Shields v. YMCA of Greater St. Louis et al

Filing 5

OPINION MEMORANDUM AND ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that pltff.'s mtn. to proceed ifp is granted. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pltff.'s mtn. for appointment of counsel is denied as moot.4 2 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the clerk shall not iss ue process or cause process to issue upon the complaint because the complaint is legally frivolous or fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or both. An appropriate order of dismissal shall accompany this memorandum and order . Signed by Judge Henry E. Autrey on 6/7/07. (CLA, )

Shields v. YMCA of Greater St. Louis et al

Doc. 5

Case 4:07-cv-01058-DDN

Document 5

Filed 06/07/2007

Page 1 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI EASTERN DIVISION ERIC SHIELDS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) ) YMCA OF GREATER ST. LOUIS, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

No. 4:07-CV-1058-DDN

OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER This matter is before the Court upon the application of Eric Shields for leave to commence this action without prepayment of the filing fee pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Upon consideration of the financial information provided with the application, the Court finds that the applicant is financially unable to pay any portion of the filing fee. As a result, plaintiff will be granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Additionally, the Court has reviewed the complaint and will dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) because it is legally frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court may dismiss a complaint filed in forma pauperis if the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. An action is frivolous if "it lacks an arguable basis in either law or in fact."

Dockets.Justia.com

Case 4:07-cv-01058-DDN

Document 5

Filed 06/07/2007

Page 2 of 3

Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 328 (1989). An action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). In reviewing a pro se complaint under § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must give the complaint the benefit of a liberal construction. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). The Court must also weigh all factual allegations in favor of the plaintiff, unless the facts alleged are clearly baseless. Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992); Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974). The Complaint The complaint is nonsensical. It consists of disorganized quotations from the Constitution, statutes, and rules. Consequently, the Court finds the complaint to be frivolous, and it shall be dismissed. Moreover, to the extent plaintiff is attempting to relitigate his previous claims against the YMCA, he is precluded from doing so, because this Court has previously entered a judgment against him on those claims. See Shields v. YMCA, No. 4:06-CV-52-HEA (E.D. Mo. 2006). Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. #2] is GRANTED.
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Case 4:07-cv-01058-DDN

Document 5

Filed 06/07/2007

Page 3 of 3

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [Doc. #4] is DENIED as moot. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall not issue process or cause process to issue upon the complaint because the complaint is legally frivolous or fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or both. An appropriate order of dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order. Dated this 7th Day of June, 2007.

HENRY EDWARD AUTREY UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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