Source: http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/2000/08/00-1066.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 07:51:54+00:00

Document:
Appellant Leslie Mamer appeals pro se the district court's decision dismissing sua sponte her complaint, raising allegations of civil rights and other statutory violations. The district court dismissed the action for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted and lack of standing. We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
Ms. Mamer filed her complaint against the Collie Club of America, Inc. and its various officers and committee members (hereafter "Collie Club"), claiming they violated her and other club members' federal constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, committed various crimes including violation of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968, and violated various unidentified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Prior to the filing of any other pleadings, the district court dismissed her action, finding the complaint did not allege facts showing the officers or committee members of the Collie Club, a private organization, acted under the color of law as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The district court also dismissed her criminal claims for lack of standing, explaining private citizens cannot prosecute criminal actions. Finally, the district court found Ms. Mamer's vague references to the Internal Revenue Code insufficient to support a claim for relief.
On appeal, Ms. Mamer's argument centers on her contention the district court cannot dismiss her complaint on its own motion, or in other words, sua sponte. She also contends she did not intend to file a civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, but rather under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3), and that her reference to § 1983 in her complaint is merely a typographical error or transposed citation, which she intended to correct to read "§ 1985(3)."
We review the sufficiency of a complaint de novo, upholding the district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim only when the plaintiff fails to plead facts, which, if proved, would entitle her to relief. See Perkins v. Kansas Dep't of Corrections, 165 F.3d 803, 806 (10th Cir. 1999). Likewise, we review questions of standing de novo. State of Utah v. Babbitt, 137 F.3d 1193, 1203 (10th Cir. 1998). A district court may dismiss a pro se complaint sua sponte only where it is "patently obvious" the plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts alleged, and an opportunity to amend the complaint would prove futile. See Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
[T]o state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) for a non-racially motivated private conspiracy, if indeed such a claim can be stated, it is necessary to plead ... that the conspiracy is motivated by a class-based invidiously discriminatory animus  and ... that the conspiracy is aimed at interfering with rights that by definition are protected against private, as well as official, encroachment.
Tilton v. Richardson, 6 F.3d 683, 686 (10th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1093 (1994). Ms. Mamer's complaint fails to even remotely plead allegations necessary to state a § 1985(3) action.
As to her allegations of criminal activity, we have concluded, as did the district court, that private citizens cannot prosecute criminal actions. See Higgins v. Neal, 52 F.3d 337, 1995 WL 216920 at *1 (10th Cir. Apr. 12, 1995) (unpublished decision) (stating that "[b]ecause allowing private citizens to initiate prosecutions would undermine prosecutorial discretion and the authority of federal prosecutors, we conclude [the defendant] lacks standing to maintain this criminal action"). In addition, we reject Ms. Mamer's contention we should consider her criminal complaints because she generally averred to RICO which allows civil recovery. Even though we construe Ms. Mamer's pro se pleadings liberally, we find her general averments of facts allegedly supporting her loose reference to RICO insufficient to state a claim on which relief may be granted. See Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110 (10th Cir. 1981). Similarly, we find Ms. Mamer's conclusory allegations the Collie Club violated various unidentified Internal Revenue Code provisions, insufficient for the purpose of stating a claim on which relief may be granted. In sum, even a broad reading of Ms. Mamer's complaint "does not relieve [her] of the burden of alleging sufficient facts on which a recognized legal claim could be based." Id.
Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 38, we have the power to impose sanctions for frivolous appeals, and Ms. Mamer's pro se status does not prohibit us from sanctioning her. Cf. Olson v. Coleman, 997 F.2d 726, 728 (10th Cir. 1993). In this case, Ms. Mamer's primary argument on appeal attacks the district court's well-established and long-held authority to sua sponte dismiss a complaint under appropriate circumstances. While this is a patently frivolous ground for appeal, we decline to impose sanctions in the instant case due to Ms. Mamer's obvious lack of legal understanding, the fact she does not have a history of frivolous appeals before this court, and given the quick dismissal by the district court, which limited Collie Club's litigation costs. We nevertheless admonish Ms. Mamer for filing a frivolous appeal and advise that any future frivolous appeals will warrant appropriate sanctions.
For these reasons, we deny the Collie Club's motion for sanctions, AFFIRM the district court's dismissal of Ms. Mamer's complaint, and DISMISS the appeal.
1. Although the district court dismissed Ms. Mamer's complaint sua sponte, the Collie Club points out it expended resources researching and preparing a motion to dismiss which it filed just hours prior to receiving the district court's dismissal.

References: § 1291
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