Saunders et al v. State of Missouri, 21st Judicial Circuit Court et al
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motions of Lawrence and Patricia Saunders for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Docs. # 2 and # 3 ] areGRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Alfred Hooper will be STRICKEN as aparty-plaintiff to th is action. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall not issue process or cause process to issue upon the complaint, because the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all remaining pending motions are DENIED, as moot. A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and Order. Signed by District Judge John A. Ross on 3/17/2014. (JWD)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
LAWRENCE E. SAUNDERS, et al.,
)
)
Plaintiffs,
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v.
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)
STATE OF MISSOURI, 21st JUDICIAL)
CIRCUIT COURT, et al.,
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)
Defendants.
)
No. 4:13-CV-2224-JAR
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon the motions of Lawrence E. Saunders,
Patricia A. Saunders, and Alfred A. Hooper for leave to commence this action
without payment of the required filing fee [Docs. #2, #3, and #4]. For the reasons
set forth below, the Court will (1) grant in forma pauperis status to Lawrence and
Patricia Saunders; (2) strike Alfred A. Hooper as a party-plaintiff to this action;
and (3) dismiss this action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
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 at any time 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.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 328
(1989). An action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if it does
not plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell
Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).
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 (1992).
The Complaint
Lawrence E. Saunders, Patricia A. Saunders, and Alfred A. Hooper seek
monetary relief in this action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Named as
defendants are the State of Missouri, 21st Judicial Circuit Court, Commerce Bank
of St. Louis (Commerce Bank), J.P. Morgan Chase Home Finance (J.P. Morgan),
and St. Anthony Avenue L.C. As the basis for filing this action in Federal Court,
plaintiffs state:
1. Violation of the Constitution of the United States Article III
Amendment XIV Civil Rights Section 1
2. Bank Fraud under Section 1833A Title XXV 2561
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3. Mortgage Fraud – Failing to follow due process of law. All parties
are entitled to Notice of Foreclosure.
Plaintiffs’ disjointed allegations are set forth in three counts. Count I of the
complaint seems to have involved the disputed ownership of property located at
One Brindle Court in Florissant, Missouri. Plaintiffs allege that a Missouri state
court judge dismissed an action on May 21, 2007, “refus[ing] to accept proof of
ownership and ruled for the Plaintiff[s] as owners in a landlord complaint.”
Plaintiffs complain that the judge refused to investigate their claims of fraud, and
even on direct appeal, the appellate judge “refused to recognize the Fraud
complaint.” Plaintiffs further complain that the appellate court’s actions
“prevented [them] from having the time to file for a Trial Denovo [sic].”
In Count II, plaintiffs summarily allege “bank fraud on 4/8/08 when
$1573.95 was removed from Commerce Bank.” In addition, plaintiffs state that the
“[d]efendant who removed the . . . money entered a consent judgment on all quit
claimed deeds of any property obtained in this case. Defendant never paid for or
owned the property at One Brindle Ct.”
In Count III, plaintiffs allege “mortgage fraud,” claiming that another
Missouri state court judge:
entered a judgment against St. Anthony Avenue L.C. and ordered that
Defendant must immediately convey any and all property to which
they have title if obtained from home owners who quit claimed their
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property to Defendants and immediately release the same from
Defendants and to dismiss with prejudice any suit filed against any
person who quit claimed their property to Defendants.
In addition, plaintiffs assert that the “State of Missouri used Michael Granderson as
a Defendant in part of the property at One Brindle Ct. . . . [but] [t]his person was
not a party on the deed of this property.” Plaintiffs state that Granderson did not
represent them, and they did not receive a notice of foreclosure, although their
address was in J.P. Morgan’s file. Plaintiffs claim that One Brindle Court was
never returned to them.
Discussion
At the outset, the Court notes that Alfred Hooper did not personally sign the
complaint. Rather, his name was signed by Patricia Saunders as Mr. Hooper’s
“attorney-in-fact.” This is impermissible, and therefore, Alfred Hooper will be
stricken as a party-plaintiff to this action. See Pope Equity Trust v. United States,
818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987) (although non-attorney may appear pro se in his
own behalf, privilege is personal to him; non-attorney has no authority to appear
on behalf of others).
As to plaintiffs Lawrence and Patricia Saunders, and after having carefully
reviewed the complaint, the Court concludes that this action must be dismissed for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Federal district courts are courts of original
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jurisdiction; they lack subject matter jurisdiction to engage in appellate review of
state court decisions. Postma v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan, 74 F.3d 160, 162 (8th Cir.
1996). Thus, to the extent that plaintiffs are requesting this Court to review the
merits of the two prior Missouri state court cases, or to overturn the state courts’
final judgments, this Court lacks the jurisdiction to do so. "Review of state court
decisions may be had only in the Supreme Court." Id.
Moreover, to the extent that plaintiffs are attempting to assert new claims for
relief based on “bank fraud” and “mortgage fraud,” this Court lacks subject matter
jurisdiction over their claims. Plaintiffs do not allege, nor does it appear, that
diversity of jurisdiction exists in this case. Thus, even if the Court were to liberally
construe this action as having been brought under 28 U.S.C. § 1332, subject matter
jurisdiction would be lacking. Moreover, plaintiffs do not claim that the instant
action arises under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States, and thus,
federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 is inapplicable.1
To the extent that plaintiffs are attempting to assert a claim or cause of
action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Court notes that the State of Missouri and its
courts are not suable entities and are absolutely immune from liability. See Will v.
1
The Court is unable to find a statute in accordance with plaintiffs’
jurisdictional reference to “Bank Fraud under Section 1833A Title XXV 2561."
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Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 63 (1989) (state is not a “person”
under § 1983); Harris v. Missouri Court of Appeals, Western Dist., 787 F.2d 427
(8th Cir. 1986) (courts are not "persons" for § 1983 purposes). Furthermore,
plaintiffs have failed to allege, and there is no indication, that any of the other
named defendants are state actors within the meaning of § 1983. See Andrews v.
City of W. Branch, Iowa, 454 F.3d 914, 918 (8th Cir. 2006) (to state claim under §
1983, plaintiff must allege violation of constitutional right committed by person
acting under color of state law).
In accordance with the foregoing,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motions of Lawrence and Patricia
Saunders for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Docs. #2 and #3] are
GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Alfred Hooper will be STRICKEN as a
party-plaintiff to this action.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall not issue process or
cause process to issue upon the complaint, because the Court lacks subject matter
jurisdiction over this case.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all remaining pending motions are
DENIED, as moot.
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A separate Order of Dismissal shall accompany this Memorandum and
Order.
Dated this 17th day of March, 2014.
____________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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