Boyd v. Wal-Mart

Filing 8

ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITH PREJUDICE, and all pending motions are denied as moot. Signed by Judge Susan Webber Wright on 8/24/2012. (pag)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION

MICHAEL BOYD
Plaintiff
V.
WAL-MART
Defendant

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NO: 4:12CV00415 SWW

ORDER
On July 9, 2012 Plaintiff Michael Boyd commenced this action pro se, naming WalMart as defendant. Along with the complaint, Plaintiff filed an application for leave to proceed
in forma pauperis (docket entry #1) and a motion for appointment of counsel (docket entry #2).
Finding Plaintiff’s filings deficient, by order entered July 27, 2012, the Court directed Plaintiff to
file an amended complaint setting forth additional information and to pay the statutory filing fee
of $350 or submit a properly completed application to proceed in forma pauperis. On August
20, 2012, Plaintiff filed a second application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (docket
entry #5), an amended complaint (docket entry #6), and a motion for appointment of counsel
(docket entry #7). After careful consideration, and for reasons that follow, this action is
dismissed with prejudice, and Plaintiff’s motions are dismissed as moot.
As noted in the Court’s order entered July 27, 2012, Plaintiff’s initial complaint was void
of any factual allegations. Accordingly, the Court directed Plaintiff to file an amended
complaint, stating specific conduct committed by Defendant, which Plaintiff claims violated his
rights under the law. Plaintiff has now filed an amended complaint, which indicates that he

seeks relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. As for factual allegations, the amended pleading states:
“Robert Green a Wal-Mart loss prevention . . . false allegation, false imprisonment, slander.”
Docket entry #6.
The Eighth Circuit has instructed that the decision of whether a complaint is frivolous or
malicious precedes the decision of whether to grant in forma pauperis status and whether to
order service of process. See Carney v. Houston 33 F.3d 893, 895 (8th Cir. 1994)(quoting
Gentile v. Missouri Dept. Of Corrections, 986 F.2d 214 (8th Cir. 1993)). “If the complaint is
frivolous or malicious, the district court should dismiss it out of hand.” Id. A complaint is
frivolous where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or fact, and it lacks an arguable basis in
law if the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490
U.S. 319, 325-27 (1989).
To state a cognizable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that the
conduct of a defendant acting under color of state law deprived him of a right, privilege, or
immunity secured by the federal Constitution or laws of the United States. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983; Hamilton v. Schriro, 74 F.3d 1545, 1549 (8th Cir. 1996). It is well established that a
§ 1983 action can only be filed against a state actor or a person acting under the color of state
law. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Scheeler v. City of St. Cloud, Minn., 402 F.3d 826, 830 (8th Cir.
2005); see also Crumpley-Patterson v. Trinity Lutheran Hosp., 388 F.3d 588, 590 (8th Cir. 2004)
(explaining that: “Section 1983 secures most constitutional rights from infringement by
governments, not private parties”).
Here, Plaintiff brings suit against a private party, and he alleges no facts in either of his
pleadings indicating that the defendant took action under color of state law. Copies of a police

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report and other documents attached to the complaint indicate that on August 9, 2010, an
individual named Robert Green reported to the Benton Police Department that three males stole
laptop computers from Wal Mart’s store in Benton, and Green provided the police with
photographs of the suspects. According to a copy of an executed arrest warrant attached to the
complaint, officers arrested an individual named Michael Boyd on October 7, 2010 for theft of
property.
Neither the face of Plaintiff’s pleadings nor the documents attached thereto indicate that
defendant took any action under color of state law. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s
allegations have no legal basis under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, and
all pending motions are denied as moot. Pursuant to the judgment entered together with this
order, this action is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 24TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2012.

/s/Susan Webber Wright
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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