James v. Tankamnerd et al
Filing
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ORDER DISMISSING CASE for failure to state a claim and for seeking damages against an immune defendant. Plaintiff's Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Doc. No. 2 ) is GRANTED for the limited purpose of this Court's review. The Clerk is directed to terminate this action. Signed by Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney on 7/18/17. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(mga)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
3:17-cv-418-FDW-DSC
JOANN JAMES,
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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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RONALD TANKAMNERD, et al.,
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Defendants.
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____________________________________)
ORDER
THIS MATTER is before the Court on initial review of Plaintiff’s Complaint, (Doc. No.
1), and on Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, (Doc. No. 2).
I.
BACKGROUND
Pro se Plaintiff JoAnn James filed the instant action on July 14, 2017. Plaintiff is no
stranger to the Court, having filed two other actions this year addressing the same matter. A brief
litigation history provides a helpful context for screening instant case.
On April 4, 2017, Plaintiff filed in case number 3:17-cv-223-RJC-DSC a complaint against
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan for the return of mortgage payments she allegedly made
on her deceased mother’s house. She also named as a Defendant the Department of Social Services
in Rockingham County, North Carolina. The Court dismissed the case for failure to state a claim
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) on May 2, 2017, because Plaintiff had not alleged any facts
linking the loss of the house to the conduct of Defendant Moynihan or, more broadly, Bank of
America, failed to make any allegations against the Department of Social Services in Rockingham
County, North Carolina, and did not alleged facts linking the loss of the house to the conduct of
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that department, or anyone in it.
Plaintiff filed a second action on June 19, 2017, case number 3:17-cv-334-MOC-DSC,
against Bank of America Financial Specialist Ronald Tankamnerd, demanding that the Court
compel Bank of America to refund to her mortgage payments she made while living in her
mother’s home, and alleging that the bank had discriminated against her because she is a poor
white woman in refusing to refund the payments. The Court dismissed the action on June 23, 2017,
as frivolous under 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and for failure to state a claim under 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). See
(3:17-334 Doc. No. 3). The Court noted that it “knows of no federal or state law that requires a
bank to refund mortgage payments, even gratuitous ones made by third parties, based on
deterioration of the relationship which engendered those payments by the third party,” that
Plaintiff’s allegation of discrimination added no viability to that claim, and the only possible
remedy would be in an action against the bank itself, rather than its employees, over which the
Court would lack diversity jurisdiction. (3:17-334 Doc. No. 3, pg. 3).
Plaintiff has now filed this, her third action seeking reimbursement for mortgage payments
that she is allegedly paid on her mother’s house. She names as Defendants Bank of America
Financial Specialist Ronald Tankamnerd, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and Judge Max
O. Cogburn, Jr., the presiding judge in case number 3:17-cv-334. The Complaint packet consists
of three largely blank civil complaint forms that are entirely devoid of factual allegations. (Doc.
No. 1 at 1) (complaint for negligence based on diversity of citizenship); (Doc. No. 1-1) (complaint
for the conversion of property based on diversity of citizenship) ; (Doc. No. 1-2) (third party
complaint). Attached to the Complaint forms is an “E-mail” narrative that is identical to one she
filed in case number 3:17-cv-223. See (3:17-cv-223 Doc. No. 1, pg. 2). She has also attached a
copy of Judge Cogburn’s order dismissing case number 3:17-cv-334, on which she has handwritten
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some notes contesting the Court’s conclusions, and stating:
I’m filing claim to all below!! $40,000.00 for the judge for slander, fraud &
obstructing justice against me & my mother who is passed away N.C. 1-25-2016.
Also claim form for the $11,000 that was paid for mine & my mothers house on
141 Will Rd. Mayodan, N.C. $990.00 for 2 yrs interest $14, 945.02 on mortgage.
(Doc. No. 1-4 at 20-23).
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because Plaintiff seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court must review the Complaint
to determine whether it is subject to dismissal on the grounds that it is “(i) 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)(B). In its frivolity review,
this Court must determine whether the Complaint raises an indisputably meritless legal theory or
is founded upon clearly baseless factual contentions, such as fantastic or delusional scenarios.
Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989). A pro se complaint must be construed liberally.
Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). However, the liberal construction requirement will
not permit a district court to ignore a clear failure to allege facts in his Complaint which set forth
a claim that is cognizable under federal law. Weller v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 901 F.2d 387 (4th
Cir. 1990).
III.
DISCUSSION
The Court will dismiss this action for seeking damages against an immune defendant and
for failure to state a claim.
First, Judge Cogburn is immune from suit under the doctrine of judicial immunity. See
Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S. 349, 359 (1996) (“A judge is absolutely immune from liability for
his judicial acts even if his exercise of authority is flawed by the commission of grave procedural
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errors.”); Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 419 (1976) (stating that judicial “immunity applies
even when the judge is accused of acting maliciously and corruptly, and it is not for the protection
or benefit of a malicious or corrupt judge, but for the benefit of the public, whose interest it is that
the judges should be at liberty to exercise their functions with independence and without fear of
consequences”) (internal quotations omitted).
Second, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against Defendants Tankamnerd and Moynihan.
She has made no factual allegations whatsoever as to either of these individuals. See Ashcroft v.
Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action,
supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”); see FED. R. CIV. P. 8(a)(2) (a pleading
must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.”). Her conclusory statement that she experienced financial losses with regards to her
mother’s home is completely unsupported by factual allegations demonstrating that these losses
were attributable to the Defendants’ actions. Thus, Plaintiff’s allegations in their current form are
not sufficient to state a claim against either Defendant Tankamnerd or Defendant Moynihan.
Therefore, the Court will sua sponte dismiss Plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice as to
Defendants Tankamnerd and Moynihan,1 and with prejudice as to Judge Cogburn, who is protected
by absolute judicial immunity
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiff’s action is dismissed for failure to state a claim and
for seeking damages against an immune defendant pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and
(iii).
It appears unlikely that Plaintiff will be able to state a claim against Defendants Tankamnerd
and Moynihan for the reasons set forth in the Order of Dismissal in case number 3:17-334.
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IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiff’s Complaint, (Doc. No. 1), is DISMISSED for failure to state a claim and for
seeking damages against an immune defendant.
2.
Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, (Doc. No. 2), is GRANTED for
the limited purpose of this Court’s review.
3. The Clerk is directed to terminate this action.
Signed: July 18, 2017
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