Davilien v. Marseille
Filing
4
ORDER granting #3 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Granting to the extent that the plaintiff need not prepay even a partial filing fee in this case, or to prepay costs such as for service of process and Striking Complaint. USM Service NOT Ordered. Amended Complaint due by 12/3/2021. The Clerk to administratively Close this case. Signed by Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr on 11/18/2021. See attached document for full details. (pc)
United States District Court
for the
Southern District of Florida
Amonfils E. Davilien, Plaintiff,
v.
Marie Nicole Marseille, Defendant.
)
)
Civil Action No. 21-24054-Civ-Scola
)
)
)
Order Granting Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
and Striking Complaint
This matter is before the Court upon Plaintiff Amonfils E. Davilien’s
application to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 3.) Having reviewed the
motion, the record, and the relevant legal authorities, the Court grants
Davilien’s motion to proceed without prepaying his fees or costs (ECF No. 3);
however, at the same time, the Court strikes his complaint, with leave to
amend, for the reasons set forth below.
While the precise contours of Davilien’s claims are difficult to parse, it
appears he seeks to recover $27 million from Defendant Marie Nicole Marseille
(sometimes referred to as Marie Nicole Dor in the complaint) for, among other
things, swindling him out of certain funds and property; reputational damages;
the death of Davilien and Marseille’s son; and tax fraud. (Compl., ECF No. 1, 1–
6.) He also urges the Court to take Marseille into custody for crimes against the
United States. (Compl. at 6.)
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) confers discretion on a district court to dismiss
an in forma pauperis action if certain defects are evident from the complaint:
Notwithstanding any filing fees, or any portion thereof, that may
have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the
court determines that . . . the action . . . (i) is frivolous or
malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted;
or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune
from such relief.
“A complaint is ‘frivolous’ under § 1915 where there is no subject matter
jurisdiction.” Jackson v. Lehern McGovern Bovis, Inc., 1:16-CV-02987-CAP,
2017 WL 11144693, at *2 (N.D. Ga. Feb. 13, 2017), report and recommendation
adopted, 1:16-CV-2987-CAP, 2017 WL 11150834 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 3, 2017)
(citing Davis v. Ryan Oaks Apartment, 357 Fed. App’x 237, 238–39 (11th Cir.
Dec. 17, 2009) and Pratt v. Sumner, 807 F.2d 817, 819 (9th Cir. 1987)
(recognizing the general proposition that a complaint should be dismissed as
frivolous under § 1915 where subject matter jurisdiction is lacking)).
Although Davilien mentions federal-question jurisdiction in his
complaint, referencing 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (Compl. at 6) and the Fourth and Fifth
Amendments (Compl. at 1), the Court can discern no actual federal question
from any claim he might have against Marseille. Instead, it appears Davilien’s
grievances against Marseille all arise under state law. To the extent, then, that
Davilien seeks to invoke the Court’s diversity jurisdiction, he must allege facts
showing that the parties are diverse. “Those allegations, when federal
jurisdiction is invoked based upon diversity, must include the citizenship of
each party, so that the court is satisfied that no plaintiff is a citizen of the same
state as any defendant.” Travaglio v. Am. Express Co., 735 F.3d 1266, 1268
(11th Cir. 2013). Here, Davilien does not recite either his or Marseille’s
citizenship within the body of his complaint but indicates, on his civil cover
sheet, that he and the Defendant are both, simultaneously, citizens of Florida;
other states; as well as foreign countries. (Civ. Cover, ECF No. 1-1.) Not only,
then, is the Court unable to determine that the parties are diverse, but
Davilien’s affirmative indications imply that, indeed, they are not.
Because the Court cannot discern whether it has subject-matter
jurisdiction over this case, whether through a federal question or diversity, the
Court strikes Davilien’s complaint. If Davilien believes he can allege, in good
faith, facts establishing the Court’s subject-matter jurisdiction, he must file an
amended complaint on or before December 3, 2021. Davilien is forewarned
that if he fails to timely comply with this order, his complaint will be dismissed,
without further leave to amend.
In the meantime, while there is no operative complaint, the Court directs
the Clerk to administratively close this case. Any pending motions, not
including Davilien’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis, are denied as moot.
Done and ordered, in Miami, Florida, on November 18, 2021.
______________________________
Robert N. Scola, Jr.
United States District Judge
Copy, via U.S. mail, to:
Amonfils E. Davilien
14823 NW 7th Court
Miami, FL 33168
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