Bland v. Sawyers et al

Filing 5

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION and ORDER: Magistrate Judge GRANTS 1 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis, RECOMMENDS DISMISSING 2 , 3 , and 4 Complaints. Objections to R&R due by 10/6/2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson on 9/22/2017. (ew)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
JAMES ELDON BLAND,

Plaintiff,

Case No. 2:17-cv-762
Judge George C. Smith
Magistrate Judge Jolson

v.
PAULA M. SAWYERS, et al.,
Defendants.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
AND ORDER
Plaintiff James Eldon Bland, an Ohio resident who is proceeding without the assistance
of counsel, brings this action against Prosecuting Attorney Paula M. Sawyers, State Trooper
Jarod Myers, “Newark Police Department Police Officers/Detectives,” and “Heath Police
Department Police Officers.” (See Doc. 1-2 at 2). This matter is before the Undersigned for
consideration of Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 1) and the
initial screen of Plaintiff’s complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. All judicial officers who
render services in this action shall do so as if the costs had been prepaid. 28 U.S.C . § 1915(a).
However, having performed an initial screen, it is RECOMMENDED that this case be
DISMISSED.
I.

LEGAL STANDARD
Because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court must dismiss the complaint,

or any portion of it, that is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2). Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a complaint to set
forth “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” In
reviewing the complaint, the Court must construe it in favor of Plaintiff, accept all well-pleaded
factual allegations as true, and evaluate whether it contains “enough facts to state a claim to
relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A
claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to
draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft
v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). On the other hand, a
complaint that consists of “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action” is insufficient. Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). Although pro se
complaints are to be construed liberally, Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), “basic
pleading essentials” are still required. Wells v. Brown, 891 F.2d 591, 594 (6th Cir. 1989).
II.

DISCUSSION
For reasons that are unclear, Plaintiff submitted three separate, unsigned complaints in

this case. (See generally Docs. 1-1, 1-2). Because they are unsigned, Plaintiff’s complaints are
subject to dismissal without prejudice. See, e.g., Carr v. Village of Greenhills, et al., No. 1:14cv-994, 2015 WL 519213, at *5 (S.D. Ohio Feb. 9, 2015). Further, as set forth below, Plaintiff’s
claims are likewise subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted.
A.

The First Complaint

In the first complaint, Plaintiff alleges that “she” (likely Prosecuting Attorney Paula M.
Sawyers) “neglected to review provided evidence.” (Doc. 1-1 at 4). He also generally alleges
“ongoing harassment.” (Id.). He claims that the events giving rise to his complaint occurred in

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the “Licking County jail, personal residence, [and] public domain” on February 9, 2016 and
December 17, 2015. (Id.). In the most detailed portion of his first complaint, Plaintiff alleges
that “[t]he prosecutor didn’t check [his] alibi, stated she didn’t know [he] had a twin brother,
wrongfully imprisoned [him] leading to an assault against [him], which has led to harassment
from state officials.” (Id.). He further claims to have received “received no medical attention”
while incarcerated, but doesn’t specify his injury or medical condition. (Id. at 5). Plaintiff also
claims his DNA was taken improperly and an individual was asked “to set [him] up,” but he
doesn’t explain any of the circumstances surrounding those events. (Id. at 4). Finally, Plaintiffs
requests that two individuals be released from custody because he feels they were given harsh
sentences based on their association with him. (Id. at 5).
B.

The Second Complaint

Plaintiff’s second complaint sets forth claims for malicious prosecution, wrongful
imprisonment, assault, and harassment. (Doc. 1-2 at 4). Similar to the first complaint, the
limited detail Plaintiff offers in support of his claims is difficult to decipher and, at times,
illegible. (See generally Docs. 1-1, 1-2). Plaintiff generally alleges that there “have [been]
plenty of occurrences” that are “ongoing,” which took place in the “Licking County courts,
Licking County jail, and Newark City public.” (Id.). Plaintiff lists relevant dates as February 9,
2016, March 22, 2016, and December 17, 2015, but what occurred on those dates is unclear.
(Id.).
Plaintiff reiterates his general claims of assault, harassment, the improper taking of DNA,
and the “set up,” but still fails to provide any of the circumstances surrounding those events,
including who was involved or when they occurred. (Id. at 4). He also renews his request for
two individuals to be released from custody because they were given harsh sentences based on

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their association with him. (Id. at 5). Plaintiff further claims that dispatch records show this
social security number was run on many occasions, but it’s unclear what that means. (See id.).
Plaintiff alleges that the charges against him were dismissed, but he is “no longer able to
see [his] daughter because of her grandmother.” (Id.). He also claims “it is hard to find a wellpaying job or further [his] education because of the charges,” which are still public record. (Id.).
Plaintiff does not connect Defendants to those allegations, specify what the charges were, or why
they were dismissed. (Id.).
C.

The Third Complaint

Plaintiff’s third complaint is a “small claims complaint,” filed against Prosecuting
Attorney Paula M. Sawyers and State Trooper Jarod Myers. (Id. at 7). The sole statement of the
claim is that Defendants owe him $15,000 for lost wages and child support. (Id.). Because this
Court is not a small claims court, the third complaint appears to have been filed in error.
D.

Sufficiency of the Complaints

The Court finds that Plaintiff’s claims, as constituted, fail to meet the basic pleading
standards set forth in Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Stated simply, Plaintiff
cites no facts to support his allegations, which consist of nothing more than an insufficient
“labels” or “conclusions.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. Although this Court has construed Plaintiff’s
claims liberally, they fail to satisfy the requirement for “basic pleading essentials.” Wells, 891
F.2d at 594.

Consequently, the Court RECOMMENDS dismissal.

The Court also

RECOMMENDS dismissal because Prosecuting Attorney Paula M. Sawyers is immune, see
Drake v. Howland, No. 2:09-cv-824, 2010 WL 3470483, at *2–4 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 2, 2010), and
Plaintiff has provided insufficient factual content or context from which the Court could

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reasonably infer that Defendants were personally involved in a violation of his rights, Walker v.
Mohr, No. 2: 16-cv-769, 2017 WL 398418, at *3–4 (S.D. Ohio Jan. 30, 2017).
III.

CONCLUSION
Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED.

However, having

performed an initial screen and for the reasons set forth above, it is RECOMMENDED that this
case be DISMISSED.
Procedure on Objections to Report and Recommendation
If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen
(14) days of the date of this Report, file and serve on all parties written objections to those
specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with
supporting authority for the objection(s).

A Judge of this Court shall make a de novo

determination of those portions of the Report or specified proposed findings or recommendations
to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a Judge of this Court may accept, reject, or
modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive further
evidence or may recommit this matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1).
The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and
Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to have the District Judge review the Report
and Recommendation de novo, and also operates as a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of
the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140
(1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: September 22, 2017

/s/Kimberly A. Jolson
KIMBERLY A. JOLSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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