1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 NII NEE, No. 2:24-CV-3185-DC-DMC 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER 14 CALIFORNIA STATE, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, brings this civil action. Pending before the 18 Court is Plaintiff’s original complaint, ECF No. 1. 19 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by litigants who, as here, have 20 been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Under this 21 screening provision, the Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or 22 malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief 23 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(A), (B). 24 Moreover, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3), this Court must dismiss an 25 action if the Court determines that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Pursuant to Rule 12(h)(3), 26 the Court will also consider as a threshold matter whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS 2 Plaintiff filed the original complaint on November 18, 2024. See ECF No. 1. 3 Plaintiff asserts that the basis of jurisdiction is federal question under Article 6, Section 2 of the 4 Constitution and the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt” and diversity jurisdiction because 5 Plaintiff asserts that he is a diplomat. Id. at 3-4. Plaintiff seeks $666,000,000,000,000,000 in 6 damages and criminal charges for treason. See id. at 5 and 6. Plaintiff contends that his cause of 7 action arises under Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution, the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt, 8 International Treaty Laws, U.S. Treaty laws, and Vienna Convention Treaties of 1868.” Id. at 5. 9 In additional to the form complaint provided by the Eastern District, pgs. 1-6, Plaintiff attaches 10 another form complaint of unknown origin, pgs. 7-16, a “Statement of Certification for Cuba,” 11 pg. 17, and an “Apostille,” pg. 18. In the form complaint of unknown origin, Plaintiff contends 12 that the Mt. Shasta Police and Siskiyou Sheriffs Department “unlawfully kidnapped and arrested” 13 Plaintiff, while in custody Plaintiff was assaulted in the booking area, and he was not read his 14 Miranda rights. See id. at 8. No other facts are provided. 15 On November 27, 2024, Plaintiff filed “exhibits.” See ECF No. 3. This filing 16 contained a transcript from a preliminary hearing on November 12, 2024, in the Superior Court of 17 Siskiyou County, pgs. 1-33, an “Apostille,” pgs. 34-37, another Statement of Certification for 18 Cuba, pg. 38, an “Irrevocable covenant power of attorney in fact,” pgs. 39-40, and an “Apostille 19 Affidavit,” pgs. 41-42. Id. On January 10, 2025, Plaintiff filed a notice of stay of proceedings 20 alleging “fraud upon the court supreme court supervisor Simone Voltz & Max Alfaro.” ECF No. 21 7, pg. 1. On January 14, 2025, Plaintiff filed two certificate/proof of service documents, ECF 22 Nos. 8 and 9. On March 24, 2025, Plaintiff filed an exhibit which contained the same transcript 23 included in the original complaint. See ECF No. 10. Finally, Plaintiff filed an acknowledgement 24 of the receipt of three CD’s. See ECF No. 11. 25 / / / 26 / / / 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 II. DISCUSSION 2 The Court finds that the claims presented in Plaintiff's complaint are frivolous and 3 will recommend that the action be dismissed with leave to amend. 4 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 5 See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 6 (9th Cir. 1984). When applied to a complaint, the term “frivolous” embraces both the inarguable 7 legal conclusion and the fanciful factual allegation. See Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 325. The Court 8 may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably meritless legal 9 theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Id. at 327. The critical inquiry is 10 whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual 11 basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 12 The Court need not accept the allegations in the complaint as true, but must determine whether 13 they are fanciful, fantastic, or delusional. See Denson v Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992) 14 (quoting Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 328). 15 Here, Plaintiff provides very little factual information underlying his claims. The 16 preliminary hearing transcript1 provides the most substance and indicates that Plaintiff may have 17 actionable claims. See ECF Nos. 1 and 10. However, as currently pled, Plaintiff’s stated claims 18 rely on Plaintiff’s assertion that Plaintiff is a diplomat and entitled to rights afforded by 19 something referred to as the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt,” an otherwise undefined document 20 of unknown origin or form. Plaintiff provides no facts or information about what rights were 21 violated under the alleged Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt. Even assuming that claim is 22 actionable, the Court finds that there is no arguable basis in law or fact to support Plaintiff's claim 23 that he is entitled to hundreds of quadrillions of dollars. Plaintiff fails to connect the facts 24 underlying the state court hearing to his allegations of violations of Article 6, Section 2 of the 25 Constitution, the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt”, International Treaty Laws, U.S. Treaty laws, 26 and Vienna Convention Treaties of 1868. Out of an abundance of caution and given the fact that
27 1 The transcripts are from a Preliminary Hearing where the Defendant listed is Joe Emerson and the state court Judge indicates his a.k.a. is Ni’i Ne’e. See ECF No. 10, pg. 6. The Court assumes that the Defendant in the state court 28 preliminary hearing is Plaintiff in the instant matter. 1 the transcript indicates that Plaintiff may have causes of action arising from his arrest, the Court 2 will provide Plaintiff with the opportunity to amend the complaint. 3 III. CONCLUSION 4 Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by 5 amending the complaint, Plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire 6 action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 7 If Plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, Plaintiff must demonstrate how the 8 conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See 9 Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The complaint must allege in specific terms how 10 each named defendant is involved and must set forth some affirmative link or connection between 11 each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 12 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978).
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 NII NEE, No. 2:24-CV-3185-DC-DMC 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER 14 CALIFORNIA STATE, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, brings this civil action. Pending before the 18 Court is Plaintiff’s original complaint, ECF No. 1. 19 The Court is required to screen complaints brought by litigants who, as here, have 20 been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Under this 21 screening provision, the Court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or 22 malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief 23 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(A), (B). 24 Moreover, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3), this Court must dismiss an 25 action if the Court determines that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction. Pursuant to Rule 12(h)(3), 26 the Court will also consider as a threshold matter whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction. 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 I. PLAINTIFF’S ALLEGATIONS 2 Plaintiff filed the original complaint on November 18, 2024. See ECF No. 1. 3 Plaintiff asserts that the basis of jurisdiction is federal question under Article 6, Section 2 of the 4 Constitution and the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt” and diversity jurisdiction because 5 Plaintiff asserts that he is a diplomat. Id. at 3-4. Plaintiff seeks $666,000,000,000,000,000 in 6 damages and criminal charges for treason. See id. at 5 and 6. Plaintiff contends that his cause of 7 action arises under Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution, the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt, 8 International Treaty Laws, U.S. Treaty laws, and Vienna Convention Treaties of 1868.” Id. at 5. 9 In additional to the form complaint provided by the Eastern District, pgs. 1-6, Plaintiff attaches 10 another form complaint of unknown origin, pgs. 7-16, a “Statement of Certification for Cuba,” 11 pg. 17, and an “Apostille,” pg. 18. In the form complaint of unknown origin, Plaintiff contends 12 that the Mt. Shasta Police and Siskiyou Sheriffs Department “unlawfully kidnapped and arrested” 13 Plaintiff, while in custody Plaintiff was assaulted in the booking area, and he was not read his 14 Miranda rights. See id. at 8. No other facts are provided. 15 On November 27, 2024, Plaintiff filed “exhibits.” See ECF No. 3. This filing 16 contained a transcript from a preliminary hearing on November 12, 2024, in the Superior Court of 17 Siskiyou County, pgs. 1-33, an “Apostille,” pgs. 34-37, another Statement of Certification for 18 Cuba, pg. 38, an “Irrevocable covenant power of attorney in fact,” pgs. 39-40, and an “Apostille 19 Affidavit,” pgs. 41-42. Id. On January 10, 2025, Plaintiff filed a notice of stay of proceedings 20 alleging “fraud upon the court supreme court supervisor Simone Voltz & Max Alfaro.” ECF No. 21 7, pg. 1. On January 14, 2025, Plaintiff filed two certificate/proof of service documents, ECF 22 Nos. 8 and 9. On March 24, 2025, Plaintiff filed an exhibit which contained the same transcript 23 included in the original complaint. See ECF No. 10. Finally, Plaintiff filed an acknowledgement 24 of the receipt of three CD’s. See ECF No. 11. 25 / / / 26 / / / 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 II. DISCUSSION 2 The Court finds that the claims presented in Plaintiff's complaint are frivolous and 3 will recommend that the action be dismissed with leave to amend. 4 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact. 5 See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 6 (9th Cir. 1984). When applied to a complaint, the term “frivolous” embraces both the inarguable 7 legal conclusion and the fanciful factual allegation. See Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 325. The Court 8 may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably meritless legal 9 theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Id. at 327. The critical inquiry is 10 whether a constitutional claim, however inartfully pleaded, has an arguable legal and factual 11 basis. See Jackson v. Arizona, 885 F.2d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 1989); Franklin, 745 F.2d at 1227. 12 The Court need not accept the allegations in the complaint as true, but must determine whether 13 they are fanciful, fantastic, or delusional. See Denson v Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992) 14 (quoting Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 328). 15 Here, Plaintiff provides very little factual information underlying his claims. The 16 preliminary hearing transcript1 provides the most substance and indicates that Plaintiff may have 17 actionable claims. See ECF Nos. 1 and 10. However, as currently pled, Plaintiff’s stated claims 18 rely on Plaintiff’s assertion that Plaintiff is a diplomat and entitled to rights afforded by 19 something referred to as the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt,” an otherwise undefined document 20 of unknown origin or form. Plaintiff provides no facts or information about what rights were 21 violated under the alleged Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt. Even assuming that claim is 22 actionable, the Court finds that there is no arguable basis in law or fact to support Plaintiff's claim 23 that he is entitled to hundreds of quadrillions of dollars. Plaintiff fails to connect the facts 24 underlying the state court hearing to his allegations of violations of Article 6, Section 2 of the 25 Constitution, the “Two Row Wampum Treaty Belt”, International Treaty Laws, U.S. Treaty laws, 26 and Vienna Convention Treaties of 1868. Out of an abundance of caution and given the fact that
27 1 The transcripts are from a Preliminary Hearing where the Defendant listed is Joe Emerson and the state court Judge indicates his a.k.a. is Ni’i Ne’e. See ECF No. 10, pg. 6. The Court assumes that the Defendant in the state court 28 preliminary hearing is Plaintiff in the instant matter. 1 the transcript indicates that Plaintiff may have causes of action arising from his arrest, the Court 2 will provide Plaintiff with the opportunity to amend the complaint. 3 III. CONCLUSION 4 Because it is possible that the deficiencies identified in this order may be cured by 5 amending the complaint, Plaintiff is entitled to leave to amend prior to dismissal of the entire 6 action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 7 If Plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, Plaintiff must demonstrate how the 8 conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See 9 Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). The complaint must allege in specific terms how 10 each named defendant is involved and must set forth some affirmative link or connection between 11 each defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. See May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 12 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740, 743 (9th Cir. 1978). 13 Plaintiff is informed that, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the 14 original complaint. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Thus, 15 following dismissal with leave to amend, all claims alleged in the original complaint which are 16 not alleged in the amended complaint are waived. See King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th 17 Cir. 1987). Therefore, if Plaintiff amends the complaint, the Court cannot refer to the prior 18 pleading in order to make Plaintiff's amended complaint complete. See Local Rule 220. An 19 amended complaint must be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. See id. 20 Plaintiff is informed that the amended complaint must include all allegations and Defendants 21 Plaintiff seeks to include in this action. The Court will not look to prior or subsequent filings to 22 supplement the amended complaint. 23 / / / 24 / / / 25 / / / 26 / / / 27 / / / 28 / / / 1 | /// 2 Finally, Plaintiff is warned that failure to file an amended complaint within the 3 || time provided in this order may be grounds for dismissal of this action. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 4 | 1260-61; see also Local Rule 110. Plaintiffs also warned that a complaint which fails to comply 5 || with Rule 8 may, in the Court’s discretion, be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b). 6 || See Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981). 7 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 8 1. Plaintiffs original complaint, ECF No. 1, be dismissed with leave to 9 | amend; and 10 2. Plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint within 30 days of the date of 11 || service of this order. 12 ' | Dated: April 24, 2025 Ss..c0_, DENNIS M. COTA 15 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28