Glick v. Montana Supreme Court

Filing 5

ORDER granting 1 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Ronald D. Glick, denying as moot 4 MOTION to Stay filed by Ronald D. Glick, Motions terminated: 1 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Ronald D. Glick, 4 MOTION to Stay filed by Ronald D. Glick., FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 2 Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed by Ronald D. Glick. () Signed by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch on 5/31/2017. (TCL)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
MISSOULA DIVISION
RONALD DWAYNE GLICK,

CV 17-62-M-DLC-JCL

Plaintiff,
ORDER, and FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATION

vs.

MONTANA SUPREME COURT,
Defendant.

I.

Introduction
Plaintiff Ron Glick, proceeding pro se, filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma

Pauperis. Glick submitted a declaration that makes the showing required by 28
U.S.C. § 1915(a). Because it appears he lacks sufficient funds to prosecute this
action IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Glick’s Motion to Proceed In Forma
Pauperis is GRANTED. This action may proceed without prepayment of the
filing fee, and the Clerk of Court is directed to file Glick’s lodged pleading as of
the filing date of his request to proceed in forma pauperis.
The federal statute under which leave to proceed in forma pauperis is
permitted — 28 U.S.C. § 1915 — also requires the Court to conduct a preliminary
screening of the allegations set forth in the litigant’s pleading. The applicable
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provisions of section 1915(e)(2) state as follows:
(2) Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have
been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines
that–
(A) the allegation of poverty is untrue; or
(B) the action or appeal–
(I) is frivolous or malicious;
(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or
(iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune
from such relief.
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
The Court will review Glick’s pleading to consider whether this action can
survive dismissal under the provisions of section 1915(e)(2), or any other
provision of law. See Huftile v. Miccio-Fonseca, 410 F.3d 1136, 1138, 1142 (9th
Cir. 2005).
II.

Glick’s “Petition for Writ of Mandamus”
Glick states he is the personal representative of his grandmother’s estate.

He commenced a civil action in a Montana state district court on behalf of that
estate. The district court dismissed the action, and Glick, proceeding pro se and in
his capacity as the personal representative, filed an appeal of the dismissal to the
Montana Supreme Court.

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On May 2, 2017, the Montana Supreme Court issued an order directing
Glick to retain legal counsel to represent him in the action as the personal
representative of the estate. The referenced order gave Glick 30 days from May 2,
2017, to retain counsel.
In this case, Glick filed a “Petition for Writ of Mandamus” challenging the
Montana Supreme Court’s May 2, 2017 order. Glick contends the referenced
order is contrary to state and federal law, and he requests this Court issue a writ of
mandamus directed to the Montana Supreme Court to compel it to comply with the
law of Montana. Specifically, he requests this Court order the Montana Supreme
Court to permit him to proceed pro se with the state court litigation he filed on
behalf of his grandmother’s estate, and to prosecute an appeal of that litigation pro
se. Glick contends he is authorized by law to proceed pro se in the matter by
virtue of his capacity as the personal representative of the estate. And he further
contends he is authorized to prosecute the claims pro se based on a power of
attorney his grandmother granted to him before she passed away.
Glick contends the Montana Supreme Court’s order denying him the ability
to prosecute the estate’s claims, and to appeal pro se, deprives him of rights
protected under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and
under the Montana Constitution. Thus, Glick’s allegations invoke the Court’s
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1331, and its supplemental jurisdiction under 28
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U.S.C. § 1367.
III.

Discussion
Because Glick is proceeding pro se the Court must construe his pleading

liberally, and the pleading is held “to less stringent standards than formal
pleadings drafted by lawyers[.]” Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). See
also Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 330 n.9 (1989). In view of the required
liberal construction,
a district court should grant leave to amend even if no request to amend the
pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading could not possibly
be cured by the allegation of other facts.
Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000) (emphasis added) (quoting
Doe v. United States, 58 F.3d 494, 497 (9th Cir. 1995)).
As indicated in Glick’s “Petition for Writ of Mandamus”, he seeks to have
this Court control and direct the Montana Supreme Court as to its decisions in the
civil action Glick is attempting to prosecute and appeal in the courts of the State of
Montana. Although the Court would have jurisdiction over his claims advanced in
this action, for the reasons discussed the Court concludes it must abstain from
exercising that jurisdiction, and this action should be dismissed.
There is a strong policy against federal intervention in pending state judicial

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processes in the absence of extraordinary circumstances.1 Younger v. Harris, 401
U.S. 37, 43-45 (1971). See also Gilbertson v. Albright, 381 F.3d 965, 973 (9th Cir.
2004) (quoting Middlesex County Ethics Committee v. Garden State Bar
Association, 457 U.S. 423, 431 (1982)). “Younger abstention is a jurisprudential
doctrine rooted in overlapping principles of equity, comity, and federalism.” San
Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee v. City of
San Jose, 546 F.3d 1087, 1091 (9th Cir. 2008). Specifically, Younger directs
federal courts to abstain from granting injunctive or declaratory relief that would
interfere with pending state or local court proceedings. Gilbertson, at 381 F.3d at
968.
The Ninth Circuit has concluded that the federal courts must abstain under
Younger if the following four requirements are met:
(1) a state-initiated proceeding is ongoing; (2) the proceeding implicates
important state interests; (3) the federal plaintiff is not barred from litigating
federal constitutional issues in the state proceeding; and (4) the federal court
action would enjoin the proceeding or have the practical effect of doing so,
i.e., would interfere with the state proceeding in a way that Younger
disapproves.
City of San Jose, 546 F.3d at 1092 (citing Gilbertson, 381 F.3d at 978, and
AmerisourceBergen Corp. v. Roden, 495 F.3d 1143, 1149 (9th Cir. 2007)).

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Federal courts may raise the issue of Younger abstention sua sponte. See
Bellotti v. Baird, 428 U.S. 132, 143-44 n.10 (1976) and The San Remo Hotel v.
City and County of San Francisco, 145 F.3d 1095, 1103 n.5 (9th Cir. 1998).
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Where applicable, Younger abstention is mandatory. Absent exceptional
circumstances, the district courts do not have discretion to avoid the doctrine if the
elements of Younger abstention exist in a particular case. City of San Jose, 546
F.3d at 1092 (citation omitted). The recognized exceptional circumstances are
limited to “a ‘showing of bad faith, harassment, or some other extraordinary
circumstance that would make abstention inappropriate.’” Id. (quoting Middlesex
County Ethics Committee v. Garden State Bar Association, 457 U.S. 423, 435
(1982)).
All of the elements of Younger abstention exist in this case. First, Glick’s
allegations establish that the Montana Supreme Court’s May 2, 2017 order arises
in an ongoing civil action in the courts of the state of Montana which is currently
pending on appeal.
Second, the referenced order implicates important state interests in the
control over litigation procedures in the courts of the State of Montana. This court
should not interfere with those interests.
Third, with regard to Glick’s opportunity to raise any issue, or to assert any
constitutional right in the state court proceedings – matters that he is attempting to
present to this Court – he would have to establish “that state procedural law bar[s]
presentation of [his] claims[]” in the state court proceedings. Pennzoil Co. v.
Texaco, Inc., 481 U.S. 1, 15 (1987) (quoting Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415, 432
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(1979)). Glick cannot do so in this case. Rather, he has available to him
procedural opportunities and remedies under Montana law and appellate procedure
for further challenging the propriety of the Montana Supreme Court’s order.
Fourth, Glick expressly requests this Court direct the Montana Supreme
Court to alter its May 2, 2017 order. Thus, this federal court action would
interfere with the state court proceedings in a way that Younger prohibits.
Finally, Glick’s allegations do not plausibly suggest exceptional
circumstances exist that would render Younger abstention inapplicable.
Consequently, the Court should abstain from exercising jurisdiction over Glick’s
claims.
IV.

Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action

be DISMISSED.
Ordinarily, “[d]ismissal of a pro se complaint without leave to amend is
proper only if it is absolutely clear that the deficiencies of the complaint could not
be cured by amendment.” Weilburg v. Shapiro, 488 F.3d 1202, 1205 (9th Cir.
2007) (quoting Schucker v. Rockwood, 846 F.2d 1202, 1203-04 (9th Cir. 1988));
Kendall v. VISA U.S.A., Inc., 518 F.3d 1042, 1051-52 (9th Cir. 2008). Here,
however, based on the Younger abstention doctrine, abstention is mandatory under
the circumstances pled in Glick’s petition, and any amendment by Glick would be
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futile. Therefore, it is unnecessary to give Glick an opportunity to amend his
pleading, and it should be dismissed without leave to amend. See Leadsinger, Inc.
v. BMG Music Publishing, 512 F.3d 522, 532 (9th Cir. 2008).
Finally, Glick filed a motion requesting this Court order the Montana
Supreme Court to stay the proceedings before it currently pending on appeal.
Because the Court recommends this action be dismissed, IT IS HEREBY
ORDERED that Glick’s motion is DENIED as moot.
DATED this 31st day of May, 2017.

Jeremiah C. Lynch
United States Magistrate Judge

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