Kennedy v. Villarreal

Filing 6

MERIT REVIEW ORDER entered by Judge Harold A. Baker on 11/17/2020. It is therefore ordered: 1. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and 28 U.S.C. 1915A. Any amendment to the Complaint would be futile. This case is therefore terminated. All pending motions are denied as moot. The clerk is directed to enter a judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 58. 2. This dismissal shall count as one of the plaintiff's three allotted "strikes" pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(g). The Clerk of the Court is directed to record Plaintiff's strike in the three-strike log. 3. Plaintiff must still pay the full docketing fee of $350 even though his case has been dismissed. The agency having custody of Plaintiff shall continue to make monthly payments to the Clerk of Court, as directed in the Court's prior order. 4. Plaintiff's Motion to Request Counsel #5 is denied. Plaintiff did not show that he made a reasonable attempt to obtain counsel on his own. Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007). 5. If Plaintiff wishes to appeal this dismissal, he must file a notice of appeal with this Court within 30 days of the entry of judgment. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a). A motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis should set forth the issues Plaintiff plans to present on appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1)(C). If Plaintiff does choose to appeal, he will be liable for the $505.00 appellate filing fee irrespective of the outcome of the appeal. SEE FULL WRITTEN ORDER.(SAG, ilcd) (Main Document 6 replaced on 11/17/2020) (SAG, ilcd).

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E-FILED

Tuesday, 17 November, 2020 10:28:12 AM
Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
Robert Lee Kennedy,
Plaintiff,
v.
Dora Villareal, et al.
Defendants.

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20-4217

Merit Review Order
The plaintiff, proceeding pro se, and currently detained at
Rock Island County Jail, was granted leave to proceed in forma
pauperis. The case is now before the court for a merit review of
plaintiff’s claims. The court is required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915A to
“screen” the plaintiff’s complaint, and through such process to
identify and dismiss any legally insufficient claim, or the entire
action if warranted. A claim is legally insufficient if it “(1) is
frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may
be granted; or (2) seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is
immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.
In reviewing the complaint, the court accepts the factual
allegations as true, liberally construing them in the plaintiff's favor.
Turley v. Rednour, 729 F.3d 645, 649 (7th Cir. 2013). However,
conclusory statements and labels are insufficient. Enough facts
must be provided to “state a claim for relief that is plausible on its
face.” Alexander v. U.S., 721 F.3d 418, 422 (7th Cir. 2013)(citation
omitted).
Plaintiff alleges that he was arrested by the East Moline Police
Department and transported to the Rock Island County Jail on

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December 19, 2019. Plaintiff alleges that the Rock Island Police
Department informed him in response to a Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) request that no reports exist related to his arrest or that
release of any records would interfere with ongoing law enforcement
proceedings. Plaintiff alleges that the Office of the Illinois Attorney
General informed him via letter that he “may file suit for injunctive
or declaratory relief” against the government agency that denied his
FOIA request. Plaintiff alleges that he should not be in custody.
Plaintiff does not state a federal claim to the extent that he
alleges that state officials failed to properly respond to his FOIA
request as any claims arising therefrom are a matter of state law.
Guarjardo-Palma v. Martinson, 622 F.3d 801, 806 (7th Cir. 2010)
(“[A] violation of state law is not a ground for a federal civil rights
suit.”). If Plaintiff is seeking release from custody, his exclusive
remedy is a habeas corpus proceeding, not an action for money
damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S.
475, 489 (1973). The prosecutor Plaintiff sued also has absolute
immunity from suit. Archer v. Chisholm, 870 F.3d 603, 612 (7th Cir.
2017). Plaintiff’s lawsuit will be dismissed.
It is therefore ordered:
1.

Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed for failure to state a
claim pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) and 28
U.S.C. § 1915A. Any amendment to the Complaint
would be futile. This case is therefore terminated.
All pending motions are denied as moot. The clerk is
directed to enter a judgment pursuant to Fed. R. Civ.
P. 58.

2.

This dismissal shall count as one of the plaintiff's
three allotted “strikes” pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section
1915(g). The Clerk of the Court is directed to record
Plaintiff's strike in the three-strike log.

3.

Plaintiff must still pay the full docketing fee of $350
even though his case has been dismissed. The agency
having custody of Plaintiff shall continue to make

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monthly payments to the Clerk of Court, as directed
in the Court's prior order.
4.

Plaintiff’s Motion to Request Counsel [5] is denied.
Plaintiff did not show that he made a reasonable
attempt to obtain counsel on his own. Pruitt v. Mote,
503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007).

5.

If Plaintiff wishes to appeal this dismissal, he must
file a notice of appeal with this Court within 30 days
of the entry of judgment. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a). A
motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis should
set forth the issues Plaintiff plans to present on
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(1)(C). If Plaintiff
does choose to appeal, he will be liable for the
$505.00 appellate filing fee irrespective of the
outcome of the appeal.
Entered this 17th day of November, 2020.

s/ Harold A. Baker
___________________________________________
HAROLD A. BAKER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE