Beane v. Pike

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER denying 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Kenny Beane, denying 3 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Kenny Beane and dismissing Beane's claims without prejudice. Clerk of Court to enter judgment accordingly. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 10/21/2010. (dka, )

-PMF Beane v. Pike

Doc. 8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS KENNY BEANE, Plaintiff, v. HAROLD PIKE III, Defendant. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter comes before the Court on plaintiff Kenny Beane's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) and for appointment of counsel (Doc. 3). The Court noted in a prior order that a federal court may permit an indigent party to proceed without pre-payment of fees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). Nevertheless, a court can deny a qualified plaintiff leave to file in forma pauperis or can dismiss a case if the action is clearly frivolous or malicious or fails to state a claim. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) & (ii). The test for determining if an action is frivolous or without merit is whether the plaintiff can make a rational argument on the law or facts in support of the claim. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Corgain v. Miller, 708 F.2d 1241, 1247 (7th Cir. 1983). An action fails to state a claim if it does not plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1974 (2007). When assessing a petition to proceed in forma pauperis, a district court should inquire into the merits of the petitioner's claims, and if the court finds them to be frivolous, it should deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Lucien v. Roegner, 682 F.2d 625, 626 (7th Cir. 1982). The Court found that Beane was indigent but was unable to determine whether he had pled a non-frivolous cause of action because his complaint contained few factual allegations. Case No. 10-cv-748-JPG

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The Court gave Beane an opportunity to supplement his complaint telling the Court the facts that underlie his claim, and Beane filed three supplements (Docs. 5, 6 & 7). The Court gathers from those documents that Beane hired Pike, an attorney, to represent him in a dispute, possibly with the Jefferson County Housing Authority. The Court is unable, however, to discern any more facts that demonstrate Beane has a plausible claim for relief against Pike. Beane's complaint simply fails (1) to describes the claim in sufficient detail to give fair notice of what the claim is and the grounds upon which it rests or (2) to plausibly suggests that Beane has a right to relief above a speculative level, as required by federal pleading standards. See Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007); Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009); EEOC v. Concentra Health Servs., 496 F.3d 773, 776 (7th Cir. 2007). Accordingly, the Court DENIES Beane's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) and for appointment of counsel (Doc. 3) and DISMISSES Beane's claims without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment accordingly. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: October 21, 2010 s/ J. Phil Gilbert J. PHIL GILBERT DISTRICT JUDGE

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