UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

_________________________________ 

EPHRAIM WOODS, JR., 

 Plaintiff - Appellant, 

v. 

KENDRA ROSS; CHERYL ROSS, 

 Defendants - Appellees. 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

DWIGHT JOHNSON, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant, 

v. 

KENDRA ROSS; CHERYL ROSS, 

 Defendants - Appellees. 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

RAASIKH ROBERTSON, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant, 

v. 

KENDRA ROSS; CHERYL ROSS, 

 Defendants - Appellees. 

No. 22-3046 

(D.C. No. 2:21-CV-02011-DDC-TJJ) 

(D. Kan.) 

No. 22-3058 

(D.C. No. 2:21-CV-02013-DDC-TJJ) 

(D. Kan.) 

No. 22-3059 

(D.C. No. 2:21-CV-02014-DDC-TJJ) 

(D. Kan.) 

_________________________________ 

FILED 

United States Court of Appeals 

Tenth Circuit 

February 7, 2023

Christopher M. Wolpert 

Clerk of Court

Appellate Case: 22-3046 Document: 010110809439 Date Filed: 02/07/2023 Page: 1
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ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

_________________________________ 

Before HARTZ, TYMKOVICH, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges. 

_________________________________ 

The appeals in these consolidated cases arise from the district court’s judgment 

dismissing Plaintiffs’ actions for failure to state a claim for relief. Exercising 

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm in each appeal. 

I. BACKGROUND 

In 2017, Kendra Ross filed a federal lawsuit against The Value Creators, Inc., 

formerly known as the United Nation of Islam, Inc. (UNOI); UNOI’s leader, Royall 

Jenkins; and related entities. Kendra and her mother, Cheryl Ross, were UNOI 

members.1

 Kendra alleged the defendants had trafficked her and forced her into 

unpaid labor from the age of 11 until she was 21. The district court granted Kendra’s 

motion for default judgment and awarded her nearly $8 million. See Ross v. Jenkins, 

325 F. Supp. 3d 1141, 1153 (D. Kan. 2018). 

* After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined 

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of 

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore 

ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding 

precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral 

estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with 

Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 

1

 The brief for Kendra and Cheryl Ross refers to them by their first names. We 

do the same to avoid confusion. 

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In 2020, three UNOI members (Messrs. Woods, Johnson, and Robertson) filed 

separate but similar pro se actions in Kansas state court against Kendra and Cheryl 

for breach of contract and defamation. Kendra removed the cases to federal court 

and moved to dismiss the complaints under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) 

for failure to state a claim. The district court granted Kendra’s motions to dismiss 

and denied Plaintiffs’ various motions, including motions for recusal, to remand, and 

for default judgment. The court also ordered Plaintiffs to show cause why the court 

should not dismiss their complaints against Cheryl, who had not entered an 

appearance in the case. Plaintiffs responded and sought a default judgment against 

Cheryl. After further proceedings not relevant to this appeal, the district court denied 

the motions for default judgment against Cheryl and dismissed the cases with 

prejudice. 

Plaintiffs appealed, and we consolidated their appeals. Because Plaintiffs’ 

filings in the district court and this court are materially similar, we cite to 

Mr. Woods’s filings and the record in his appeal. 

II. DISCUSSION

We construe Plaintiffs’ pro se opening briefs liberally.2

 See Yang v. Archuleta, 

525 F.3d at 925, 927 n.1 (10th Cir. 2008). Plaintiffs argue that (1) removal was 

improper and therefore the district court lacked jurisdiction, (2) the district court 

2

 Plaintiffs did not file reply briefs. 

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should have entered default judgment against Kendra and Cheryl, and (3) the district 

court judge was biased against them. 

A. Removal

Plaintiffs contend that Kendra’s removal was untimely and therefore the 

district court lacked jurisdiction.3

 But as explained below, they failed to argue in 

district court that removal was untimely, and they have not argued here for 

plain-error review. Plaintiffs therefore have waived this issue, and we are not 

required to consider it because it is not jurisdictional. 

Legal Background 

 Our discussion of this issue refers to three different 30-day time limits: 

(1) The summons served on Kendra in the state court action said she had 30 

days to file a responsive pleading. 

(2) Under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1), the defendant must file a notice of removal 

“within 30 days after the receipt by the defendant, through service or 

otherwise, of a copy of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief 

upon which such action or proceeding is based.” 

(3) Under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c), “A motion to remand the case on the basis of 

any defect other than lack of subject matter jurisdiction must be made 

within 30 days after the filing of the notice of removal under section 

1446(a).” 

3

 Our independent review shows no error in the district court’s determination 

that diversity jurisdiction existed. Plaintiffs do not contend otherwise. 

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Additional Procedural Background 

In the state court action, Plaintiffs served Cheryl on October 1, 2020, and 

allegedly served Kendra on October 7, 2020. The summonses said the Defendants 

had 30 days to file an answer. Neither one did. On December 17 and 23, 2020, 

Plaintiffs Woods and Johnson filed motions for default in state court against both 

Defendants. 

On January 11, 2021, Kendra filed a notice of removal based on diversity 

jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332. She alleged that because she had not yet been 

served with the state court summons, § 1446(b)(1)’s 30-day removal period had 

never begun. On January 22 and 25, 2021, Plaintiffs filed motions to transfer the 

case back to state court, arguing that the federal district court lacked subject matter 

jurisdiction. 

The district court construed Plaintiffs’ filings as motions to remand and denied 

them. It first concluded that diversity jurisdiction was proper. Also, although the 

motions were filed within 30 days of the removal under § 1447(c), the court 

determined Plaintiffs had “waived any argument that Kendra’s Notice of Removal 

was defective procedurally” because they “challenge[d] neither the timeliness of 

removal nor whether both defendants consented to removal—procedural defects.” 

R., Vol. 2 at 135 n.4. 

Analysis 

On appeal, Plaintiffs do not contest the district court’s determination that they 

waived any challenge to the timeliness of removal. They thus have waived appellate 

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review of that ruling. See Sawyers v. Norton, 962 F.3d 1270, 1286 (10th Cir. 2020) 

(“Issues not raised in the opening brief are deemed abandoned or waived.”).4

Plaintiffs now argue removal was untimely. But they forfeited this 

argument—they failed to raise it in district court. See Richison v. Ernest Grp., Inc., 

634 F.3d 1123, 1128 (10th Cir. 2011) (explaining that if a litigant fails to raise a legal 

theory in the district court, “we usually hold it forfeited,” rather than waived). And 

“we will reverse a district court’s judgment on the basis of a forfeited theory only if 

failing to do so would entrench a plainly erroneous result.” Id. Plaintiffs have not 

argued for plain-error review, so they have waived their timeliness argument in this 

court. Id. at 1131. 

Further, because an untimely notice of removal is “[a] procedural defect,” and 

such defects do “not involve the subject matter jurisdiction of the court and may be 

4

 In any event, Plaintiffs did not challenge the timeliness of removal within 

§ 1447(c)’s 30-day period. In their district court filings made within that period, 

Plaintiffs twice mentioned a 30-day limit. 

First, their motions to remand stated: “I move to have [Kendra’s attorney’s] filing 

[i.e., the notice of removal,] stricken and this case put back in the proper jurisdiction and 

the fact Kendra Ross has defaulted over the 30 day time limit [to respond to the 

summons] which clearly demonstrates that [her attorney’s] filing is a moot point.” 

R., Vol. 1 at 179 (emphasis added). 

Second, Mr. Woods’s objection to Kendra’s “Attorney . . . As A Moot Point” 

stated that “any filing once past the 30 days on the summons now becomes a moot point 

and has no foundation in law,” and “[a] default motion has been filed against 

[Defendants] and both were given an additional 30 days over the required 30 day 

standard as per the summons and by the court rules.” Id. at 185 (emphasis added). 

These references concern Kendra’s failure to file a responsive pleading in state 

court within the 30-day deadline stated in the summons allegedly served on her, not her 

failure to file the notice of removal within 30 days of the alleged service under 

§ 1446(b)(1). 

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waived,” we are not obligated to take up the issue sua sponte. Huffman v. Saul 

Holdings Ltd. P’ship, 194 F.3d 1072, 1077 (10th Cir. 1999); see Daigle v. Shell Oil 

Co., 972 F.2d 1527, 1539 (10th Cir. 1992) (recognizing “general rule [that] we refuse 

to consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal unless . . . jurisdiction is in 

question”). 

Plaintiffs also appear to argue that removal was improper because Kendra 

failed to file an answer in state court within 30 days, as the summons instructed. But 

their supporting legal authority supports only that a plaintiff may seek a default when 

a defendant fails to timely respond to an initial pleading. Plaintiffs provide no legal 

authority holding that a defendant who fails to timely respond to an initial pleading 

may not remove a case to federal court. 

B. Default Judgment

Plaintiffs contend the district court erred in not entering default judgment in 

their favor. Our review is for an abuse of discretion. Bixler v. Foster, 596 F.3d 751, 

761 (10th Cir. 2010). We see none. The district court provided three alternative 

bases to deny Plaintiffs’ motions for default judgment. We need consider only one—

that default judgment was not warranted because Plaintiffs failed to state a claim for 

relief under Rule 12(b)(6).5

 See Bixler, 596 F.3d at 762 (explaining that a district 

5

 The district court’s other two reasons for denying default judgment were 

(1) although Plaintiffs had filed a motion for default in state court, that court had 

never acted on their motion, and they failed to file a motion for default in federal 

court; and (2) Kendra had not been properly served. 

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court does not abuse its discretion by denying default judgment where claims are 

“subject to dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6)”). Plaintiffs have not challenged the 

district court’s conclusion that they failed to state a claim for relief, so they have 

waived appellate review of that ruling. See Sawyers, 962 F.3d at 1286. Because 

their claims were legally deficient, they cannot show the district court abused its 

discretion by refusing to enter default judgment. 

C. Judicial Bias

 Plaintiffs filed motions to recuse the district court judge under 28 U.S.C. 

§ 455(a), arguing he was biased because he had ruled in Kendra’s favor in Ross v. 

Jenkins. The district court denied their motions, explaining that “adverse rulings 

provide no reason for recusal.” R., Vol. 2 at 131. 

A federal judge must recuse from “any proceeding in which his impartiality 

might reasonably be questioned.” § 455(a). “We review a districts court’s denial of 

a motion to disqualify a judge for abuse of discretion.” Burke v. Regalado, 935 F.3d 

960, 1052 (10th Cir. 2019). 

Plaintiffs have failed to meet their “heavy burden of showing the requisite 

judicial bias.” Topeka Hous. Auth. v. Johnson, 404 F.3d 1245, 1248 (10th Cir. 2005). 

“[J]udicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a bias or partiality 

motion,” and “opinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events 

occurring in the course of . . . prior proceedings[] do not constitute a basis for a bias 

or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that 

would make fair judgment impossible.” Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 

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555 (1994). Indeed, we recently said that “judges need not ordinarily recuse after 

ruling on similar issues in other cases involving the same parties.” Zen Magnets, 

LLC v. Consumer Prods. Safety Comm’n, 968 F.3d 1156, 1168 (10th Cir. 2020). 

On appeal, Plaintiffs summarily repeat their argument that the district court 

judge was biased against them because of his ruling in Ross v. Jenkins. This 

argument fails to demonstrate any “favoritism or antagonism” arising from the ruling 

in that case that rendered the district judge unable to make a fair judgment in these 

cases.6

III. CONCLUSION 

We affirm the district court’s judgments in each appeal. We deny the motions 

that Plaintiffs Johnson and Robertson have filed to proceed on appeal in forma 

pauperis because they have failed to show the “existence of a reasoned, nonfrivolous 

argument on the law and facts in support of the issues raised.” Buchheit v. Green, 

705 F.3d 1157, 1161 (10th Cir. 2012) (quotations omitted). Their filing and 

docketing fees are thus now due in full. We deny all other pending motions and 

mandamus petitions. 

Entered for the Court 

Scott M. Matheson, Jr. 

Circuit Judge 

6

 Plaintiffs raise no arguments bearing on the district court’s dismissal of their 

claims against Cheryl. 

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