Court Opinion

ID: 9365024
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-20 21:00:51.035905+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:42.641802
License: Public Domain

USCA4 Appeal: 22-2141      Doc: 17          Filed: 01/19/2023   Pg: 1 of 3

                                             UNPUBLISHED

                               UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                   FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                               No. 22-2141

        DORA L. ADKINS,

                            Plaintiff - Appellant,

                     v.

        WHOLE FOODS MARKET GROUP, INC.,

                            Defendant - Appellee.

        Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at
        Alexandria. Leonie M. Brinkema, District Judge. (1:22-cv-01114-LMB-IDD)

        Submitted: January 17, 2023                                       Decided: January 19, 2023

        Before KING and THACKER, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge.

        Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

        Dora L. Adkins, Appellant Pro Se.

        Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
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        PER CURIAM:

               Dora L. Adkins appeals the district court’s order denying her motion for leave to

        file a complaint and application to proceed on that complaint in forma pauperis and closing

        the case. After review of the record, we conclude that the district court’s closure was

        pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), which requires a district court to dismiss those civil

        actions filed in forma pauperis that are frivolous or fail to state a claim on which relief may

        be granted. A claim is frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis in law or fact. Neitzke v.

        Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 322-23 (1989). We review the dismissal of a claim as frivolous

        for abuse of discretion. Nagy v. FMC Butner, 376 F.3d 252, 254-55 (4th Cir. 2004). The

        dismissal of a claim for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted is reviewed

        de novo. Slade v. Hampton Rds. Reg’l Jail, 407 F.3d 243, 248 (4th Cir. 2005). Although

        a pro se litigant’s pleadings are to be construed liberally, Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147,

        1151 (4th Cir. 1978), her complaint must contain factual allegations sufficient “to raise a

        right to relief above the speculative level” and that “state a claim to relief that is plausible

        on its face,” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 570 (2007). This “plausibility

        standard requires a plaintiff to demonstrate more than a sheer possibility that a defendant

        has acted unlawfully.” Francis v. Giacomelli, 588 F.3d 186, 193 (4th Cir. 2009) (internal

        quotation marks omitted).       She must articulate facts that, when accepted as true,

        demonstrate she has stated a claim entitling her to relief. Id.

               Adkins’ proposed complaint fails to state a plausible claim under Virginia law

        against Defendant for intentional infliction of emotional distress, see Delk v.

        Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., 523 S.E.2d 826, 833 (Va. 2000); Jordan v. Shands,

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        500 S.E.2d 215, 218-19 (Va. 1998), and is frivolous. Accordingly, we affirm the district

        court’s judgment. Adkins v. Whole Foods Mkt. Grp., Inc., No. 1:22-cv-01114-LMB-IDD

        (E.D. Va. Oct. 25, 2022). We grant Adkins’ motion for leave to amend her informal brief

        and deny her motions to vacate and remand, to remand, for leave to vacate and remand, for

        leave to withdraw, and to withdraw. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and

        legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument

        would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                                     AFFIRMED

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