BLOCK v. WESTRA
Filing
35
ORDER - Plaintiff's motion to compel discovery, ECF No. 27 , is denied as moot; Plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel, ECF No. 34 , is denied as moot; and Defendant's motion to dismiss, ECF No. 24 , is denied as moot. The Court d oes not grant Block leave to amend because doing so would be futile, given that he was already granted leave to amend and failed to cure the previously identified defects in his original Complaint. And, indeed, there is nothing to suggest that the defects would be curable. This matter is closed, and a final judgment will be issued accordingly. See Order. Copy to Plaintiff via US Mail. Signed by Judge James R. Sweeney II on 10/14/2020. (KAA)
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 1 of 6 PageID #: 190
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
TERRE HAUTE DIVISION
FRANCIS DAMIEN BLOCK,
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Plaintiff,
v.
THEODORE WESTRA,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendants.
No. 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD
Order
Plaintiff Francis Block seeks damages and declaratory relief from Defendant Theodore Westra 1 for Westra's alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq. Block's Complaint appeared to
allege that Westra violated 18 U.S.C. § 1962 by unlawfully obtaining Block's 1984
Jeep Scrambler. (Compl. ¶ 11, ECF No. 1 at 4.) Block further alleged that Westra
altered and concealed records by testifying falsely at Block's criminal trial. (Id. ¶ 9.)
On September 24, 2019, this Court liberally construed Block's Complaint but
found that it could not "discern within it any plausible claim against any defendant."
(ECF No. 7 at 2.) Still, the Court granted Block leave to amend his complaint or
otherwise show cause why his complaint should not be dismissed for lack of subjectmatter jurisdiction. (Id. at 3.) On March 17, 2020, Westra moved to dismiss Block's
Complaint. (ECF No. 24.) Block filed his Amended Complaint on March 27, 2020.
Block also alleges these violations against twenty-nine additional defendants, which he added in
his amended complaint. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 4–33, ECF No. 26.)
1
1
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 2 of 6 PageID #: 191
(ECF No. 26.) As a preliminary matter, Westra's motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 24),
which was filed before the Amended Complaint, is denied as moot consistent with
this Order. Block also moves to compel discovery, (ECF No. 27), and moves to appoint
counsel, (ECF No. 34).
"[B]oth the Supreme Court and [the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals] have noted
time and again that subject-matter jurisdiction is a fundamental limitation on the
power of a federal court to act." Del Vecchio v. Conseco, Inc., 230 F.3d 974, 980 (7th
Cir. 2000) (collecting cases). A complaint that is wholly insubstantial does not invoke
the district court's subject-matter jurisdiction. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better
Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 89 (1998); Crowley Cutlery Co. v. United States, 849 F.2d 273, 276
(7th Cir. 1988).
With his Amended Complaint, Block adds twenty-nine additional defendants to
this suit. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 4–33, ECF No. 26 at 3–5.) Also, Block alleges claims
against Westra that are nearly identical to the allegations in his original complaint.
Block still alleges that Westra violated RICO statutes by unlawfully obtaining Block's
Jeep Scrambler and by altering and concealing records by testifying falsely at Block's
trial. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 42–44, ECF No. 26 at 6–7.) The only discernable difference
between Block's original complaint and his amended complaint is the addition of the
twenty-nine defendants, which does nothing to strengthen or clarify Block's claims.
See Jennings v. Emry, 910 F.2d 1434, 1436 (7th Cir. 1990) (stating that a complaint
"must be presented with sufficient clarity to avoid requiring a district court or opposing party to forever sift through its pages" to determine whether it states a valid
2
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 3 of 6 PageID #: 192
claim). As presented, this case is still frivolous and deserves no further judicial time.
See, e.g., Gladney v. Pendleton Corr. Facility, 302 F.3d 773, 774 (7th Cir. 2002).
Moreover, "[t]o determine whether subject matter jurisdiction exists, a court may
look past the complaint to any pertinent evidence." Amling v. Harrow Indus. LLC,
943 F.3d 373, 376 (7th Cir. 2019). To determine whether this Court has jurisdiction,
the Court takes judicial notice of the docket in Block's federal case in the Western
District of Michigan. The jurisdiction of federal courts is limited to cases and controversies. U.S. Const. art. III. Determining Article III jurisdiction "is an antecedent
question in every case." Norfolk S. Ry. Co. v. Guthrie, 233 F.3d 532, 534 (7th Cir.
2000). Standing is required "to have the court decide the merits of the dispute or of
particular issues." Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 498 (1975). Constitutional standing requires that the plaintiff allege that he or she has suffered an injury, that the
plaintiff allege that the injury is fairly traceable to the defendant's conduct, and that
the plaintiff allege that the court can redress the injury. See Lujan v. Defs. Of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560–61 (1992).
Block fails at least the injury prong. Block alleges that Westra stole Block's 1984
Jeep Scrambler and concealed the Jeep "by way of pleadings" in Block's criminal case.
(Am. Compl. ¶ 44, ECF No. 26 at 7.) There is one major problem with Block's allegations: Block was not even the title holder or owner of the 1984 Jeep Scrambler. United
States v. Block, 1:13-cr-223 (W.D. Mich. Oct. 9, 2018) (order denying Defendant's Rule
41 motion). Therefore, Block was not injured by the forfeiture of the 1984 Jeep Scrambler. See United States v. Bowser, 834 F.3d 780, 784 (7th Cir. 2016) ("Only a person
3
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 4 of 6 PageID #: 193
possessing a legal interest, rather than an equitable interest, in property will have
standing to challenge its forfeiture."). This Court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction in this case because Block lacks standing and because Block's amended complaint is wholly insubstantial. Further, Block has failed to comply with this Court's
order to amend his complaint or otherwise show cause why his complaint should not
be dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. (See ECF No. 7 at 3.)
Even if this Court had subject-matter jurisdiction, a district court is required to
dismiss a suit filed in forma pauperis if it determines that the action is frivolous. 28
U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). A claim is frivolous if "it lacks an arguable basis either in
law or fact." Hutchinson ex rel. Baker v. Spink, 126 F.3d 895, 900 (7th Cir. 1997)
(quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989)). "[A] finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the
wholly incredible . . . ," Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33 (1992), and district
courts are in the best position to determine factual frivolousness, id. A complaint
that offers "labels and conclusions" or "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause
of action will not do." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl.
Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)).
Here, the underlying basis of Block's claims stem from the allegation that Westra
stole his Jeep. Block's amended complaint, however, provides no indication of how
Westra or the other twenty-nine defendants engaged in racketeering by taking possession of the Jeep, offers conclusions and formulaic recitations of the elements of
RICO statutes, and mirrors claims that Block previously alleged in another federal
4
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 5 of 6 PageID #: 194
case. United States v. Block, No. 18-2241 (6th Cir. May 25, 2019) (order affirming the
Western District of Michigan Court's ruling that Block did not hold the Jeep's title
and, therefore, was not entitled to relief), cert. denied, No. 19-7510 (U.S. Mar. 2, 2020)
(order). This action is frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that this action must be dismissed including against the newly added twenty-nine Defendants on the Court's own motion;
Plaintiff's motion to compel discovery, (ECF No. 27), is denied as moot; Plaintiff's
motion to appoint counsel, (ECF No. 34), is denied as moot; and Defendant's motion
to dismiss, (ECF No. 24), is denied as moot. The Court does not grant Block leave
to amend because doing so would be futile, given that he was already granted leave
to amend and failed to cure the previously identified defects in his original Complaint.
And, indeed, there is nothing to suggest that the defects would be curable. This matter is closed, and a final judgment will be issued accordingly.
SO ORDERED.
Date: 10/14/2020
5
Case 2:19-cv-00271-JRS-MJD Document 35 Filed 10/14/20 Page 6 of 6 PageID #: 195
Distribution:
FRANCIS DAMIEN BLOCK
17692-040
TERRE HAUTE - USP
TERRE HAUTE U.S. PENITENTIARY
Inmate Mail/Parcels
P.O. BOX 33
TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808
Lara K. Langeneckert
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (Indianapolis)
lara.langeneckert@usdoj.gov
6
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?