Smith v. EEOC

Filing 4

ORDER dismissing this action, and denying without prejudice leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, by Judge Lewis T. Babcock on 3/19/14. (dkals, )

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO Civil Action No. 14-cv-00786-BNB MATTHEW A. SMITH, Plaintiff, v. EEOC, Defendant. ORDER OF DISMISSAL Plaintiff, Matthew A. Smith, has filed pro se a Complaint (ECF No. 1) and a Motion and Affidavit for Leave to Proceed Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (ECF No. 3). The Motion and Affidavit for Leave to Proceed Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (ECF No. 3) will be granted. Pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), the Court must dismiss the action if Mr. Smith’s claims are frivolous. A legally frivolous claim is one in which the plaintiff asserts the violation of a legal interest that clearly does not exist or asserts facts that do not support an arguable claim. See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989). Pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii), the Court must dismiss any claims in which Mr. Smith is seeking monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. For the reasons stated below, the Court will dismiss the action pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) & (iii). The Court must construe the Complaint liberally because Mr. Smith is not represented by an attorney. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972); Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991). If the Complaint reasonably can be read “to state a valid claim on which the plaintiff could prevail, [the Court] should do so despite the plaintiff’s failure to cite proper legal authority, his confusion of various legal theories, his poor syntax and sentence construction, or his unfamiliarity with pleading requirements.” Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110. However, the Court should not be an advocate for a pro se litigant. See id. This action is one of four separate and apparently related lawsuits commenced by Mr. Smith on the same day. See also Smith v. Dep’t of Justice, No. 14-cv-00785BNB (D. Colo. filed Mar. 17, 2014); Smith v. United Parcel Service, No. 14-cv-00787BNB (D. Colo. filed Mar. 17, 2014); Smith v. CCRD, No. 14-cv-00788-BNB (D. Colo. filed Mar. 17, 2014). The lawsuit against United Parcel Service, Mr. Smith’s former employer, may be predicated on claims of employment discrimination. The other three actions are asserted against federal and state agencies involved in processing Mr. Smith’s claims against United Parcel Service, apparently because Mr. Smith is unhappy with how those claims have been processed and resolved. The Defendant in the instant action is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Mr. Smith alleges in the Complaint that: There was (Negligence in Accomodation and then Termination) between the Plaintiff and EEOC (Cause UPS). The Agencies Fiduciary Duty is unclear to the plaintiff; essentially it is belief it is to Protect According to Law. The EEOC negligently skipped investigation, mediation, and conciliation claiming it was a case the EEOC does not have jurisdiction in my district/division. As for entitlement redress according to law; n Charge/Right to Sue to be Re-Evaluated by this district/division. I would like to be represented by EEOC legal counsel for the remainder of these proceedings in another district/division as U.S.C. 42-1440-(A) says I have 2 a right to change of venue in any district or division in the interest of justice. There should be reviewed company policy, company procedure, and company employment Contracts/Agreements. I wou not only like my Charge/Right to Sue to be Re-Evaluated by this district/division. I would like to be represented by EEOC legal counsel for th remainder of these proceedings in another district/division as U.S.C. 42-1440-(A) says I have a right to change of venue in any district or division in the interest of justice. Both parties should have had equal practice by the law. (ECF No. 1 at 2 (quoted verbatim without alteration or use of the traditional “sic” to indicate mistakes).) Mr. Smith also seeks damages as relief. Although the claims Mr. Smith is asserting against the EEOC are not clear, whatever claims Mr. Smith is asserting are legally frivolous. Mr. Smith fails to allege any facts that support an arguable claim against the EEOC and he fails to cite any statutory authority that would allow the Court to consider claims against the EEOC arising out of the EEOC’s processing of his claims against United Parcel Service. The Court also notes that sovereign immunity prevents Mr. Smith from suing the EEOC for damages. See FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475 (1994) (“Absent a waiver, sovereign immunity shields the Federal Government and its agencies from suit.”). Therefore, the Complaint will be dismissed. Furthermore, the Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith and therefore in forma pauperis status will be denied for the purpose of appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438 (1962). If Plaintiff files a notice of appeal he also must pay the full $505 appellate filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit within thirty days in accordance with Fed. R. App. 3 P. 24. Finally, the Court notes that Mr. Smith has filed numerous frivolous lawsuits in the District of Colorado and that he recently was ordered to show cause why filing restrictions should not be imposed. See Smith v. Byron White 10th Cir. Fed. Court, No. 14-cv-00669-LTB (D. Colo. Mar. 10, 2014) (dismissing action as legally frivolous and ordering Mr. Smith to show cause within twenty-one days). Because the issue of filing restrictions is being addressed in another case, it is unnecessary to consider the issue in this action at this time. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Motion and Affidavit for Leave to Proceed Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (ECF No. 3) is granted. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the Complaint and the action are dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and (iii) because Plaintiff’s claims are legally frivolous and he is seeking relief from a Defendant who is immune from such relief. It is FURTHER ORDERED that leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal is denied without prejudice to the filing of a motion seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. DATED at Denver, Colorado, this 19th day of March , 2014. BY THE COURT: s/Lewis T. Babcock LEWIS T. BABCOCK, Senior Judge United States District Court 4

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