Taylor v. Winter

Filing 7

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by District Judge William P. Johnson dismissing this case without prejudice and DENYING AS MOOT 2 Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. (mag)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
MATTHEW TAYLOR,
Plaintiff,
v.

No. 16cv1330 WJ/GBW

BRAD WINTER,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on pro se Plaintiff’s Civil Rights Complaint
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Doc. 1, filed December 6, 2016 (“Complaint”), and on his
Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. 2, filed December
6, 2016 (“Application”). For the reasons stated below, the Court DISMISSES this case without
prejudice and DENIES Plaintiff’s Application as moot.
Plaintiff filed his Complaint using the form “Civil Rights Complaint Pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 1983.” Plaintiff is suing Brad Winter, Secretary of State for the State of New
Mexico. Plaintiff alleges:
Mr. Brad Winter acknowledged multiple crimes, President Obama had partaken in
outside of New Mexico, but illegally ignored and disregarded the two crimes that
President Obama partook in within New Mexico that are within New Mexico’s
jurisdiction. The complaint that I filed against Governor Susana Martinez
identifies the illegalities & criminal malfeasance that occurred here in New Mexico
that Mr. Winter illegally dismissed & closed out.
....
This case is a gateway instrument identifying multiple facets within a multi faceted
situation, other than the illegalities and criminal malfeasance identified in the
particulars of this case, this will become very apparent upon reading & reviewing
everything. Mr. Winter illegally dismissed/closed out a valid complaint against
Governor Susana Martinez, to protect & shield her from both accountability & the
consequences of her illegal actions, in doing this, Mr. Winter disregarded & turned
a blind eye to my civil rights as though I have no civil rights, which of course I do.

Mr. Winter did what he did because he could do it, due to the power of the office he
holds. There was nor is there any legal reasoning nor rational for Mr. Winter’s
unlawful action.
Complaint at 1-2. Plaintiff seeks only monetary relief: “A fair & justified amount of relief given
who is involved & factoring in the other facets within my multi faceted situation is $100 million
dollars.” Complaint at 5.
New Mexico Secretary of State Brad Winter is immune to Plaintiff’s suit for damages
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

See Hull v. State of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue

Department’s Motor Vehicle Division, 179 Fed.Appx. 445, 446 (10th Cir. 2006) (“It is well
established that arms of the state, or state officials acting in their official capacities, are not
‘persons’ within the meaning of § 1983 and therefore are immune from § 1983 damages suits.”).
The Court dismisses this case for lack of jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (“If the
court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the
action”); Brereton v. Bountiful City Corp., 434 F.3d 1213, 1218 (10th Cir.2006) (“[D]ismissals for
lack of jurisdiction should be without prejudice because the court, having determined that it lacks
jurisdiction over the action, is incapable of reaching a disposition on the merits of the underlying
claims.”). Additionally, since the Court is dismissing this case, the Court denies Plaintiff’s
Application to proceed in forma pauperis as moot.
IT IS ORDERED this case is DISMISSED without prejudice.
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in District Court Without
Prepaying Fees or Costs, Doc. 2, filed December 6, 2016, is DENIED as moot.

__________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2