Wilkinson v. Wells Fargo Advisors et al

Filing 14

ORDER denying 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis; granting 5 Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction; denying 10 Motion to Amend/Correct. Signed by District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr on 2/15/17. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(tob)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
3:16-cv-00755-RJC
ANDREW ELLIOTT WILKINSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
WELLS FARGO ADVISORS;
ANGIE OSTENDARP; MIKE QUIMBY;
ANDY TULLIS (Deceased);
Defendants.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on consideration of Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in
forma pauperis. (Doc. No. 2).
Plaintiff has filed a pro se complaint alleging various state law claims and a claim that his
rights as protected under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 have been violated. In support of his claim for relief,
Plaintiff contends the defendants mismanaged his investment funds and he attaches evidence of
an award from a dispute resolution he filed, through counsel, against Defendant Wells Fargo
Advisors, LLC, with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In this award, which
is dated August 1, 2016, Plaintiff is ordered to be paid $73,784.34 in compensatory damages, and
attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $24,965.66 from Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. (3:16cv-00755, Doc. No. 1 at 10, 13-14).
In addition to reviewing Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court must
examine the complaint to determine whether this Court has jurisdiction and to ensure that the
action is not (1) frivolous or malicious; or (2) that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted; or (3) that Plaintiff is seeking monetary damages from a defendant who is

1

immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i),(ii), and (iii); see also Michau v.
Charleston County, S.C., et al., 434 F.3d 725, 728 (4th Cir.) (noting § 1915(e) “governs IFP
filings in addition to complaints filed by prisoners . . .”), cert. denied, 548 U.S. 910 (2006).
In order to “state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right
secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged
deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law.” West v. Atkins, 487
U.S. 42, 48, (1988) (internal citations omitted). Plaintiff has utterly failed to demonstrate that any
of the defendants are state actors. In addition, Plaintiff’s generic recitation of other federal and
state law claims fails to alert this Court to any potential claim for relief. Moreover, Plaintiff
claims that he was awarded over $70,000 in his arbitration proceeding; yet in his affidavit to
proceed in forma pauperis he lists no income or other form of monetary flow over the last twelve
months notwithstanding the fact that his arbitration victory occurred in August 2016.
Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s complaint should be dismissed.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED. (Doc. No. 2).
2. Plaintiff’s pro se motion to amend his complaint is DENIED as futile. (Doc. No. 10).
3. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint is GRANTED. (Doc. No. 5).
The Clerk is respectfully directed to close this civil case.
SO ORDERED.
Signed: February 15, 2017

2