UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
CHERYL B. JOHNSON, 1:19-cv-8388-NLH Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM v. OPINION & ORDER
WALGREENS,
Defendant.
APPEARANCES:
CHERYL B. JOHNSON 506 SOUTH WHITEHORSE PIKE APARTMENT H201 STRATFORD, NJ 08084
Appearing pro se.
HILLMAN, District Judge
WHEREAS, Plaintiff Cheryl Johnson (“Plaintiff”), appearing pro se, has filed a complaint against defendant Walgreens (“Defendant”); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff alleges that that she suffered adverse side effects after taking a prescribed medication called Propranolol; and WHEREAS, Plaintiff further alleges that these side effects included “shortness of breath” and other adverse reactions (ECF No. 1 at 5); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff further alleges that, as a result, she cannot “breath normal” and sometimes suffers from “chest pains” (ECF No. 1 at 6); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for unspecified
medical bills and an award of $1,000,000 (Id.); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has filed an application to proceed without prepayment of fees (“in forma pauperis” or “IFP” application), and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), a court may allow a litigant to proceed without prepayment of fees if she submits a proper IFP application; and WHEREAS, although § 1915 refers to “prisoners,” federal courts apply § 1915 to non-prisoner IFP applications, Hickson v. Mauro, 2011 WL 6001088, *1 (D.N.J. 2011) (citing Lister v. Dept. of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005) (“Section 1915(a) applies to all persons applying for IFP status, and not just to prisoners.”) (other citations omitted); and
WHEREAS, the screening provisions of the IFP statute require a federal court to dismiss an action sua sponte if, among other things, the action is frivolous or malicious, or if it fails to comply with the proper pleading standards, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii); Ball v. Famiglio, 726 F.3d 448, 452 (3d Cir. 2013); Martin v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2017 WL 3783702, at *1 (D.N.J. August 30, 2017) (“Federal law requires this Court to screen Plaintiff’s Complaint for sua sponte dismissal prior to service, and to dismiss any claim if that claim fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and/or to dismiss any defendant who is immune from suit.”); and
WHEREAS, pro se complaints must be construed liberally, and all reasonable latitude must be afforded the pro se litigant, Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 107 (1976), but pro se litigants “must still plead the essential elements of [their] claim and [are] not excused from conforming to the standard rules of civil procedure,” McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) (“[W]e have never suggested that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation should be interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel.”); Sykes v. Blockbuster Video, 205 F. App’x 961, 963 (3d Cir. 2006) (finding that pro se plaintiffs are expected to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure); and
WHEREAS, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s complaint is deficient for several reasons; and WHEREAS, first, and as a threshold matter, the Court is unable to determine the asserted basis for the Court’s exercise of subject matter jurisdiction. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) provides that “[a] pleading that states a claim for relief must contain . . . a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s jurisdiction.”; and WHEREAS, initially, the Court cannot determine whether Plaintiff seeks to assert diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff does not identify diversity as a basis for the Court’s jurisdiction in her complaint. See (ECF No. 1
at 4 (checking box for Federal Question jurisdiction, but not Diversity of Citizenship)); and WHEREAS, further, the Court cannot determine whether it may properly assert diversity jurisdiction as Plaintiff’s complaint suggests that Defendant may be a citizen of both Florida and New Jersey. See (ECF No. 1 at 3-4 (listing addresses for Defendant in both Florida and New Jersey)); and WHEREAS, the complaint suggests that the Court has subject matter jurisdiction because the Government is both a plaintiff and defendant in this action, and that the Court otherwise has federal question jurisdiction because issues of “Federal Constitutional [and] FDA Law” are at issue. (Id. at 4); and
WHEREAS, the Government is not a party to this action, and Plaintiff has not identified the basis for asserting that her claims arise under the Constitution. Moreover, Plaintiff does not expand upon her purported FDA claim or otherwise explain what federal law governs her allegations; and WHEREAS, the complaint is otherwise void of allegations that would suggest this Court has subject matter jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, furthermore, Rule 8(a)(2) requires a complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief”; and WHEREAS, the civil cover sheet suggests that this matter
brings claims arising from health care product liability and the Family and Medical Leave Act. (Id.); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has not alleged any facts relating to the Family and Medical Leave Act; and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has not stated a prima facie case for product liability, or any other cause of action;1 and WHEREAS, while Plaintiff has identified Defendant in the
1 In New Jersey, the Product Liability Act (PLA), codified at New Jersey Statute Annotated 2A:58C, et seq., governs product liability actions. Three causes of action are established under the PLA, namely, claims for design defect, manufacturing defect, or warnings defect. Roberts v. Rich Foods, Inc., 654 A.2d 1365, 1370 (N.J. 1995). The standard of liability is that the product “was not reasonably fit, suitable or safe for its intended purpose.” Cornett v. Johnson & Johnson, 998 A.2d 543, 562 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2010).
To prove a defect, a plaintiff must be able to show that: (1) the product was defective; (2) the defect existed when the product left the hands of the defendant; and (3) the defect caused the injury to a reasonably foreseeable user. McGarvey v. G.I. Joe Septic Service, Inc., 679 A.2d 733, 740 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1996).
The complaint is entirely void of allegations relevant to any of these factors. Plaintiff has not alleged the drug at issue was defective, but rather only that she suffered a side effect from taking it. Moreover, Plaintiff fails to tether Defendant to the harm she allegedly suffered. In fact, Plaintiff has not presented a single allegation against Defendant, but rather recites various complaints about the drug at issue.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
CHERYL B. JOHNSON, 1:19-cv-8388-NLH Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM v. OPINION & ORDER
WALGREENS,
Defendant.
APPEARANCES:
CHERYL B. JOHNSON 506 SOUTH WHITEHORSE PIKE APARTMENT H201 STRATFORD, NJ 08084
Appearing pro se.
HILLMAN, District Judge
WHEREAS, Plaintiff Cheryl Johnson (“Plaintiff”), appearing pro se, has filed a complaint against defendant Walgreens (“Defendant”); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff alleges that that she suffered adverse side effects after taking a prescribed medication called Propranolol; and WHEREAS, Plaintiff further alleges that these side effects included “shortness of breath” and other adverse reactions (ECF No. 1 at 5); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff further alleges that, as a result, she cannot “breath normal” and sometimes suffers from “chest pains” (ECF No. 1 at 6); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff seeks reimbursement for unspecified
medical bills and an award of $1,000,000 (Id.); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has filed an application to proceed without prepayment of fees (“in forma pauperis” or “IFP” application), and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1), a court may allow a litigant to proceed without prepayment of fees if she submits a proper IFP application; and WHEREAS, although § 1915 refers to “prisoners,” federal courts apply § 1915 to non-prisoner IFP applications, Hickson v. Mauro, 2011 WL 6001088, *1 (D.N.J. 2011) (citing Lister v. Dept. of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005) (“Section 1915(a) applies to all persons applying for IFP status, and not just to prisoners.”) (other citations omitted); and
WHEREAS, the screening provisions of the IFP statute require a federal court to dismiss an action sua sponte if, among other things, the action is frivolous or malicious, or if it fails to comply with the proper pleading standards, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii); Ball v. Famiglio, 726 F.3d 448, 452 (3d Cir. 2013); Martin v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2017 WL 3783702, at *1 (D.N.J. August 30, 2017) (“Federal law requires this Court to screen Plaintiff’s Complaint for sua sponte dismissal prior to service, and to dismiss any claim if that claim fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and/or to dismiss any defendant who is immune from suit.”); and
WHEREAS, pro se complaints must be construed liberally, and all reasonable latitude must be afforded the pro se litigant, Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 107 (1976), but pro se litigants “must still plead the essential elements of [their] claim and [are] not excused from conforming to the standard rules of civil procedure,” McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) (“[W]e have never suggested that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation should be interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel.”); Sykes v. Blockbuster Video, 205 F. App’x 961, 963 (3d Cir. 2006) (finding that pro se plaintiffs are expected to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure); and
WHEREAS, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s complaint is deficient for several reasons; and WHEREAS, first, and as a threshold matter, the Court is unable to determine the asserted basis for the Court’s exercise of subject matter jurisdiction. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) provides that “[a] pleading that states a claim for relief must contain . . . a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s jurisdiction.”; and WHEREAS, initially, the Court cannot determine whether Plaintiff seeks to assert diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff does not identify diversity as a basis for the Court’s jurisdiction in her complaint. See (ECF No. 1
at 4 (checking box for Federal Question jurisdiction, but not Diversity of Citizenship)); and WHEREAS, further, the Court cannot determine whether it may properly assert diversity jurisdiction as Plaintiff’s complaint suggests that Defendant may be a citizen of both Florida and New Jersey. See (ECF No. 1 at 3-4 (listing addresses for Defendant in both Florida and New Jersey)); and WHEREAS, the complaint suggests that the Court has subject matter jurisdiction because the Government is both a plaintiff and defendant in this action, and that the Court otherwise has federal question jurisdiction because issues of “Federal Constitutional [and] FDA Law” are at issue. (Id. at 4); and
WHEREAS, the Government is not a party to this action, and Plaintiff has not identified the basis for asserting that her claims arise under the Constitution. Moreover, Plaintiff does not expand upon her purported FDA claim or otherwise explain what federal law governs her allegations; and WHEREAS, the complaint is otherwise void of allegations that would suggest this Court has subject matter jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, furthermore, Rule 8(a)(2) requires a complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief”; and WHEREAS, the civil cover sheet suggests that this matter
brings claims arising from health care product liability and the Family and Medical Leave Act. (Id.); and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has not alleged any facts relating to the Family and Medical Leave Act; and WHEREAS, Plaintiff has not stated a prima facie case for product liability, or any other cause of action;1 and WHEREAS, while Plaintiff has identified Defendant in the
1 In New Jersey, the Product Liability Act (PLA), codified at New Jersey Statute Annotated 2A:58C, et seq., governs product liability actions. Three causes of action are established under the PLA, namely, claims for design defect, manufacturing defect, or warnings defect. Roberts v. Rich Foods, Inc., 654 A.2d 1365, 1370 (N.J. 1995). The standard of liability is that the product “was not reasonably fit, suitable or safe for its intended purpose.” Cornett v. Johnson & Johnson, 998 A.2d 543, 562 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2010).
To prove a defect, a plaintiff must be able to show that: (1) the product was defective; (2) the defect existed when the product left the hands of the defendant; and (3) the defect caused the injury to a reasonably foreseeable user. McGarvey v. G.I. Joe Septic Service, Inc., 679 A.2d 733, 740 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1996).
The complaint is entirely void of allegations relevant to any of these factors. Plaintiff has not alleged the drug at issue was defective, but rather only that she suffered a side effect from taking it. Moreover, Plaintiff fails to tether Defendant to the harm she allegedly suffered. In fact, Plaintiff has not presented a single allegation against Defendant, but rather recites various complaints about the drug at issue. Such bare allegations do not render the complaint actionable and require its dismissal. caption of the complaint, Plaintiff fails to explain how Defendant is connected to this action; and WHEREAS, the Court will grant Plaintiff an opportunity to
file an amended complaint to correct the above-referenced deficiencies; and WHEREAS, in preparing this Opinion and Order, the Court determined that Plaintiff attached sensitive personal identifiers to the initial complaint at ECF No. 1-2. As such, and in light of Plaintiff’s pro se status, the Court will sua sponte order the documents filed at ECF No. 1-2 temporarily sealed; and WHEREAS, to the extent Plaintiff needs to rely upon such personal and confidential information moving forward, or otherwise seeks to file such information along with any amended complaint, Plaintiff should file a motion to seal such documents pursuant to Local Civil Rule 5.3;2
THEREFORE, IT IS on this _7th_ day of November , 2019 ORDERED that Plaintiff’s IFP application (ECF No. 1-1) be,
2 Local Civil Rule 5.3 governs requests to seal documents filed with the Court. Instructively, the Rule dictates that the party seeking to seal documents must describe: (a) the nature of the materials at issue; (b) the legitimate private or public interests which warrant the relief sought; (c) the clearly defined and serious injury that would result if the relief sought is not granted; and (d) why a less restrictive alternative to the relief sought is not available. L. Civ. R. 5.3(c)(3). and the same hereby is, GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED in its entirety, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, for failing to state a claim on
which relief can be granted and for want of subject matter jurisdiction; and it is further ORDERED that ECF No. 1-2 – which contains Plaintiff’s confidential and private personal identifiers – be, and the same hereby is, TEMPORARILY SEALED; and it is further ORDERED that Plaintiff shall have twenty (20) days to amend her complaint to properly cure the deficiencies noted above, and to ask this Court to permanently seal ECF No. 1-2 in a manner described in footnote three above; and it is further ORDERED that if Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint within the timeframe allotted, this case will be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to
state a claim. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
s/ Noel L. Hillman At Camden, New Jersey NOEL L. HILLMAN, U.S.D.J.