Dyer v. Parker Hannifin
Filing
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Memorandum of Opinion and Order granting Motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Related Doc # 2 ) and this action is dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith. Judge Dan A. Polster(C,KA)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
AMY E. DYER,
Plaintiff,
v.
PARKER HANNIFIN,
Defendant.
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CASE NO. 1:15 CV 1449
JUDGE DAN AARON POLSTER
MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
AND ORDER
Pro se Plaintiff Amy E. Dyer filed this action against Parker Hannifin. Her Complaint
contains only two sentences. In its entirety, it states: “Upon receiving the dismissal file I can
clearly see much oversight and false statements by the defendants [sic] responses. I would like
a chance to seek council [sic] to prove my case.” (Doc. No. 1 at 1). Plaintiff does not allege
facts, does not suggest any legal claims she wants to assert, and does not specify the relief she
seeks.
Plaintiff also filed an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. No. 2). That
Application is granted.
Although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, Boag v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364,
365 (1982) (per curiam); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), the district court is
required to dismiss an in forma pauperis action under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e) if it fails to state a
claim upon which relief can be granted, or if it lacks an arguable basis in law or fact. Neitzke v.
Williams, 490 U.S. 319 (1989); Lawler v. Marshall, 898 F.2d 1196 (6th Cir. 1990); Sistrunk v.
City of Strongsville, 99 F.3d 194, 197 (6th Cir. 1996). An action has no arguable basis in law
when a defendant is immune from suit or when a plaintiff claims a violation of a legal interest
which clearly does not exist. Neitzke, 490 U .S. at 327. An action has no arguable factual basis
when the allegations are delusional or rise to the level of the irrational or “wholly incredible.”
Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32 (1992); Lawler, 898 F.2d at 1199.
When determining whether the Plaintiff has stated a claim upon which relief can be
granted, the Court must construe the Complaint in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff,
accept all factual allegations as true, and determine whether the Complaint contains “enough
fact to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
544, 555 (2007). The Plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds for relief “requires more than
labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not
do.” Id. Although a Complaint need not contain detailed factual allegations, its “factual
allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level on the
assumption that all the allegations in the Complaint are true.” Id. The Court is “not bound to
accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S.
265, 286 (1986); Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677-678 (2009).
In this case, Plaintiff’s pleading does not contain factual allegations or legal claims.
Although pro se Complaints are not expected to meet the same stringent standards as those
drafted by lawyers, at a minimum, the Complaint must give the Defendant fair notice of what
the Plaintiff’s claims are and the factual grounds upon which they rests. Bassett v. National
Collegiate Athletic Ass’n, 528 F.3d 426, 437 (6th Cir. 2008). Plaintiff has not submitted a
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Complaint that meets the basic pleading requirements.
To the extent Plaintiff was not attempting to file a Complaint, but only wanted the Court
to appoint counsel for her so that counsel could file a Complaint on her behalf, the Court cannot
grant her request. Plaintiff first must file a civil action with a Complaint that meets the basic
notice pleading requirements. A district court has the discretion to appoint counsel for an
indigent civil litigant; however, that appointment is justified only by exceptional circumstances,
such as the presence of facts and legal issues which are so novel or complex as to require the
assistance of a trained practitioner. Leon v. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 823 F.2d 928,
930 (6th Cir. 1987); Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 193 (11th Cir.1993). In order for the Court to
make that determination, Plaintiff has to file a Complaint that contains facts and legal causes of
action. The Court does not appoint counsel to investigate whether Plaintiff has a viable cause of
action.
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. No. 2) is
granted and this action is dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). The Court certifies, pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith.1
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/Dan Aaron Polster 11/16/15
DAN AARON POLSTER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
1
28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) provides:
An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies that it is not
taken in good faith.
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