Williams v. State of California

Filing 11

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS re 10 Amended Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint filed by Lana K Williams recommending that this action be DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Matter referred to Judge Wanger; Objections to F&R due within thirty (30) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 12/15/2009. (Timken, A)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 LANA K. WILLIAMS, 9 10 Plaintiff, 11 v. 12 STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 13 14 Defendant. 15 16 Plaintiff, appearing pro se and proceeding in forma pauperis, filed the instant action on 17 September 22, 2009. She named the State of California as a defendant. On September 29, 2009, 18 the Court issued findings and recommendations that the action be dismissed without leave to 19 amend based on Eleventh Amendment immunity grounds. 20 On October 26, 2009, Plaintiff submitted objections to the findings and recommendations. 21 By her objections, Plaintiff attempted to name additional defendants and to add additional claims. 22 The Court construed the objections as a request to amend the complaint and vacated the 23 September 29, 2009, Findings and Recommendation. The Court also granted Plaintiff leave to 24 amend her complaint, but cautioned Plaintiff that she should assert only claims that she believed 25 were cognizable. The Court noted that Plaintiff had already attempted to bring two previous 26 actions based on allegations regarding an accounting of her inheritance and her father's estate. 27 Those prior actions were dismissed without leave to amend. Accordingly, the Court advised 28 1 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1:09cv01675 OWW DLB FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING DISMISSAL OF ACTION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

1 Plaintiff that if she continued to allege such claims, the Court would recommend that this action 2 be dismissed for Plaintiff's failure to follow the Court's orders. 3 On December 8, 2009, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint

4 seeks a check plus interest and an accounting of her inheritance and her father's estate. Amended 5 Complaint, p.1. Plaintiff names the "Federal Government," President Obama, the State of 6 California, Governor Schwarzenegger, Controller John Chiang, Attorney General Edmund G. 7 Brown and the Internal Revenue Service. Plaintiff attaches correspondence from The White 8 House dated May 17, 2004, and correspondence from the State of California, Office of the 9 Governor, dated August 2, 2005. 10 11 A. 12 Screening Standard Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the court must conduct an initial review of the DISCUSSION

13 complaint for sufficiency to state a claim. The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof 14 if the court determines that the action is legally "frivolous or malicious," fails to state a claim 15 upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from 16 such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). If the court determines that the complaint fails to state a 17 claim, leave to amend may be granted to the extent that the deficiencies of the complaint can be 18 cured by amendment. 19 A complaint, or portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon

20 which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in 21 support of the claim or claims that would entitle her to relief. See Hishon v. King & Spalding, 22 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); see also Palmer v. Roosevelt Lake Log Owners Ass'n, 651 F.2d 1289, 23 1294 (9th Cir. 1981). In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true 24 the allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 25 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and resolve 26 all doubts in the plaintiff's favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). 27 28 2

1 B. 2

Plaintiff's Allegations Plaintiff has filed two previous actions in this Court related to state court probate

3 proceedings. In the first action, Williams v. Madera Municipal Court, et al., 1:04cv5414 OWW 4 LJO, Plaintiff attempted to challenge a state probate court action. In part, the Court dismissed her 5 claims because federal courts generally have no probate jurisdiction. 6 In the second action, Williams, et al. v. Moffat, et al., 1:07cv953 OWW BAK, Plaintiff

7 filed a civil complaint related to alleged wrongful actions committed by the state court judge and 8 others in connection with the probate of her father's estate. After giving her a chance to amend, 9 the Court recommended that her amended complaint be dismissed with prejudice based on (1) 10 lack of federal jurisdiction over state probate matters; (2) judicial immunity; and (3) lack of 11 supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims. 12 Likely attempting to avoid the same fate, Plaintiff has filed the instant action seeking an

13 accounting of her father's estate against new defendants. For the reasons explained below, the 14 Court recommends dismissal with prejudice. 15 C. 16 Analysis Plaintiff's amended complaint continues to seek "an accounting of her inheritance and also

17 her fathers [sic] estate to be accounted." Amended Complaint, p. 1. Although Plaintiff has 18 named new Defendants, the allegations appear to be a recitation of her efforts to obtain an 19 accounting. For instance, Plaintiff reports that she filed claims "at every entity within the State of 20 California and including President Bush." Amended Complaint, p. 1. She also filed an 21 unspecified complaint with the Internal Revenue Service, submitted a copy of the instant amended 22 complaint to United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, and reportedly sent a copy to President 23 Obama. Complaint, p. 2. By way of relief, Plaintiff seeks a jury trial, an accounting, a check and 24 interest in the amount of $900,090,00.00 and the IRS put on the stand. Complaint, p. 2. 25 As Plaintiff has been repeatedly informed by this Court, claims regarding the accounting

26 of estate assets, including the manner in which they are sold and distributed, are matters reserved 27 to the jurisdiction of the state probate courts and not the federal courts. Marshall v. Marshall, 547 28 U.S. 293, 298-99 (2006); Harris v. Zion's Bank, 317 U.S. 447, 450 (1943) (settlement and 3

1 distribution of estates are state law matters; federal courts, even in diversity cases, have no probate 2 jurisdiction). Accordingly, Plaintiff cannot maintain an action in federal court to seek an 3 accounting of her inheritance and her father's estate. 4 Insofar as Plaintiff names federal and state defendants, she has failed to allege sufficient

5 factual matter to state a claim for relief. A complaint must contain a short and plain statement as 6 required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Although the Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, a 7 complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the claim plainly and succinctly. Jones 8 v. Community Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). Plaintiff must allege with at 9 least some degree of particularity overt acts which the defendants engaged in that support 10 Plaintiff's claim. Id. Indeed, "a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, 11 to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, U.S. , 129 S.Ct.

12 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). Here, 13 Plaintiff has not asserted any overt acts by any of the defendants. At best, Plaintiff is complaining 14 because she submitted complaints to the Internal Revenue Service, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and 15 former President Bush related to her father's estate. This is insufficient to state a claim for relief. 16 Further, the remainder of Plaintiff's allegations are conclusory statements and do not

17 provide sufficient facts to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face. Id. For example, 18 Plaintiff states: 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Even an heir could not obtain rights to his own assets in your court at Madera. It is Williams [sic] belief that the confiscation of property by counties and the state keep the taxes low-under market-thereby-requesting more money from the state-the state then requesting more money form the federal-and according to federal I believe decides amount of money sent to others countries-these monies obtained by illegal means of federal - I allege. ... Thus America is it's [sic] own downfall and surmise. Especially the foreclosure - which could have been prevented. Williams is not referring to the Veterans. 4 Williams is not and nor your informant. She is seeking justice in her country-a place where now it appears there is none. ... A President can be impeached and CEO's jailed-what is the difference. ...

1 Plaintiff's conclusions and arguably fanciful statements are insufficient to state a claim. 2 Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (a plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to 3 relief requires more than labels and conclusions; factual allegations must be enough to raise a 4 right to relief above the speculative level). 5 Dismissal of a pro se complaint for failure to state a claim is proper where it is obvious

6 that the plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts that she has alleged and that an opportunity to amend 7 would be futile. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). Although Plaintiff 8 was afforded an opportunity to amend her complaint and assert allegations unrelated to the 9 administration of her father's estate, she has failed to do so. It thus appears that granting further 10 leave to amend would be futile. 11 12 RECOMMENDATION Based on the above, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that this action be

13 DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. 14 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the Honorable Oliver W.

15 Wanger pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty (30) days after 16 being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with 17 the Court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); Local Rule 304(b). The document should be captioned 18 "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised that 19 failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 20 Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 5 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 3b142a

December 15, 2009

/s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE