construing the complaint liberally, Plaintiff alleges that 1) he posted on the X social media 6 platform about President Donald Trump’s policies; 2) the Department of Government Efficiency 7 (DOGE) began an investigation into Plaintiff; 3) Plaintiff was harmed by DOGE’s invasive 8 techniques, which included drugging and harming Plaintiff; 4) Plaintiff went to California to learn 9 to program; 5) Plaintiff continued to be drugged and harassed by DOGE, resulting in financial, 10 professional, emotional, and psychological harm to Plaintiff; 6) X Corporation failed to warn 11 Plaintiff that exercising his free speech would result in professional and financial harm; and 7) 12 Plaintiff was hospitalized in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 12, 2025. See Docket No. 1-1 at 4- 13 5. Further, Plaintiff submits that he has been unable to practice as a professional investment 14 advisor in nearly all states and that securities regulators will not issue him an IAR license because 15 of the damage done to his professional reputation. See id. Plaintiff seeks $10 million in damages. 16 See id. at 5. The complaint is frivolous and delusional and does not state a claim upon which relief 17 can be granted.2 18 III. Conclusion 19 Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis 20 (Docket No. 1) is GRANTED. Plaintiff is not required to pay the filing fee. Plaintiff is permitted 21 to maintain this action to conclusion without the necessity of prepayment of any additional fees or 22 2 Plaintiff attempts to bring a claim against X Corporation and Elon Musk under Section 23 230 of the Communications Decency Act. See Docket No. 1-1 at 3 (citing 47 U.S.C. § 230 as the basis for federal question jurisdiction). Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides 24 interactive computer services broad immunity from liability for content posted to their platforms by third parties. See Fleites v. MindGeek S.A.R.L., No. 2:21-CV-04920-WLH-ADS, 2025 WL 25 2902301, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 26, 2025) (citing Carafano v. Metrosplash.com, Inc., 339 F.3d 1119, 1123 (9th Cir. 2003)). However, there is no private right of action under the statute. See 26 King v. Facebook, Inc., 572 F. Supp. 3d 776, 782-84 (N.D. Cal. 2021); see also Belknap v. Alphabet, Inc., 504 F. Supp. 3d 1156, 1161 (D. Or. 2020) (quoting Cain v. Christine Valmy Int’l 27 Sch. of Esthetics, Skin Care, & Makeup, 216 F. Supp. 3d 328, 334-35 (S.D.N.Y. 2016)) (“Case law is unanimous that a private right of action is not available under the Communications Decency 28 Act”). 1} costs or the giving of a security therefor. This order granting leave to proceed in forma pauperis shall not extend to the issuance and/or service of subpoenas at government expense. 3 In light of the frivolous and delusional nature of Plaintiffs claims, the undersigned 4| RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff's complaint be DISMISSED with prejudice. 5 IT IS SO ORDERED. 6 Dated: December 3, 2025 Ze
10 NOTICE 11 This report and recommendation is submitted to the United States District Judge assigned 12] to this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). A party who objects to this report and 13] recommendation must file a written objection supported by points and authorities within fourteen 14] days of being served with this report and recommendation. Local Rule IB 3-2(a). Failure to file 15] a timely objection may waive the right to appeal the district court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 16] F.2d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir. 1991). 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28