Jordan James Anger v. County of Hawaii, by and through its Corporation Council (Renee Schoen)

CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedFebruary 17, 2026
Docket1:26-cv-00004
StatusUnknown

This text of Jordan James Anger v. County of Hawaii, by and through its Corporation Council (Renee Schoen) (Jordan James Anger v. County of Hawaii, by and through its Corporation Council (Renee Schoen)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jordan James Anger v. County of Hawaii, by and through its Corporation Council (Renee Schoen), (D. Haw. 2026).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF HAWAII

JORDAN JAMES ANGER, CIV. NO. 26-00004 LEK-WRP

Plaintiff,

vs.

COUNTY OF HAWAII, BY AND THROUGH ITS CORPORATION COUNCIL (RENEE SCHOEN);

Defendant.

ORDER: DISMISSING PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS WITHOUT PREJUDICE; AND RESERVING RULING ON PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN DISTRICT COURT WITHOUT PREPAYING FEES OR COSTS

On January 5, 2026, pro se Plaintiff Jordan James Anger (“Anger”) filed a Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights (“Complaint”) and an Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (“Application”). [Dkt. nos. 1, 2.] For the reasons set forth below, the Complaint is dismissed without prejudice, and the Court will reserve ruling on the Application. Anger will be given the opportunity to file an amended complaint to try to cure the defects in the Complaint that are identified in this Order, and this Court will rule on the Application if any portion of the amended complaint survives the screening process. Anger’s amended complaint must be filed by April 17, 2026. BACKGROUND Anger states that his “CJIS report” erroneously states that he was “[a]rrest[ed] for allegedly ‘Intoxicating Liquors prohibited in certain public places (HCO 14-01)’ and ‘Liquor Violation involving a minor (HRS 281-0101.5)’”1 but that the

charges were later dismissed. [Complaint at § III.C.1.] Anger states that he was not on the Island of Hawai`i near the time of the purported June 22, 2005 arrest. See id. Anger contends the “inaccurate record functioned as (one of) the first criminal justice reference point(s) relied upon by law enforcement and related systems.” [Id.] According to Anger, the 2005 arrest record influenced the plea agreement that the County of Hawai`i Prosecutor’s Office offered him when he was on trial for allegedly misusing the 911 system. See id.; see also id. at § III.C.3 (allegations regarding Anger’s 10/9/24 arrest for misusing the 911 system and harassing a 911 operator). Anger argues the erroneous 2005 arrest record

“subjected [him] to ongoing exposure to detention, enforcement action, and restriction of liberty.” Id. at § III.C.1; see also § IV.1 (alleging “irreparable harm to personal autonomy, including normal sexual activity and intimate association, arising from prolonged restraint, surveillance, and criminal

1 “HCO” refers to the Hawai`i County Code and “HRS” refers to the Hawai`i Revised Statutes. justice interference rooted in an improper and erroneous record maintained for approximately twenty-five (25) years”). Anger seeks compensatory damages for his “constructive confinement and restriction of liberty over approximately 25.6 years (May 13, 2000 - December 31, 2025).”2 [Id. at § V.I.A.]

With regard to the October 9, 2024 arrest, Anger alleges that: he made the 911 call in response to an ongoing emergency; he said during the 911 call that he intended to make a harassment complaint against a police officer who had recently left Anger’s residence; and he also said during the call that he wanted to make a complaint about the 911 operator’s behavior. [Id. at § III.C.3.] According to Anger, “the operator acknowledged understanding that [Anger] was disabled and [the operator] admitted, both in recorded transcripts and in sworn testimony, that reasonable accommodations were not provided during the interaction.” [Id.] Anger states that, “[f]ollowing the arrest, portions of body-worn camera footage were not

preserved, provided, and or are missing . . . .” [Id.] Anger also alleges he was subjected to “multiple wrongful arrests and detentions, including seven arrests in

2 Anger identifies May 13, 2000 as one of the dates of the events giving rise to his claims. See Complaint at § III.B.1. However, the Complaint does not identify the event that allegedly occurred on May 13, 2000. The alleged arrest on June 22, 2005 is the earliest event described in the Complaint. Hawaii and one arrest in Washington State, all traceable to erroneous criminal justice records and their continued reliance.” [Id. at § V.I.B.] The sole defendant in this case is the County of Hawai`i (“the County”). See id. at § I.B. Anger states that he

is bringing: a claim against the County under Title 42 United States Code Section 1983; a claim under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Rehabilitation Act”), Title 29 United States Code Section 794; and a claim under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Title 42 United States Code Sections 12131 to 12134. See Complaint at § II. STANDARD “Federal courts can authorize the commencement of any suit without prepayment of fees or security by a person who submits an affidavit that demonstrates he is unable to pay.” Smallwood v. Fed. Bureau of Investigation, CV. NO. 16-00505 DKW- KJM, 2016 WL 4974948, at *1 (D. Hawai`i Sept. 16, 2016) (citing

28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1)). The Court subjects each civil action commenced pursuant to Section 1915(a) to mandatory screening and can order the dismissal of any claims it finds “frivolous, malicious, failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeking monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (stating that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) “not only permits but requires” the court to sua sponte dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint that fails to state a claim);[3] Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845, 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per curiam) (holding that “the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to prisoners”).

Id. at *3. In addition, the following standards apply in the screening analysis: Plaintiff is appearing pro se; consequently, the court liberally construes her pleadings. Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 1987) (“The Supreme Court has instructed the federal courts to liberally construe the ‘inartful pleading’ of pro se litigants.” (citing Boag v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364, 365 (1982) (per curiam))). The court also recognizes that “[u]nless it is absolutely clear that no amendment can cure the defect . . . a pro se litigant is entitled to notice of the complaint’s deficiencies and an opportunity to amend prior to dismissal of the action.” Lucas v. Dep’t of Corr., 66 F.3d 245, 248 (9th Cir. 1995); see also Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126 (9th. [sic] Cir. 2000).

Despite the liberal pro se pleading standard, the court may dismiss a complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) on its own motion. See Omar v. Sea–Land Serv., Inc., 813 F.2d 986, 991 (9th Cir. 1987) (“A trial court may dismiss a claim sua sponte under [Rule] 12(b)(6). Such a dismissal may be made without notice where the claimant cannot possibly win relief.”); see also Baker v. Dir., U.S. Parole Comm’n, 916 F.2d 725, 727 (D.C. Cir.

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Jordan James Anger v. County of Hawaii, by and through its Corporation Council (Renee Schoen), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jordan-james-anger-v-county-of-hawaii-by-and-through-its-corporation-hid-2026.