Scott v. Internal Revenue Service

Filing 9

ORDER DISMISSING CASE. Signed by Judge Brian S. Miller on 4/20/11. (kpr)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
WHEELER COLE SCOTT
v.

PLAINTIFF

CASE NO. 4:11cv00064 BSM

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

DEFENDANT
ORDER

Plaintiff Wheeler Cole Scott (“Scott”) filed a complaint on January 27, 2011, against
the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). By order dated February 1, 2011, Scott was directed
to file an amended complaint in which he was to “clearly state the basis for federal
jurisdiction, the names of the defendant or defendants, a short and concise statement of the
facts, including names, dates, places, and the specific acts of which he complains, and the
relief he seeks.” On February 28, 2011, an amended complaint was filed. [Doc. No. 7].
The original complaint alleges the IRS has violated Scott’s civil rights. Scott states
that the “core” of his complaint is he traveled from Little Rock, Arkansas to Kansas City,
Missouri, in September of 2010, to attend “the National Baptist Convention.” According to
the complaint, Scott “had previously been selected third behind President Obama and First
Lady Michele Obama to represent the discussion on the plan to bring in the recoveries.”
Complaint, pp. 3-4. After attending the convention, Scott states that he agreed to make
twenty-four radio broadcasts, each of which would cost him fifty-five dollars. While still in
Kansas City, Scott states that he explored applying for a job with a construction company.
“I got the telephone number to the office and called to inquire about applying for a job and

told them why I needed the job to support the ‘recovery campaign.’ They informed me that
they needed my ‘federal tax exempt number’ and they would consider donating to the
‘recovery campaign.’” Id. at p. 4. Scott told the potential employer/contributor that he had
a tax exempt number for ten to twelve years. Scott states that when he went to the IRS office
in Kansas City “to obtain a print-out, this is when I took notice the initial runner around
started.” Id. Scott claims that, despite promises, the IRS has not sent him the updated tax
exempt number, “and I feel that I am being intentionally discriminated against within the
system. . .” Id. at p. 5. Scott seeks relief in the form of $50,000,000,000 of the
$330,000,000,000 a court ruled the United States must pay in a previous case. It is unclear
what case Scott is referring to. He provides only the case number, 4:00cv00838 SMR,
without any other identifying information. Scott also requests 20% of the funds that are
received by the IRS.
In his amended complaint, Scott again alleges that the IRS has not sent him a printout
of his tax exempt number. It appears that he once again seeks payment of $50,000,000,000
of the $330,000,000,000 judgment entered against the United States in a previous case. In
addition, he states:
The relief that I seek in this case is the negligence in the representation of
those in the Internal Revenue Service provided to me as a Black man provided
and opportunity for me to bring the principle of my campaign up and into the
mainstream of the American society, being lead by the revelation that is
revealed to me by “the Heavens” and by “Nature’s God.” In this opportunity
where it is being said that Pastor has been given the way that is sent from “the
Heavens” for the recoveries to come in unto all the world; hear ye him, in what
he is saying to you throughout this case, for what is stated in this presentation
is what I want for the human race in the last days to be brought in the call for
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“the Church Age” to come in.
Amended complaint, p. 3.
Although sua sponte dismissals are expressly disfavored, Nash v. Black, 781 F.2d 665
(8th Cir. 1986), this complaint and amended complaint should be dismissed. Scott’s
complaint and amended complaint lack an arguable basis in either law or fact, see Neitzke
v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319 (1989), and are so lacking in colorable merit that they must be
considered frivolous. See Haugen v. Sutherlin, 804 F.2d 490 (8th Cir. 1986); Martin-Trigona
v. Stewart, 691 F.2d 856 (8th Cir. 1982). There are several shortcomings which are fatal to
the complaint and amended complaint.
First and foremost, both the complaint and amended complaint focus on the
conclusions and beliefs of Scott without supporting facts. It appears the sole factual
allegation is that the Kansas City IRS office failed to provide a print-out of Scott’s federal
tax exempt number. The original complaint, however, reflects that Scott is aware of his tax
exempt number, so the issue is not the identity of the number but a document showing that
number. While Scott feels this omission by the IRS is somehow related to his race, he offers
no facts to support this conclusion. Scott does not identify the IRS employee or employees
that were involved. He does not provide any documentation on how the number was
requested or whether he executed any forms to trigger the release of the tax exempt number.
As noted in an earlier order, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) requires a complaint to
contain, inter alia, “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is
entitled to relief.” In Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (overruling
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Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41 (1967), and setting a new standard for failure to state a claim
upon which relief may be granted), the Court stated, “a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the
‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a
formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do . . . Factual allegations
must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level,” citing 5 C. Wright &
A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235-236 (3d ed. 2004). A complaint
must contain enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face, not merely
conceivable. Twombly at 570. A pro se plaintiff’s allegations, however, must be construed
liberally. Burke v. North Dakota Dept. of Corr. & Rehab., 294 F.3d 1043-1044 (8th Cir.
2002) (citations omitted). The complaint and amended complaint fail to satisfy the basic
requirement of adequate factual allegations.
Further, the original and amended complaints do not identify any individual IRS
employees as defendants. Scott’s complaint, even when construed liberally, does not state
a claim for relief since he has named no individuals as liable parties. The claim against the
IRS should be dismissed because such a claim is not cognizable under Bivens. Bivens v. Six
Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). “A Bivens action
. . . is only available against federal officers, not government entities.” Hartje v. F.T.C., 106
F.3d 1406, 1408 (8th Cir. 1997).
Finally, the complaint is difficult to comprehend. Even if it is construed as a claim for
tort relief, it should still be dismissed. A constitutional tort claim cannot be remedied through
the FTCA. F.D.I.C. v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 477-78 (1994); Washington v. Drug
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Enforcement Admin., 183 F.3d 868, 873 (8th Cir. 1999). The appropriate vehicle to address
constitutional violations by federal officers is a Bivens action. As previously stated, the
United States is not a proper Bivens defendant because of sovereign immunity. Phelps v.
United States Fed. Gov’t, 15 F.3d 735, 739 (8th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 511 U.S. 1114
(1994); Laswell v. Brown, 683 F.2d 261, 268 (8th Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1210
(1983).
For the foregoing reasons, the complaint and amended complaint are dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 20th day of April, 2011.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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