Brewer et al v. Citigroup Global Markets

Filing 10

WRITTEN Opinion entered by the Honorable Samuel Der-Yeghiayan on 11/15/2012: For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs' motion to reinstate the instant action [ 9 ] is denied. The Clerk of Court is ordered to return to Plaintiffs the $350.00 filing fee and to retain the $53.00 service charge, which relates to the return of Plaintiffs prior check for insufficient funds. (For further details see Written Opinion). Mailed notice. (et, )

Order Form (01/2005)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Name of Assigned Judge
or Magistrate Judge

Samuel Der-Yeghiayan

CASE NUMBER

12 C 8053

CASE
TITLE

Sitting Judge if Other
than Assigned Judge

DATE

11/15/2012

Terry Brewer, et al. Vs. Citigroup Global Markets

DOCKET ENTRY TEXT

For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs’ motion to reinstate the instant action [9] is denied. The Clerk of
Court is ordered to return to Plaintiffs the $350.00 filing fee and to retain the $53.00 service charge, which
relates to the return of Plaintiffs’ prior check for insufficient funds.

O[ For further details see text below.]

Docketing to mail notices.

STATEMENT
This matter is before the court on Plaintiffs’ motion to reinstate the instant action. On October 31,
2012, Plaintiffs indicated to this Court’s financial administrator that Plaintiffs would pay the filing fee of
$350.00, plus a service fee of $53.00, for a total of $403.00, by November 1, 2012. The docket indicated that
Plaintiffs failed to pay the filing fee by November 1, 2012, and this matter was referred to the Court for
action. Since Plaintiffs’ check for the filing fee bounced, and since Plaintiffs were given an opportunity to
pay the filing fee plus service fee by November 1, 2012 and failed to do so, the court dismissed the instant
action without prejudice on November 5, 2012. The docket reflects that on November 13, 2012, Plaintiffs
paid the $350.00 filing fee and the $53.00 service fee. Plaintiffs now request that the court reinstate the
instant action.
A review of Plaintiffs’ complaint shows that it would be futile for Plaintiffs to further pursue the
instant action in federal court. Plaintiffs contend that an assignment of a mortgage in which Plaintiffs have
an interest was “Void under Illinois law,” and was a “fraudulent conveyance under Illinois law. . . .” (Compl.
6). Plaintiffs seek to quiet title in the subject property and seek a declaratory judgment. (Compl. 2).
Plaintiffs’ contentions appear to relate to state law claims. Although Plaintiffs also contend that Defendant
12C8053 Terry Brewer, et al. Vs. Citigroup Global Markets

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STATEMENT
violated Plaintiffs’ “rights to due process of law, and equal protection of the law under the United States
Constitution of America,” Plaintiffs fail to allege facts that suggest the Defendant is a state actor. See, e.g.,
Booker-El v. Superintendent, Indiana State Prison, 668 F.3d 896, 900 (7th Cir. 2012)(explaining that one
element of a procedural due process claim is “a deprivation of that property interest by someone acting under
the color of state law”); Bennett v. Roberts, 295 F.3d 687, 699 (7th Cir. 2002)(stating in regard to an equal
protection claim that “[i]n general terms, to maintain a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate that
a government official, acting under color of state law, violated her constitutionally protected rights”). Even
when liberally construing the allegations in Plaintiffs’ pro se complaint, Plaintiffs have failed to state a
federal cause of action. To the extent that Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment, this court has discretion to
decline to hear such claims, and this court concludes that it would not be appropriate to hear such a claim in
this case. See, e.g., Envision Healthcare, Inc. v. PreferredOne Ins. Co., 604 F.3d 983, 986 (7th Cir. 2010).
Therefore, Plaintiffs’ motion to reinstate is denied. The Clerk of Court is ordered to return to Plaintiffs the
$350.00 filing fee and to retain the $53.00 service charge, which relates to the return of Plaintiffs’ prior check
for insufficient funds.

12C8053 Terry Brewer, et al. Vs. Citigroup Global Markets

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