Source: http://mn.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150618_0000759.DMN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-11-23 20:17:30
Document Index: 203338140

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1915', '§ 1983', '§ 912', '§ 912', '§ 912', '§ 595', '§ 912', '§ 595', '§ 595', '§ 595', '§ 912', '§ 595']

Plaintiff Howard Tim Davis initiated this action by filing a complaint against defendant James Street. Davis did not pay the filing fee for this action, but instead applied to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP") [Doc. No. 2]. That IFP application is now before the Court for consideration.
Davis has not provided sufficient financial information for this Court to determine whether he qualifies for IFP status.[1] [ See Doc. No. 1-1]. This Court can ignore this infirmity, however, as an IFP application will be denied, and the action dismissed, when an IFP applicant has filed a complaint that fails to state a cause of action on which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii); Atkinson v. Bohn, 91 F.3d 1127, 1128 (8th Cir. 1996) (per curiam). In reviewing whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, this Court must accept as true all of the factual allegations in the complaint and draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. Aten v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 511 F.3d 818, 820 (8th Cir. 2008). Although the factual allegations in the complaint need not be detailed, they must be sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level...." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). The complaint must "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 570. In assessing the sufficiency of the complaint, the court may disregard legal conclusions that are couched as factual allegations. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Pro se complaints are to be construed liberally, but they still must allege sufficient facts to support the claims advanced. See Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir. 2004).
The complaint does not set forth the factual circumstances at issue in much detail. Broadly speaking, it appears that Street, a Ramsey County District Court Referee, recently presided over an action involving Davis. During those proceedings, Davis requested that Street produce certain documents in order to prove that he was a judicial officer, but Street declined. Davis seeks monetary compensation from Street for alleged violations of state and federal criminal law stemming from Street's refusal to produce documents.
As an initial matter, Street is almost certainly protected from suit under the doctrine of judicial immunity. See Schottel v. Young, 687 F.3d 370, 373 (8th Cir. 2012). "The desirability of such freedom of judicial action applies equally to court-appointed referees and receivers, and brings them within the cloak of judicial immunity." Drexler v. Walters, 290 F.Supp. 150, 154 (D. Minn. 1968); see also Sigler v. Twyford, No. 93-3891, 1994 WL 66663, at *1 (6th Cir. Mar. 4, 1994) (affirming dismissal of § 1983 claim against referee on basis of judicial immunity). Any attempt by Davis to bring claims against Street for actions taken by Street during the commission of his office therefore likely fails at the first step.
Even leaving that aside, however, Davis's complaint fails to state a claim on which relief can be granted. Davis attempts to sue under 18 U.S.C. § 912, which prohibits "falsely assum[ing] or pretend[ing] to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States or any department, agency or officer thereof...." But even on Davis's (conclusory and implausible) allegations, Street never pretended to be an officer of the United States, only an officer of the State of Minnesota. Section 912 therefore has no application in this case. Moreover, "[t]here is nothing in the language of 18 U.S.C. § 912 to suggest that Congress intended to create a private right of action or a private remedy for a violation of its proscription against impersonating a United States officer." Frison v. Zebro, 339 F.3d 994, 999 (8th Cir. 2003). Thus, even if § 912 did apply to the factual allegations alleged in the complaint (and it does not), Davis could not bring a lawsuit based on that statute.
Davis also seeks to recover under Minn. Stat. § 595.08. This statute proves that
When it shall appear probable to a court of record, having general jurisdiction, that a person who has testified in an action or proceeding before it has committed perjury in any testimony so given, it may, by order or process for that purpose, immediately commit the person to prison, or take a recognizance for the person's appearance to answer to an indictment for perjury. In such case, if the court shall deem that any paper or document produced by either party is necessary to be used in the prosecution for perjury, it may detain the same, and direct it to be delivered to the county
attorney. Section 595.08 has no more applicability to Davis or Street than § 912, as Davis is not "a court of record, having general jurisdiction, " and Street is not "a person who has testified in an action or proceeding" before "a court of record." The plain language of § 595.08 therefore precludes Davis's claim. Moreover, there is no indication whatsoever that § 595.08 provides a private right of action to litigants such as Davis. Indeed, exactly the opposite is true, as § 595.08 allows only "a court of record, having general jurisdiction" to initiate proceedings. And, again, Davis is not "a court of record, having general jurisdiction."[2]
Davis has failed to state a claim on which relief may be granted. Any proposed amendment to Davis's complaint would be futile; under no circumstances may Davis sue under § 912 or § 595.08 for monetary compensation or other relief. Accordingly, this Court recommends that this action be dismissed with prejudice.
1. This action be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § ...