LARSEN v. AROOSTOOK MENTAL HEALTH CENTER

Filing 10

ORDER ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDED DECISION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE AND COK WARNING re: 8 Report and Recommendations. By JUDGE JON D. LEVY. (aks)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MAINE
RICHARD A. LARSEN, III,
Plaintiff,
v.
AROOSTOOK MENTAL
HEALTH CENTER,
Defendant.

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ORDER ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDED DECISION OF THE
MAGISTRATE JUDGE AND COK WARNING
On June 11, 2021, Plaintiff Richard A. Larsen III, who is self-represented, filed
a Complaint (ECF No. 1) against Defendant Aroostook Mental Health Center,
alleging that Defendant failed to assist him with his state court legal proceedings.
Larsen filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2), which the Court
granted (ECF No. 3). In accordance with 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(e)(2) (West 2021), United
States Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison conducted a preliminary review of Larsen’s
complaint.
Magistrate Judge Nivison filed his Recommended Decision on the Complaint
on September 1, 2021 (ECF No. 8), pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 636(b)(1)(B) (West 2021)
and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). Larsen filed an Objection to the Recommended Decision on
September 16, 2021 (ECF No. 9).
I have reviewed and considered the Recommended Decision, together with the
entire record and have made a de novo determination of all matters adjudicated by
the Magistrate Judge. I concur with the recommendations of the Magistrate Judge
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for the reasons set forth in his recommended decision and determine that no further
proceedings are necessary.
This is the sixth complaint that Larsen has filed in this Court in the last
eighteen months, all of which fail to allege actionable claims within this Court’s
jurisdiction. See Compl., Larsen v. Linthicum, No. 1:20-cv-00127-NT (D. Me. Apr. 3,
2020), ECF No. 1; Compl., Larsen v. Aroostook Unified Cts., No. 1:20-cv-00413-JDL
(D. Me. Nov. 5, 2020), ECF No. 1; Compl., Larsen v. Maine, No. 1:20-cv-00450-JDL
(D. Me. Dec. 2, 2020), ECF No. 1; Compl., Larsen v. Nelson, No. 1:21-cv-00096-JDL
(D. Me. Apr. 5, 2021), ECF No. 1; Compl., Larsen v. United States, No. 1:21-cv-00156JDL (D. Me. June 11, 2021), ECF No. 1. Larsen’s pleadings and filings in this case,
as well as the five other complaints, are frivolous.
Although Larsen is representing himself, he may not submit “[g]roundless and
inappropriate filings” to the Court. D’Amario v. United States, 251 F.R.D. 63, 64 (D.
Me. 2008). “[F]rivolous filings waste judicial resources” and inhibit the resolution of
substantial matters. Adams v. Adams, No. 1:17-cv-00200-GZS, 2019 WL 2814627, at
*1 (D. Me. July 2, 2019).
In light of Larsen’s repeated frivolous filings, the Court hereby issues a Cok
warning: Any further frivolous filings by Larsen, in this docket or in a new
case, may result in an immediate order restricting his ability to file
documents with the Court. See Cok v. Fam. Ct. of R.I., 985 F.2d 32, 35-36 (1st Cir.
1993). Those restrictions may include: requiring Larsen to append an affidavit to
future pleadings stating that the pleadings do not raise the same issues that this

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Court has previously dismissed, as well as a concise summary of the claim(s); limiting
his ability to file documents within a new action without Court approval; limiting the
number and length of Larsen’s filings; and other restrictions to screen out frivolous
filings. See United States. v. Gomez-Rosario, 418 F.3d 90, 101 (1st Cir. 2005) (noting
that federal courts may “enjoin a party—even a pro se party—from filing frivolous
and vexatious motions”); Procup v. Strickland, 792 F.2d 1069, 1072-73 (11th Cir.
1986) (listing illustrative restrictions).
It is therefore ORDERED that the Recommended Decision (ECF No. 8) of the
Magistrate Judge is ACCEPTED.

Richard Larsen’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) is

DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 8, 2021.
/s/ JON D. LEVY
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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