Smith v. Jericho Way
Filing
3
ORDER dismissing Plaintiff's complaint with prejudice and denying as moot 1 Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis. Signed by Judge Susan Webber Wright on 9/07/2017. (cmn)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
LESSIE SMITH
PLAINTIFF
V.
JERICHO WAY
DEFENDANT
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
CASE NO. 4:17CV00543 SWW
ORDER
Plaintiff Lessie Smith (“Smith”) commenced this action pro se, naming “Jericho
Way” as the defendant. Along with the complaint, Smith filed an application for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis [ECF No. 1]. After careful consideration, and for reasons that
follow, the Court finds that the application to proceed in forma pauperis must be denied
and the case dismissed as frivolous, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
I.
The federal statue governing in forma pauperis proceedings provides that a court
shall dismiss a case at any time if the court determines that the action is frivolous or
malicious or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2). 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.
1
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. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325-27 (1989). A complaint lacks an
arguable basis in law if the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory.
Neitzke, 490 U.S. at 327, 109 S. Ct. at 1832.
II.
Smith lists her address as 3000 Springer Blvd., formerly Confederate Blvd., the
site of the Jericho Way Resource Center. Smith states that she is homeless and that
“Jericho Way” violated her federal rights by taking her personal mail, a medical
identification card sent to her by the Department of Human Services, and refusing to
return it to her. In support of her claim, Smith cites 18 U.S.C. § 1708, a federal statute
that criminalizes mail theft. There being no federal, civil cause of action for the violation
of a criminal statute that prohibits mail tampering, Smith’s claim lacks an arguable basis
in law and must be dismissed as frivolous.
III.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that pursuant to the judgment entered together
with this order, Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma
pauperis [ECF No. 1] is DENIED AS MOOT.
IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2017.
/s/Susan Webber Wright
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?