Mabie v. Chief Deputy Clerk et al

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(e)(2)(B). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all pending motions are DENIED. A separate Order of Dismissal will be filed forthwith. Signed by District Judge E. Richard Webber on March 12, 2014. (MCB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
WILLIAM MABIE,

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Plaintiff,
v.
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK, et al.,
Defendants.

No. 4:13CV02469 ERW

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court for review of plaintiff’s complaint under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e). After reviewing the complaint, the Court has determined that this action must
be dismissed without further proceedings.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must 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 from a defendant who is immune from
such relief. An action is frivolous if it Alacks an arguable basis in either law or fact.@
Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 328 (1989); Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31
(1992). An action is malicious if it is undertaken for the purpose of harassing the named
defendants and not for the purpose of vindicating a cognizable right. Spencer v. Rhodes,
656 F. Supp. 458, 461-63 (E.D.N.C. 1987), aff=d 826 F.2d 1059 (4th Cir. 1987). A
complaint fails to state a claim if it does not plead Aenough facts to state a claim to relief
that is plausible on its face.@ Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).

The Complaint
Plaintiff brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens.

Named as

defendants are the Chief Deputy Clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit and several private individuals. Plaintiff claims that the Chief Deputy
Clerk practiced law by refusing to file a Rule 33 new evidence motion. Plaintiff claims
that the other defendants filed false affidavits against him in a criminal action, which
resulted in his conviction.
Petitioner has also filed several motions demanding that the Court recuse itself
from these proceedings because the Court presided over plaintiff’s criminal action and §
2255 case.
Discussion
First, the Court notes that recusal is unnecessary. Plaintiff is merely unhappy that
the Court has ruled adversely to his interests in the past. This does not constitute grounds
for the Court to recuse itself. Plaintiff accuses the Clerk of directly assigning this case,
but this is not correct. This case was randomly assigned. As a result, plaintiff’s motions
for recusal will be denied.
Defendant Chief Deputy Clerk is protected by judicial immunity from damages for
alleged civil rights violations committed in connection the filing of cases. See Smith v.
Erickson, 884 F.2d 1108, 1111 (8th Cir. 1989). As a result, the allegations are legally
frivolous with regards to the Chief Deputy Clerk.
APrivate actors may incur section 1983 liability only if they are willing participants
in a joint action with public servants acting under color of state law.@

-2-

Johnson v.

Outboard Marine Corp., 172 F.3d 531, 536 (8th Cir.1999). A[A] plaintiff seeking to hold
a private party liable under ' 1983 must allege, at the very least, that there was a mutual
understanding, or a meeting of the minds, between the private party and the state actor.@
Mershon v. Beasley, 994 F.2d 449, 451 (8th Cir. 1993). The facts alleged with respect to
a conspiracy must be specific and may not be merely conclusory. See White v. Walsh,
649 F.2d 560, 561 (8th Cir. 1981). Here, plaintiff fails to allege facts sufficient to give
rise to the inference that any private party defendants came to a mutual understanding
with any state actors to violate his constitutional rights. As a result, the complaint does
not state a claim against any of the other defendants, and the Court will dismiss this
action without prejudice.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all pending motions are DENIED.
A separate Order of Dismissal will be filed forthwith.
So Ordered this 12th day of March, 2014.

E. RICHARD WEBBER
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

-3-