Jennings v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedJune 24, 2025
Docket4:24-cv-00046
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
Jennings v. United States, (W.D. Tex. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS PECOS DIVISION

PRINCE GEORGE JENNINGS, THE § SOVEREIGN OF THE SOIL; § Plaintiff, § § v. § PE-24-CV-00046-DC-DF § UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and § STATE OF TEXAS, § Defendants. §

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE TO THE HONORABLE DAVID COUNTS, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE: BEFORE THE COURT is pro se Plaintiff Prince George Jennings, the Sovereign of the Soil’s (“Plaintiff”) More Definite Statement. (Doc. 26). This matter is before the undersigned Magistrate Judge through a standing order of referral pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Appendix C of the Local Rules for the Assignment of Duties to United States Magistrate Judges. After due consideration, the undersigned RECOMMENDS Plaintiff’s claims be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. (Doc. 26). BACKGROUND On September 20, 2024, Plaintiff filed this Complaint against Defendants United States of America and the State of Texas. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff’s Complaint was less than one page long and handwritten, bringing claims for denial of amnesty, denial of United Nation Indigenous Rights, and denial of sovereign rights related to a state criminal case. Id. Before addressing the Complaint, the Court ordered Plaintiff to either pay the filing fee or file an application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP Application”). (Doc. 11). Plaintiff filed his IFP Application on February 11, 2025. (Doc. 15). The Court granted Plaintiff’s IFP Application on March 4, 2025, but ordered Plaintiff to file a More Definite

Statement on or before May 1, 2025. (Doc. 19). A few weeks before the statement was due, Plaintiff asked the Court for clarification on its previous Order. (Doc. 23). The Court issued a second Order addressing Plaintiff’s concerns and extending the More Definite Statement deadline to May 27, 2025. (Doc. 23). Plaintiff filed his More Definite Statement, styled as a Complaint, on May 2, 2025. (Doc. 26).

Plaintiff clarifies in his More Definite Statement that he seeks amnesty and sovereign immunity from incarceration related to his state criminal case under Bivens and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Id. at 3. According to Plaintiff, he was incarcerated on September 25, 2024, for trespassing “on sovereign land,” and he believes his incarceration violates his sovereign rights as an indigenous person. Id. at 3–4. Albeit

unclear, Plaintiff challenges the federal court for failing to “step in” and prevent the improper denial of his amnesty and sovereign immunity guaranteed to him under federal law and the United Nation’s Indigenous Rights. Id. at 3–5. Plaintiff brings these claims against the 143rd Judicial District Court and the Lucius D. Bunton, III United States Courthouse. Id. at 2. The United States of America and the State of Texas are no

longer listed as defendants in the More Definite Statement. Id. After carefully reviewing the More Definite Statement, the Court RECOMMENDS Plaintiff’s claims be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE AS FRIVOLOUS. DISCUSSION Plaintiff’s claims should be dismissed with prejudice as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Under § 1915(e), the Court is required to screen any civil complaint

filed by a party proceeding IFP to determine whether the claims presented are (1) frivolous or malicious; (2) fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (3) seek monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. § 1915(e)(2)(B). A complaint is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis in either law or fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). After careful review, the Court finds

Plaintiff’s claims lack an arguable basis in law. Plaintiff’s claims take root in the “sovereign citizenship” theory, which multiple courts, including the Fifth Circuit, have found legally frivolous. Chavis v. T-Mobil US, Inc., No. A-23-CV-1513, 2024 WL 150734, at *3 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 11, 2024); see Watson v. Tex. State Univ., 829 F. App’x 686, 686 (5th Cir. Nov. 13, 2020) (per curiam) (affirming

district court’s dismissal of sovereign citizen claims as frivolous and “entirely without merit.”); see also Berman v. Stephens, No. 14-CV-860, 2015 WL 3622694, at *2 (N.D. Tex. June 10, 2015) (collecting cases from around the country holding the ”sovereign citizen” theory legally frivolous). And to the extent Plaintiff seeks solid legal ground in international treaties, such as those related to the United Nations, those

claims likewise are meritless. See King/Morocco v. Park Place Lexus Plano, No. 18-CV-780, 2019 WL 4282801, at *5 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2019) (finding plaintiff’s claims he was indigenous and protected under the United Nations treaties for indigenous people meritless), R. & R. adopted, 2019 WL 4277473 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 19, 2019). Put simply, Plaintiff’s claims lack any legal foundation.

What is more, this is not the first time—nor the second or third time—Plaintiff has filed a lawsuit in the Western District of Texas.1 This is no less than Plaintiff’s sixth lawsuit. His seventh case, filed after this one, alleged facts nearly identical to those here, and was dismissed without prejudice as malicious on February 20, 2025. Order Dismissing Case Without Prejudice, Jennings v. United States, No. 25-CV-00026 (Doc. 5). The Court WARNS Plaintiff that continuing to file frivolous lawsuits may result in

sanctions.2 Farguson v. Mbank Hous., N.A., 808 F.2d 358, 359 (5th Cir. 1986) (“[O]ne acting pro se has no license to harass others, clog the judicial machinery with meritless litigation, and abuse already overloaded court dockets.”). Lastly, the Court acknowledges “a pro se litigant should be offered an opportunity to amend his complaint before it is dismissed.” Brewster v. Dretke, 587 F.3d

764, 768–69 (5th Cir. 2009) (citing Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998) (per curiam)). But granting leave to amend is not required when a plaintiff has pleaded his “best case.” Vega v. City of El Paso, No. EP-21-CV-00116, 2022 WL 789334, at *9 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 15, 2022) (quoting Brewster, 587 F.3d at 767–68). Here, Plaintiff’s claims

1. Plaintiff has filed seven lawsuits: four were dismissed for want of prosecution; one was voluntarily dismissed by Plaintiff; one, as discussed above, was dismissed as malicious; and, as of this case, one was recommended to be dismissed as frivolous.

2. Plaintiff has three strikes on the three-strikes list. Nevertheless, the three-strike bar is inapplicable here because Plaintiff filed his Complaint before reincarceration. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). have no legal merit, so amendment would be legally fruitless. Leave to amend should be DENIED. RECOMMENDATION For the reasons above, it is RECOMMENDED Plaintiff’s cause of action be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE as FRIVOLOUS under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Finally, it is RECOMMENDED leave to amend be DENIED. SIGNED this 24th day of June, 2025.

> PL tm UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE AND RIGHT TO APPEAL/OBJECT In the event that a party has not been served by the Clerk with this Report and Recommendation electronically, pursuant to the CM/ECF procedures of this District,

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Related

Bazrowx v. Scott
136 F.3d 1053 (Fifth Circuit, 1998)
Brewster v. Dretke
587 F.3d 764 (Fifth Circuit, 2009)
Neitzke v. Williams
490 U.S. 319 (Supreme Court, 1989)
Edward M. Farguson v. Mbank Houston, N.A.
808 F.2d 358 (Fifth Circuit, 1986)

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Jennings v. United States, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jennings-v-united-states-txwd-2025.