1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 FLETCHER LEGARDY, No. 2:23-cv-1897-DJC-CKD PS 12 Plaintiff, ORDER 13 v. 14 SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff, proceeding without counsel in this action, requests leave to proceed in forma 18 pauperis (“IFP”).1 (ECF No. 4.) See 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (authorizing the commencement of an 19 action “without prepayment of fees or security” by a person who is unable to pay such fees). 20 Plaintiff’s affidavit makes the required financial showing, so plaintiff’s request is granted.2 21 However, the determination that a plaintiff may proceed without payment of fees does not 22 complete the inquiry. Under the IFP statute, the court must screen the complaint and dismiss any 23 claims that are “frivolous or malicious,” fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or 24 seek monetary relief against an immune defendant. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Further, the federal 25
1 Actions where a party proceeds without counsel are referred to a magistrate judge pursuant to 26 E.D. Cal. L.R. 302(c)(21). See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72. 27 2 The court construes the complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis filed September 7, 2023 (ECF Nos. 3, 4) as the operative complaint and motion. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 28 (9th Cir. 1967) (generally, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint). 1 court has an independent duty to ensure it has subject matter jurisdiction in the case. See United 2 Investors Life Ins. Co. v. Waddell & Reed Inc., 360 F.3d 960, 967 (9th Cir. 2004). 3 Legal Standards 4 Pro se pleadings are to be liberally construed. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & fn. 7 5 (9th Cir. 2010) (liberal construction appropriate even post–Iqbal). Prior to dismissal, the court is 6 to tell the plaintiff of deficiencies in the complaint and provide an opportunity to cure––if it 7 appears at all possible the defects can be corrected. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 8 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). However, if amendment would be futile, no leave to amend need be 9 given. Cahill v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 339 (9th Cir. 1996). The court must dismiss a 10 case if, at any time, it determines that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). 11 A federal district court generally has jurisdiction over a civil action when: (1) a federal question is 12 presented in an action “arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States” or (2) 13 there is complete diversity of citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 14 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332(a). Further, a plaintiff must have standing to assert a claim, which requires 15 an injury in fact caused by defendant(s) that may be redressed in court. Harrison v. Kernan, 971 16 F.3d 1069, 1073 (9th Cir. 2020). 17 Federal courts lack subject matter jurisdiction to consider claims that are “so 18 insubstantial, implausible, foreclosed by prior decisions of this court, or otherwise completely 19 devoid of merit as not to involve a federal controversy.” Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better 20 Environment, 523 U.S. 83, 89 (1998); see also Grancare, LLC v. Thrower by & through Mills, 21 889 F.3d 543, 549-50 (9th Cir. 2018) (noting that the “wholly insubstantial and frivolous” 22 standard for dismissing claims operates under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of federal question 23 jurisdiction). A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 24 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). A court may dismiss a claim as frivolous where it 25 is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly 26 baseless. Id. at 327; Rule 12(h)(3). 27 ///// 28 ///// 1 Analysis 2 Plaintiff’s complaint does not allege enough facts from which the court can infer a cause 3 of action over which the court has jurisdiction. Plaintiff does not assert any federal claims against 4 any defendant, and therefore the court does not have federal question jurisdiction. It is also not 5 clear that complete diversity of citizenship exists. Plaintiff is a citizen of California. (ECF No. 3 6 at 1.) Defendant is a corporation with its principal place of business in California, but 7 headquartered in Illinois. (Id. at 2, 4-5.) The term “principal place of business” in the diversity 8 jurisdiction statute refers to the place where a corporation's officers direct, control, and coordinate 9 the corporation's activities. Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77, 93 (2010). This is often, but not 10 always, the company’s headquarters. Id (the principal place of business is where a corporation 11 maintains its headquarters, assuming the headquarters is the actual center of direction, control, 12 and coordination). In light of this definition, plaintiff must allege more facts establishing 13 defendant’s citizenship in order to establish that the court has jurisdiction. 14 Additionally, the complaint does not contain enough facts from which the court can infer a 15 cognizable claim. Plaintiff states, “August 12, 2023 on NPR radio the corporation is searching 16 for the original ow[n]er and I am the original ow[n]er as of 1965.” (ECF No. 3 at 5.) These 17 allegations do not state a cause of action upon which the requested relief (10 billion dollars) can 18 be granted. 19 Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure adopt a flexible pleading policy, a 20 complaint must give the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claims and must allege facts that 21 state the elements of each claim plainly and succinctly. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Jones v. 22 Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Thus, plaintiff must allege with at 23 least some degree of particularity overt acts which the defendants engaged in that support the 24 plaintiff’s claims. See Jones, 733 F.2d at 649. Plaintiff’s complaint does not meet this standard. 25 Leave to Amend 26 For the reasons stated above, plaintiff’s complaint must be dismissed. When evaluating 27 the failure to state a claim, the complaint of a pro se plaintiff may be dismissed “only where ‘it 28 appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 1 |} would entitle him to relief.’” Franklin v.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 FLETCHER LEGARDY, No. 2:23-cv-1897-DJC-CKD PS 12 Plaintiff, ORDER 13 v. 14 SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff, proceeding without counsel in this action, requests leave to proceed in forma 18 pauperis (“IFP”).1 (ECF No. 4.) See 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (authorizing the commencement of an 19 action “without prepayment of fees or security” by a person who is unable to pay such fees). 20 Plaintiff’s affidavit makes the required financial showing, so plaintiff’s request is granted.2 21 However, the determination that a plaintiff may proceed without payment of fees does not 22 complete the inquiry. Under the IFP statute, the court must screen the complaint and dismiss any 23 claims that are “frivolous or malicious,” fail to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or 24 seek monetary relief against an immune defendant. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Further, the federal 25
1 Actions where a party proceeds without counsel are referred to a magistrate judge pursuant to 26 E.D. Cal. L.R. 302(c)(21). See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72. 27 2 The court construes the complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis filed September 7, 2023 (ECF Nos. 3, 4) as the operative complaint and motion. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 28 (9th Cir. 1967) (generally, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint). 1 court has an independent duty to ensure it has subject matter jurisdiction in the case. See United 2 Investors Life Ins. Co. v. Waddell & Reed Inc., 360 F.3d 960, 967 (9th Cir. 2004). 3 Legal Standards 4 Pro se pleadings are to be liberally construed. Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & fn. 7 5 (9th Cir. 2010) (liberal construction appropriate even post–Iqbal). Prior to dismissal, the court is 6 to tell the plaintiff of deficiencies in the complaint and provide an opportunity to cure––if it 7 appears at all possible the defects can be corrected. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130-31 8 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). However, if amendment would be futile, no leave to amend need be 9 given. Cahill v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 339 (9th Cir. 1996). The court must dismiss a 10 case if, at any time, it determines that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). 11 A federal district court generally has jurisdiction over a civil action when: (1) a federal question is 12 presented in an action “arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States” or (2) 13 there is complete diversity of citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. See 28 14 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332(a). Further, a plaintiff must have standing to assert a claim, which requires 15 an injury in fact caused by defendant(s) that may be redressed in court. Harrison v. Kernan, 971 16 F.3d 1069, 1073 (9th Cir. 2020). 17 Federal courts lack subject matter jurisdiction to consider claims that are “so 18 insubstantial, implausible, foreclosed by prior decisions of this court, or otherwise completely 19 devoid of merit as not to involve a federal controversy.” Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better 20 Environment, 523 U.S. 83, 89 (1998); see also Grancare, LLC v. Thrower by & through Mills, 21 889 F.3d 543, 549-50 (9th Cir. 2018) (noting that the “wholly insubstantial and frivolous” 22 standard for dismissing claims operates under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of federal question 23 jurisdiction). A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 24 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). A court may dismiss a claim as frivolous where it 25 is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly 26 baseless. Id. at 327; Rule 12(h)(3). 27 ///// 28 ///// 1 Analysis 2 Plaintiff’s complaint does not allege enough facts from which the court can infer a cause 3 of action over which the court has jurisdiction. Plaintiff does not assert any federal claims against 4 any defendant, and therefore the court does not have federal question jurisdiction. It is also not 5 clear that complete diversity of citizenship exists. Plaintiff is a citizen of California. (ECF No. 3 6 at 1.) Defendant is a corporation with its principal place of business in California, but 7 headquartered in Illinois. (Id. at 2, 4-5.) The term “principal place of business” in the diversity 8 jurisdiction statute refers to the place where a corporation's officers direct, control, and coordinate 9 the corporation's activities. Hertz Corp. v. Friend, 559 U.S. 77, 93 (2010). This is often, but not 10 always, the company’s headquarters. Id (the principal place of business is where a corporation 11 maintains its headquarters, assuming the headquarters is the actual center of direction, control, 12 and coordination). In light of this definition, plaintiff must allege more facts establishing 13 defendant’s citizenship in order to establish that the court has jurisdiction. 14 Additionally, the complaint does not contain enough facts from which the court can infer a 15 cognizable claim. Plaintiff states, “August 12, 2023 on NPR radio the corporation is searching 16 for the original ow[n]er and I am the original ow[n]er as of 1965.” (ECF No. 3 at 5.) These 17 allegations do not state a cause of action upon which the requested relief (10 billion dollars) can 18 be granted. 19 Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure adopt a flexible pleading policy, a 20 complaint must give the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claims and must allege facts that 21 state the elements of each claim plainly and succinctly. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); Jones v. 22 Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Thus, plaintiff must allege with at 23 least some degree of particularity overt acts which the defendants engaged in that support the 24 plaintiff’s claims. See Jones, 733 F.2d at 649. Plaintiff’s complaint does not meet this standard. 25 Leave to Amend 26 For the reasons stated above, plaintiff’s complaint must be dismissed. When evaluating 27 the failure to state a claim, the complaint of a pro se plaintiff may be dismissed “only where ‘it 28 appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which 1 |} would entitle him to relief.’” Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984) (quoting 2 || Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 521 (1972)); see also Weilburg v. Shapiro, 488 F.3d 1202, 1205 3 || (9th Cir. 2007) (“Dismissal of a pro se complaint without leave to amend 1s proper only if it is 4 | absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not be cured by amendment.”) 5 || (quoting Schucker v. Rockwood, 846 F.2d 1202, 1203-04 (9th Cir. 1988)). 6 Here, the undersigned cannot say that it appears beyond doubt that leave to amend would 7 || be futile and therefore grants plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint. Local Rule 220 8 || requires that any amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to prior pleadings. 9 || Thus, in an amended complaint, just as if it were the initial complaint filed in the case, each 10 || defendant must be listed in the caption and identified in the body of the complaint, and each claim 11 | and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 12 ORDER 13 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 14 1. Plaintiffs motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 4) is granted. 15 2. Plaintiff's complaint (ECF No. 3) is dismissed with leave to amend. 16 3. Within twenty-eight days from the date of this order, an amended complaint shall be 17 filed that cures the defects noted in this order and complies with the Federal Rules of 18 Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of Practice. 19 4. Failure to comply with this order in a timely manner will result in a recommendation 20 that this action be dismissed. 21 || Dated: November 3, 2023 / a8 } if | / p , Si 22 CAROLYNK. DELANEY 23 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 24 25 |} 21, lega.1897 26 27 28