Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02185/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02185-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 18:1961 Racketeering (RICO) Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DMITRIY YEGOROV,

Plaintiff,

v.

LEONIDA BUCHKOVSKAYA,

Defendant.

No. 2:14-cv-2185 KJM DAD PS

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Plaintiff Dmitriy Yegorov is proceeding in this action pro se. This matter was referred to 

the undersigned in accordance with Local Rule 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Plaintiff 

has requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

Plaintiff‟s in forma pauperis application makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(a)(1). However, a determination that a plaintiff qualifies financially for in forma pauperis 

status does not complete the inquiry required by the statute. “„A district court may deny leave to 

proceed in forma pauperis at the outset if it appears from the face of the proposed complaint that 

the action is frivolous or without merit.‟” Minetti v. Port of Seattle, 152 F.3d 1113, 1115 (9th 

Cir. 1998) (quoting Tripati v. First Nat. Bank & Trust, 821 F.2d 1368, 1370 (9th Cir. 1987)). See

also Smart v. Heinze, 347 F.2d 114, 116 (9th Cir. 1965) (“It is the duty of the District Court to 

examine any application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis to determine whether the 

proposed proceeding has merit and if it appears that the proceeding is without merit, the court is 

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bound to deny a motion seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis.”). 

Moreover, the court must dismiss an in forma pauperis case at any time if the allegation of 

poverty is found to be untrue or if it is determined that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to 

state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against an immune 

defendant. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). A complaint is legally frivolous when it lacks an 

arguable basis in law or in fact. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. 

Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th Cir. 1984). Under this standard, a court must dismiss a 

complaint as frivolous where it is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or where the 

factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e).

To state a claim on which relief may be granted, the plaintiff must allege “enough facts to 

state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 

570 (2007). In considering whether a complaint states a cognizable claim, the court accepts as 

true the material allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light most 

favorable to the plaintiff. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. 

Trustees of Rex Hosp., 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976); Love v. United States, 915 F.2d 1242, 1245 

(9th Cir. 1989). Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by 

lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). However, the court need not accept as true 

conclusory allegations, unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of fact. Western 

Mining Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981).

The minimum requirements for a civil complaint in federal court are as follows:

A pleading which sets forth a claim for relief . . . shall contain (1) a 

short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court‟s 

jurisdiction depends . . . , (2) a short and plain statement of the 

claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and (3) a demand 

for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks.

FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a).

Although the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure adopt a flexible pleading policy, a 

complaint must give the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff‟s claims and must allege facts that 

state the elements of each claim plainly and succinctly. FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(2); Jones v. 

Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). “A pleading that offers „labels 

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and conclusions‟ or „a formulaic recitation of the elements of cause of action will not do.‟ Nor 

does a complaint suffice if it tenders „naked assertions‟ devoid of „further factual 

enhancements.‟” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 

557. A plaintiff must allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts which the 

defendants engaged in that support the plaintiff‟s claims. Jones, 733 F.2d at 649.

Jurisdiction is a threshold inquiry that must precede the adjudication of any case before 

the district court. Morongo Band of Mission Indians v. Cal. State Bd. of Equalization, 858 F.2d 

1376, 1380 (9th Cir. 1988). Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and may adjudicate 

only those cases authorized by federal law. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 511 U.S. 375, 

377 (1994); Willy v. Coastal Corp., 503 U.S. 131, 136-37 (1992). “Federal courts are presumed 

to lack jurisdiction, „unless the contrary appears affirmatively from the record.‟” Casey v. Lewis, 

4 F.3d 1516, 1519 (9th Cir. 1993) (quoting Bender v. Williamsport Area Sch. Dist., 475 U.S. 534, 

546 (1986)).

Lack of subject matter jurisdiction may be raised by the court at any time during the 

proceedings. Attorneys Trust v. Videotape Computer Prods., Inc., 93 F.3d 593, 594-95 (9th Cir. 

1996). A federal court “ha[s] an independent obligation to address sua sponte whether [it] has 

subject-matter jurisdiction.” Dittman v. California, 191 F.3d 1020, 1025 (9th Cir. 1999). It is the 

obligation of the district court “to be alert to jurisdictional requirements.” Grupo Dataflux v. 

Atlas Global Group, L.P., 541 U.S. 567, 593 (2004). Without jurisdiction, the district court 

cannot decide the merits of a case or order any relief. See Morongo, 858 F.2d at 1380.

The burden of establishing jurisdiction rests upon plaintiff as the party asserting 

jurisdiction. Kokkonen, 511 U.S. at 377; see also Hagans v. Lavine, 415 U.S. 528, 543 (1974) 

(acknowledging that a claim may be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction if it is “so insubstantial, 

implausible, . . . or otherwise completely devoid of merit as not to involve a federal controversy 

within the jurisdiction of the District Court”); Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 682-83 (1946) 

(recognizing that a claim is subject to dismissal for want of jurisdiction where it is “wholly 

insubstantial and frivolous” and so patently without merit as to justify dismissal for lack of 

jurisdiction ); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227 n.6 (9th Cir. 1984) (holding that even 

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“[a] paid complaint that is „obviously frivolous‟ does not confer federal subject matter jurisdiction 

. . . and may be dismissed sua sponte before service of process.”).

Here, although the complaint is difficult to decipher, it appears that this action concerns 

solely an alleged violation of state law. In this regard, in his complaint plaintiff alleges as 

follows. The defendant, “Leonida Buchkovskaya received special training in former Soviet 

Union how to commit provocations and conflict with people.” (Compl. (Dkt. No. 1) at 2.) 

Defendant Buchkovskaya obtained a restraining order against plaintiff during an ongoing family 

law action and “committed crime perjury in Superior Court State of California” and “produced 

fraudulent testimony under oath.” (Id. at 3.) Plaintiff‟s complaint then simply recounts multiple 

specific alleged examples of the defendant‟s perjury followed by citations to the California Penal 

Code. (Id. at 4-9.) 

Even assuming arguendo that plaintiff‟s complaint stated a cognizable claim for violation 

of the California Penal Code, it would not grant this federal court subject matter jurisdiction over 

that state law claim. Although this court, under certain circumstances, may exercise supplemental 

jurisdiction over state law claims the complaint must first state a cognizable federal claim. 28 

U.S.C. § 1367(a); Herman Family Revocable Trust v. Teddy Bear, 254 F.3d 802, 805 (9th Cir.

2001). Here, plaintiff‟s complaint does not state any cognizable federal claim.

It is true that plaintiff‟s complaint includes a single reference to “[c]onspiracy against 

Constitution USA. Amendment 4, 5, 14.” (Compl. (Dkt. No. 1) at 1.) However, such vague and 

conclusory allegations are insufficient to state a federal claim for relief. Moreover, a litigant who 

complains of a violation of a constitutional right does not have a cause of action directly under the 

United States Constitution. Livadas v. Bradshaw, 512 U.S. 107, 132 (1994) (affirming that it is 

42 U.S.C. § 1983 that provides a federal cause of action for the deprivation of rights secured by 

the United States Constitution); Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Org.., 441 U.S. 600, 617 

(1979) (explaining that 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was enacted to create a private cause of action for 

violations of the United States Constitution); Azul-Pacifico, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles, 973 F.2d 

704, 705 (9th Cir.1992) ( “Plaintiff has no cause of action directly under the United States 

Constitution.”).

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Title 42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides that,

[e]very person who, under color of [state law] ... subjects, or causes 

to be subjected, any citizen of the United States ... to the 

deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the 

Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an 

action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress.

In order to state a cognizable claim under § 1983 the plaintiff must allege facts 

demonstrating that he was deprived of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United 

States and that the deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. West 

v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988). It is the plaintiff‟s burden in bringing a claim under § 1983 to 

allege, and ultimately establish, that the named defendants were acting under color of state law 

when they deprived him of a federal right. Lee v. Katz, 276 F.3d 550, 553-54 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Here, there are no allegations in plaintiff‟s complaint even suggesting that the named defendant 

was at any time acting under color of state law.1

Accordingly, plaintiff‟s complaint must be dismissed without prejudice for lack of subject 

matter jurisdiction. The undersigned has carefully considered whether plaintiff may amend the 

complaint to state a claim over which this court would have subject matter jurisdiction. “Valid 

reasons for denying leave to amend include undue delay, bad faith, prejudice, and futility.” 

California Architectural Bldg. Prod. v. Franciscan Ceramics, 818 F.2d 1466, 1472 (9th Cir. 1988). 

See also Klamath-Lake Pharm. Ass‟n v. Klamath Med. Serv. Bureau, 701 F.2d 1276, 1293 (9th 

Cir. 1983) (holding that while leave to amend shall be freely given, the court does not have to 

allow futile amendments). In light of the nature of the complaint‟s allegations and the apparent 

lack of subject matter jurisdiction the undersigned finds that granting leave to amend would be 

futile in this case.

2

 

1

 Although it is not clear from reading the allegations of the complaint, plaintiff‟s action in this 

court may also be barred under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, the Younger abstention doctrine 

and/or Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). See generally Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87;

Middlesex County Ethics Comm‟n v. Garden State Bar Ass‟n, 457 U.S. 423, 431-32 (1982);

Reusser v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., 525 F.3d 885, 859 (9th Cir. 2008).

2

 If plaintiff believes that a basis for this court‟s subject matter jurisdiction over this action exists 

he should assert and support any such argument in his written objections to these findings and 

recommendations. 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:

1. Plaintiff‟s September 19, 2014 application to proceed in forma pauperis (Dkt. 

No. 2) be denied;

2. Plaintiff‟s September 19, 2014 complaint (Dkt. No. 1) be dismissed without 

prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction; and

3. This action be dismissed.

These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge 

assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14) 

days after being served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written 

objections with the court. A document containing objections should be titled “Objections to 

Magistrate Judge‟s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file 

objections within the specified time may, under certain circumstances, waive the right to appeal 

the District Court‟s order. See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

Dated: January 8, 2015

DAD:6

Ddad1\orders.pro se\yegorov2185.ifp.den.f&rs.docx

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