Weaver et al v. BB&T Mortgage
Filing
7
MINUTE ORDER denying 5 Motion to Stay. The Court strikes the Complaint for failure to state a "short and plain" statement of the claim as required by Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court grants plaintiffs leave to amend and file a complaint that does comply. By Judge R. Brooke Jackson on 7/12/12.(mnfsl, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Honorable R. Brooke Jackson
Civil Action No. 12-cv-01498-RBJ-CBS
MARK WEAVER and TIFFANY WEAVER,
Plaintiffs,
v.
BB&T MORTGAGE,
ROBERT J. JOPP & ASSOCIATES,
THE HOPP LAW FIRM,
ROBERT J. HOPP, ESQ., #26818,
NEAL J. VALORZ, ESQ., #42496,
NATHAN S. SILVER, ESQ., #28836,
ANNA MARIA PETERS-RUDDICK,
ARAPAHOE COUNTY PUBLIC TRUSTEE,
Defendants.
MINUTE ORDER
Entered by Judge R. Brooke Jackson
1. The Court denies the plaintiffs’ motion at docket #5. The Court would not consider
granting such a motion before the defendant is served and given an opportunity to respond. In
any event, to the Court's knowledge it has no authority to enjoin a state court foreclosure
proceeding.
2. The Court sua sponte strikes the Complaint for failure to state a "short and plain"
statement of the claim as required by Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The
Court grants plaintiffs leave to amend and file a complaint that does comply. The Court realizes
that plaintiffs are representing themselves pro se, and that they are probably not well acquainted
with the rules of procedure. The Court construes pro se pleadings more liberally than pleadings
filed by attorneys. Nevertheless, pro se parties are required to follow the rules. This complaint,
which appears to the Court to have been derived from some other source, does not indicate, in a
clear and understandable manner, what legal claim plaintiffs are asserting. Paragraphs 1 through
17 consist of a list of facts followed by "offense descriptions," but there is no identification of
what legal wrong defendants committed. Then, the complaint vaguely asserts violations of
federal securities laws (without identify which securities law or how it was violated), the federal
Truth in Lending Act, again without explaining how each defendant violated that statute, and
federal racketeering laws (RICO), without stating with particularity how RICO was violated.
The complaint quotes various lines from reported cases, which is not appropriate in a complaint.
It refers to the complaint as a criminal complaint, which it is not. I am not saying that plaintiffs
do not have a claim. The Court expresses no opinion at this time as to the possible merits of the
case. However, it appears to this Court from a flurry of recent similar filings that people who
have lost or are losing their homes to foreclosure, due to inability to make mortgage payments,
are turning to the Internet or to some non-lawyer advice giver for help, and that in turn they are
filing complaints like this in federal court with little idea as to how or what they will do beyond
filing the complaint. I urge the plaintiffs to consult competent legal counsel for assistance if they
can, but in any event, the complaint in its present form is stricken.
DATED this 12th day of July, 2012.
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?