Grimes v. Farmer # 2593 et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM Signed by Judge Paula Xinis on 9/27/2017. (cags, Deputy Clerk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
JEROME L. GRIMES

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Plaintiff,

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v.

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MCP OFFICER ROBERT FARMER #2593
MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE
DEPARTMENT (MCPD)(Rockville)
Defendants.

Civil Action No. PX-17-2331

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MEMORANDUM
On or about August 11, 2017, a complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis were
filed by Jerome L. Grimes. ECF Nos. 1 & 2. Grimes, who is self-represented, is a patient at the
Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, Maryland. As best as this court can discern from his
writings, Grimes takes issue with the “illegal intimidation” imposed after he incurred traffic
offenses which led to his involuntary admission to a mental health facility. He accuses the
Montgomery County Police Department of failing to train an officer to “tell the truth on all
statements, reports, and citations…” Grimes further alleges that a Montgomery County Police
officer failed to contact dispatch to abort an automobile tow. ECF No. 1, pp. 6-8. He seeks
cumulative damages in the amount of $540,000.00.
An examination of the state court docket reveals there were eight Montgomery County
traffic cases involving Grimes in 2016.1 In addition, on February 26, 2017, a warrant was issued

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Grimes was cited for the failure to display his license to uniform police on
demand, driving without a required license and authorization, driving on a revoked out-of-state
license, driving while license is suspended, driving on a suspended out-of-state license, failure to
attach vehicle registration plates at front and rear, failure to display registration card upon
demand by police, and driving without current registration plates and validation tabs. See State v.
Grimes, Citation Nos. 16PODHH, 16QODHH, 16RODHH, 16SODHH, 16TODHH, 16VODHH,

for Grimes on counts of arson/threat and making a false statement with regard to a destructive
device. State v. Grimes, Case No. 5D00368618 (District Court for Montgomery County). On
May 11, 2017, the case was transferred to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, where on
July 12, 2017, Grimes pleaded guilty to one count of telephone misuse and was sentenced to a
three years imprisonment, all suspended, with 105 days credit for time served, and one year
probation. State v. Grimes, Case Number 131689C (Circuit Court for Montgomery County).
See http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis.
Examination of the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (“PACER”) reveals that
Grimes has filed hundreds of cases in federal court throughout the country. In Grimes v. Haney,
et al., Civil Action No. JSW(PR)-15-436 (N.D. Cal.), United States District Judge Jeffrey S.
White noted that “[o]n May 18, 2000, this Court informed [Grimes] that under the ‘three-strikes’
provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) he generally is ineligible to proceed in forma pauperis in
federal court with civil actions filed while he is incarcerated.” (citing Grimes v. Oakland Police
Dep’t, Civil Action No. CW-00-1100 (N.D. Cal.)). Judge White further observed that “in 2003
alone [Grimes’] failure to pay the full filing fee and to state cognizable claims for relief had
resulted in the dismissal of approximately thirty-six actions under § 1915(g).” Grimes v. Haney,
et al., Civil Action No. JSW(PR)-15-436. at ECF No. 4. Similarly, in 2007, United States
District Court Judge Claudia Wilken observed that “[t]he Court had routinely granted [Grimes]
leave to amend to pay the full filing fee and to state cognizable claims for relief but he has
habitually failed to do so. For example, in 2003 alone Plaintiff's failure to comply resulted in the
dismissal of approximately thirty-six actions under § 1915(g).” See Grimes v. Wan, et al,. Civil
Action No. CW (PR)-07-1726 (N.D. Cal.). In the Western District of Louisiana, the District
26WODHH, & 16XODHH (District Court For Montgomery County). All citations were nolle
prossed on July 24, 2017. See http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis.
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Court noted that Grimes has “filed more than 350 complaints and appeals [, and] [t]hree or more
of them have been dismissed as frivolous.” See Grimes v. Ms. Lewis, et al., Civil Action No.
EEF-MLH-12-3159 (W.D. La.).

This court takes judicial notice of these relevant and

indisputable filings. See Nolte v. Capital One Fin. Corp., 390 F.3d 311, 317 n. * (4th Cir. 2004).
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e), a prisoner is prohibited from filing a civil action in forma
pauperis if he “has, on 3 or more occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility, brought
an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on the grounds that it is
frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, unless the prisoner is
under imminent danger of serious physical injury.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Given Grimes’ filing
history in federal court, he is barred under § 1915(g) from filing prisoner complaints in forma
pauperis unless he can aver that he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. The
instant incoherent complaint, generously construed, directly challenges Grimes’ traffic citations
in Maryland. He does not allege that he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury.
The case as filed will not proceed. Grimes is forewarned that should he attempt to file any future
civil rights action in this court, it must be accompanied by the civil filing fee and must establish
that Grimes is in imminent danger of serious physical harm.
Accordingly, Grimes’ motion to proceed in forma pauperis shall be denied and his
complaint shall be dismissed without prejudice by separate Order.

Date: September 27, 2017

/S/
Paula Xinis
United States District Judge

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