Amir El v. Louisiana State et al
Filing
38
ORDER granting 26 Motion to Dismiss. ORDERED that Plaintiff's claims against the Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Carl Barbier on 3/31/2017. (gec)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
KING SANDI AMIR EL
CIVIL ACTION
VERSUS
NO: 16-2125
LOUISIANA STATE, ET AL.
SECTION: “J”(2)
ORDER & REASONS
Before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant,
the Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana (“Jefferson Parish”). (R. Doc.
26.) Plaintiff has not filed an opposition to Jefferson Parish’s
motion. Having considered the motion and legal memoranda, the
record, and the applicable law, the Court finds that Jefferson
Parish’s motion should be GRANTED.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This litigation appears to stem from Plaintiff’s arrest in
May of 2015. On or around May 30, 2015, Plaintiff was stopped by
Defendant
Officer
grandmother’s
home.
D.
Boudreaux
Plaintiff
in
alleges
the
front
that
yard
Officer
of
his
Boudreaux
“aggressively demanded that Plaintiff identify himself” and to
produce his driver’s license. Plaintiff refused to produce any
identification but identified himself as “King Sandi Amir El, a
Moslem Moorish American.” Despite Plaintiff’s attempt to resist,
Officer Boudreaux then allegedly grabbed Plaintiff’s arm and led
him toward his police car. Plaintiff asserts that Officer Boudreaux
1
handcuffed him and again asked Plaintiff to identify himself.
Plaintiff “allowed his Clock of Destiny, Moorish Nationality Card,
to be observed” by Officer Boudreaux; other deputies then arrived
at the scene. One of the deputies who arrived on scene allegedly
told
Plaintiff,
“You’re
not
King,
you
are
Carlton
Morris.”
Plaintiff instructed the officer that his name is not Carlton
Morris, but rather King Sandi Amir El. Officer Boudreaux then told
Plaintiff to get into the police car voluntarily or he would use
his Taser on him. Thereafter, Plaintiff was transported to the
Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (“JPCC”). Plaintiff alleges
that at the JPCC he again identified himself as a Moslem Moorish
American but was mocked by Jefferson Parish deputies. While in the
JPCC, Plaintiff asserts that he was held under the false name of
Carlton Clennon Morris and identified on documents as “Negro” or
“black,” which Plaintiff also alleges is untrue.
Around June 2015, Plaintiff allegedly served an “affidavit of
objection in lieu of a motion, inclusive of affidavit in support
of
objection
with
supporting
documentary
Jefferson Parish District Attorney. 1
evidence”
on
the
Later, Plaintiff spoke with
the Jefferson Parish Criminal Commissioner, Paul H. Schneider, and
asked whether the District Attorney received these documents, to
which Commissioner Schneider allegedly responded, “You are Carlton
1
While it is not clear to the Court, it appears that Plaintiff was still
incarcerated at this time.
2
Morris.” Plaintiff alleges that he was “invidiously coerced by
[Commissioner Schneider]” into being documented as Carlton Clennon
Morris and identified as a “Negro.”
In September 2015, Plaintiff made an appearance at the 24th
Judicial District Courtroom and proclaimed that he was not a Negro,
black, or a colored person. 2 Thereafter, Commissioner Schneider
then allegedly stated, “You are black, and you are a Negro, and if
you say anything else I will hold you in contempt.” Plaintiff told
Commissioner Schneider that he was denying him his right to be
heard
and
that
Plaintiff
did
not
consent
to
being
held
“in
involuntary servitude for defending [his] honor and reputation.”
Commissioner Schneider ordered the courtroom officer to handcuff
Plaintiff and transport him to the JPCC. Plaintiff alleges that he
was held for approximately forty-eight hours without reprieve.
Plaintiff again alleges he was held under the name Carlton Clennon
Morris.
Finally, in January 2016, Plaintiff made another appearance
at the 24th Judicial District Courtroom. During proceedings before
the Honorable Raymond Steib, Plaintiff asserts that he was asked
to “please remove your hat” which was a “Moorish Fez.” Further,
Plaintiff alleges Judge Steib ordered Carlton Clennon Morris to
2
Again, Plaintiff does not make clear, but it appears Plaintiff was still
incarcerated at this time.
3
take a drug screening, but Plaintiff again alleges that he is not
Carlton Clennon Morris.
On March 14, 2016, Plaintiff filed this pro se and in forma
pauperis suit against Jefferson Parish and the State of Louisiana.
(R. Doc. 1.) Thereafter, Plaintiff was granted leave to file an
Amended
Complaint
and
named
the
following
individuals
as
Defendants: Governor John Bel Edwards, Jefferson Parish District
Attorney Paul Connick, D. Boudreaux, and Sherriff Newel Norman, in
their
personal
Plaintiff’s
claims,
and
Amended
including
official
capacities.
Complaint
numerous
includes
alleged
(R.
Docs.
thirty-five
constitutional
31,
32.)
different
violations,
against the four Defendants listed in the Amended Complaint.
Plaintiff seeks monetary compensation from these Defendants and a
declaration that they are not permitted to refer to him as Carlton
Clennon
Morris.
Further,
Plaintiff
seeks
a
declaration
that
Defendants are not permitted to label or document him as Negro,
black, African, or colored person. On January 25, 2017, Jefferson
Parish filed the present Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a
Claim.
(R.
Doc.
26.)
Jefferson
Parish
argues
that
neither
Plaintiff’s Original Complaint nor his Amended Complaint allege
that the parish, as a political subdivision of the State of
Louisiana,
caused
Plaintiff
any
harm.
Accordingly,
Jefferson
Parish asks this Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims against it
4
with prejudice. Jefferson Parish’s motion is now before the Court
without oral argument
LEGAL STANDARD
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a complaint must
contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the
pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). The
complaint must “give the defendant fair notice of what the claim
is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Dura Pharm., Inc. v.
Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 346 (2005). The allegations “must be simple,
concise, and direct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(d)(1).
“Under
Rule
12(b)(6),
a
claim
may
be
dismissed
when
a
plaintiff fails to allege any set of facts in support of his claim
which would entitle him to relief.” Taylor v. Books A Million,
Inc., 296 F.3d 376, 378 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing McConathy v. Dr.
Pepper/Seven Up Corp., 131 F.3d 558, 561 (5th Cir. 1998)). To
survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the plaintiff must plead
enough facts to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell
Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is
facially plausible when the plaintiff pleads facts that allow the
court to “draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is
liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. A court must accept all
well-pleaded facts as true and must draw all reasonable inferences
in favor of the plaintiff. Lormand v. U.S. Unwired, Inc., 565 F.3d
5
228, 232 (5th Cir. 2009); Baker v. Putnal, 75 F.3d 190, 196 (5th
Cir. 1996). The court is not, however, bound to accept as true
legal conclusions couched as factual allegations. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
at
678.
“[C]onclusory
allegations
or
legal
conclusions
masquerading as factual conclusions will not suffice to prevent a
motion to dismiss.” Taylor, 296 F.3d at 378.
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff’s Original Complaint named the State of Louisiana
and Jefferson Parish as Defendants. Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint
makes clear that he seeks to hold four persons, Governor John Bel
Edwards, Paul D. Connick Jr., D. Boudreaux, and Sherriff Newell
Normand, in their individual and official capacities, liable for
the above-referenced conduct. “An amended complaint supersedes the
original complaint and renders it of no legal effect unless the
amended
complaint
specifically
refers
to
and
adopts
or
incorporates by reference the earlier pleading.” Stewart v. City
of Houston Police Dept., 372 F. App’x 475, 478 (5th Cir. 2010)
(quoting
King
v.
Dogan,
31
F.3d
344,
346
(5th
Cir.
1994)).
Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint does not list Jefferson Parish as a
Defendant
and
incorporate
does
by
not
specifically
reference,
refer
Plaintiff’s
to
and
Original
adopt,
nor
Complaint.
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s claims against Jefferson Parish have been
abandoned. See id. Moreover, even if Plaintiff had referenced
Jefferson Parish in his Original Complaint, neither Plaintiff’s
6
Original Complaint nor his Amended Complaint allege any facts that
would
allow
this
Court
to
draw
a
reasonable
inference
that
Jefferson Parish, in its capacity as a political subdivision of
the
State
of
misconduct.
Louisiana,
For
these
is
liable
reasons,
for
any
Plaintiff’s
of
the
alleged
claims
against
Jefferson Parish are dismissed with prejudice.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s claims against the
Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
New Orleans, Louisiana this 31st day of March, 2017.
____________________________
CARL J. BARBIER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
7
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?