Opinion ID: 2827435
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Lawsuit Filed April 17, 2014

Text: On April 17, 2014, Cole, a pretrial detainee in the Mobile County Metro Jail in Alabama, filed pro se a § 1983 complaint against Ashley Rich, the prosecutor in his criminal proceeding, and JoJo Schwarzauer, the Circuit Clerk of Mobile County. Cole used the district court form for § 1983 complaints. Plaintiff Cole alleged that he was arrested pursuant to a warrant on March 11, 2014, and that he was not brought before a judge within 72 hours for an initial appearance, as required by Alabama Rule of Criminal Procedure 4.3(b)(2), in violation of his due process rights. Cole requested that the district court order (1) his release from custody and (2) the dismissal of the state court criminal charge against him. Cole also requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis. On July 22, 2014, the magistrate judge issued a report (“R&R”), recommending that Cole’s complaint be dismissed with prejudice, prior to service 2 Case: 14-13861 Date Filed: 08/14/2015 Page: 3 of 9 of process, as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).1 The magistrate judge found, as an initial matter, that Cole’s complaint was due to be dismissed without prejudice as “malicious” based on Cole’s failure to disclose at least one prior federal lawsuit concerning his confinement conditions. Cole indicated on his form § 1983 complaint, signed under penalty of perjury, that he had filed no prior lawsuits relating to his imprisonment. That form complaint asks two questions about prior lawsuits, which are: (1) “Have you filed any other lawsuits in state or federal court dealing with the same or similar facts involved in this action[?]” and (2) “Have you filed other lawsuits in state or federal court relating to your imprisonment[?]” The magistrate judge determined that, in 2004, Cole filed a § 1983 suit concerning conditions at the Mobile County Metro Jail that was dismissed as frivolous. The magistrate judge concluded that Cole’s “egregious and knowing” attempt to mislead the court by failing to disclose this prior lawsuit was an abuse of process and worthy of sanction. Even if Cole had disclosed his prior litigation history, the magistrate judge found that Cole’s § 1983 complaint should be dismissed with prejudice as frivolous because the two named defendants—the prosecutor and court clerk— were protected by either absolute immunity or absolute quasi-judicial immunity. 1 Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the district court must dismiss an in forma pauperis action at any time if it determines that the action “is frivolous or malicious.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). 3 Case: 14-13861 Date Filed: 08/14/2015 Page: 4 of 9 Thus, the magistrate judge recommended dismissing with prejudice under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The magistrate judge treated Cole’s § 1983 complaint as seeking money damages. As discussed later, Cole’s § 1983 complaint sought only injunctive relief in the form of dismissal of the criminal charge against him and release from custody.