ANDERSON v. CAPITAL STATE SECURITY COMPANY

Filing 8

Entry Discussing Complaint and Directing Further Proceedings Show Cause - The plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [dkt 2 ] is granted. The assessment of an initial partial filing fee is not feasible at this time. The complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and must therefore be dismissed pursuant to ' 1915(e)(2). The dismissal of the complaint will not in this instance lead to the dismissal of the action at present. Instead, the plaintiff shall have through April 30, 2015, in which to show cause why Judgment consistent with this Entry should not issue. Copy Mailed. Signed by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on 4/1/2015.(MGG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
ANTHONY J. ANDERSON,
Plaintiff,
vs.
CAPITAL STATE SECURITY COMPANY A
Security Company,
Defendant.

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No. 1:15-cv-00418-TWP-TAB

Entry Discussing Complaint and Directing Further Proceedings
I.
The plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis [dkt 2] is granted. The assessment of
an initial partial filing fee is not feasible at this time.
II.
Because the plaintiff has sought and has been granted in forma pauper status, the complaint
must be assessed under the standard established in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). This statute directs that
the court dismiss a complaint or any claim within a complaint which “(1) is frivolous or malicious;
(2) fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief from a
defendant who is immune from such relief.” Id. To state a claim upon which relief must be granted,
the complaint “must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief
that is plausible on its face. . . . A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual
content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quotations omitted).

Based on the foregoing screening, the complaint must be dismissed because it does not
sufficiently allege a source for this Court’s jurisdiction. The plaintiff alleges that an employee of
Capital State Security Company harassed and threatened him. “Jurisdiction is established when
the complaint narrates a claim that arises under federal law (28 U.S.C. § 1331) or that satisfies the
requirements of the diversity jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1332).” Bovee v. Broom, 732 F.3d 743, 744
(7th Cir. 2013). The plaintiff has not identified the deprivation of a federal right or shown that the
requirements of diversity jurisdiction are satisfied. To the extent that the complaint can be
understood to be brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the plaintiff has failed to state a claim
under that statute. To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right
secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States and must show that the alleged deprivation
was committed by a person acting under color of state law. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
Here, the defendant, Capital State Security Company, is not alleged to be a person acting under
color of state law.
For the reasons explained above, the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can
be granted and must therefore be dismissed pursuant to ' 1915(e)(2). The dismissal of the
complaint will not in this instance lead to the dismissal of the action at present. Instead, the plaintiff
shall have through April 30, 2015, in which to show cause why Judgment consistent with this
Entry should not issue. See Luevano v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 722 F.3d 1014, 1022 (7th Cir. 2013)
(“Without at least an opportunity to amend or to respond to an order to show cause, an IFP
applicant’s case could be tossed out of court without giving the applicant any timely notice or
opportunity to be heard to clarify, contest, or simply request leave to amend.”). Failure to do so
may result in the dismissal of this action without further notice to the plaintiff.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date: 4/1/2015

Distribution:
ANTHONY J. ANDERSON
1902 W. 10TH STREET
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222