Yi v. Snyder

Filing 5

MEMORANDUM re Complaint 1 filed by Bo Yi (Order to follow as separate docket entry)Signed by Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo on 1/20/17. (ma)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
v.
:
KEVIN L. SNYDER, Chief of Police, :
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North Londonderry Township,
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Defendant.
BO YI,

Civil No. 1:17-cv-0083

Judge Sylvia H. Rambo

MEMORANDUM
Before the court is a complaint filed by Plaintiff Bo Yi (“Yi”) against
Kevin L. Snyder, Chief of Police, North Londonderry Township, Lebanon County,
Pennsylvania. (Doc. 1.) In the complaint, Yi does not specify what federal statute
or constitutional law he alleges has been violated. He only alleges that his civil
rights were violated because the defendant, Kevin Snyder (“Chief Snyder”),
“demonstrated hatred and racism towards” him. (Doc. 1, ¶ 40.) Based on this
allegation, the clerk of court labeled this complaint as being filed pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 1983.
Bo Yi is apparently an owner of property in Annville, Pennsylvania. (See
Docket sheet, p. 1.) According to the complaint, on June 10, 2016, a work crew
from Keystone Home Builders appeared at Yi’s residence to remove some trees.
An argument ensued and police were called. No action was taken to remove the
trees that day. Later that day, Yi went to the police station for the purpose of filing

a complaint. (Doc. 1, ¶ 14.) The next day, Defendant Snyder contacted Yi to
discuss what had happened. (Id. at ¶ 16.) On June 14, 2016, Keystone’s crew
returned to remove the trees, but Yi prevented the backhoe from entering his
property by lying on the ground. (Id. at ¶ 20.) The police arrived and Chief Snyder
engaged the parties in an effort to resolve the issue. At some point, Chief Snyder
advised the tree crew to have Keystone go to court and obtain the necessary
documents to enforce removal of the trees.
According to the complaint, Chief Snyder made the following statements
to the parties:
1) He told Yi “not to do anything stupid” (Id. at ¶¶ 17, 22);
2) He advised Yi to “just let them remove the trees” (Id. at ¶ 26);
3) He asked Yi, “did you bring this from Cambodia?” (referring to a
machete in Yi’s possession) (Id. at ¶ 28);
4) He told the crew to “[g]o to court and file emergency [papers]” and
“once you have the court papers, just come and remove it, if he still
blocks you, call right away” (Id. at ¶¶ 33-34);
5) He told Yi, “Tomorrow, I’ll have the papers from court,” and “if you
still won’t let them remove it, you will be arrested for contempt of
court.” (Id. at ¶¶ 35-36).

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Yi alleges that Chief Snyder was “taking sides” and “demonstrating
hatred and racism” toward him. (Id. at ¶ 40.) However, throughout the complaint,
Yi cites various times that Chief Snyder referred to him as a “good person.” (Id. at
¶¶ 17, 18, 26.) These words conflict with Yi’s allegations that Chief Snyder was
prejudiced toward him. Furthermore, none of the statements attributed to Chief
Snyder amounted to racial or ethnic animus toward Yi.
Accordingly, Yi has failed to state a cause of action amounting to ethnic
or racial discrimination, and the court will dismiss this action pursuant to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(h)(3) for lack of jurisdiction.
Dismissal will be without leave to amend the complaint. In Alston v.
Parker, 363 F.3d 229, 236 (3d Cir. 2004), the court held that “dismissal without
leave to amend is justified only on the grounds of bad faith, undue delay, prejudice
or futility.” Here, the grounds in the complaint are unsubstantial, attenuated, and
obviously frivolous. An amendment will be futile.
An appropriate order will issue.

s/Sylvia H. Rambo
SYLVIA H. RAMBO
United States District Judge

Dated: January 20, 2017

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