Lawthorn v. Buy Buy Baby, Inc.

Filing 21

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: The Magistrate Judge RECOMMENDS that Defendant Buy Buy Baby, Inc.'s motion to dismiss 5 be GRANTED and that this action be DISMISSED. Signed by Magistrate Judge Alistair Newbern on 2/17/2021. (xc: Pro se party by regular mail.) (DOCKET TEXT SUMMARY ONLY-ATTORNEYS MUST OPEN THE PDF AND READ THE ORDER.)(kc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE DIVISION

KEVIN LAWHORN,
Plaintiff,

Case No. 3:20-cv-00201

v.

Judge Eli J. Richardson
Magistrate Judge Alistair E. Newbern

BUY BUY BABY, INC.,
Defendant.

To:

The Honorable Eli J. Richardson, District Judge
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This personal injury action under the Court’s removal jurisdiction is referred to the

Magistrate Judge to dispose or recommend disposition of any pretrial motions under 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1)(A) and (B). (Doc. No. 7.) Now before the Court is Defendant Buy Buy Baby, Inc.’s
motion to dismiss pro se Plaintiff Kevin Lawhorn’s complaint under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted. (Doc. No. 5.)
Lawhorn has responded in opposition to Buy Buy Baby’s motion (Doc. No. 9), and Buy Buy Baby
has filed a reply (Doc. No. 10). For the reasons that follow, the Magistrate Judge will recommend
that Buy Buy Baby’s motion be granted and this case be dismissed.
Factual and Procedural Background 1

I.

Lawhorn resides in Gallatin, Tennessee. (Doc. No. 1-1.) On March 23, 2019, Lawhorn was
in a Buy Buy Baby “store to purchase baby products for spring break when a long hook fell onto

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The facts in this section are drawn from Lawhorn’s complaint (Doc. No. 1-1) and taken as
true for purposes of resolving the pending motion to dismiss. See Courtright v. City of Battle Creek,
839 F.3d 513, 518 (6th Cir. 2016).

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[his] right foot causing neuropathy pain.” (Id. at PageID# 4.) The metal hook had been hanging on
a wall holding heavy beach mats. (Id.) Lawhorn’s treatment for his injury “included [over the
counter] meds as well as [a] prescription of gabapentin” and an “XRAY.” (Id.) His doctor’s office
“cleared [Lawhorn] to work [in] January 2020.” (Id.) A Buy Buy Baby risk management employee
offered to settle Lawhorn’s claim, but Lawhorn refused. (Id.)
Lawhorn initiated this action on February 20, 2020, by filing a complaint against Buy Buy
Baby in the Circuit Court for Williamson County, Tennessee. (Doc. No. 1-1.) Lawhorn’s
complaint seeks $300,000.00 in damages and lost wages. (Id.) Buy Buy Baby, which is
incorporated in Delaware and has its principal place of business in New Jersey, removed the case
to this Court on March 9, 2020, based on diversity of citizenship. (Doc. No. 1.)
On March 17, 2020, Buy Buy Baby moved to dismiss Lawhorn’s complaint under
Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. (Doc. No. 5.) Buy Buy Baby argues that Lawhorn has
not alleged that it engaged in any wrongdoing and has not identified any causes of action against
it. (Doc. No. 6.) Even if the Court construes Lawhorn’s complaint as a premises liability claim,
Buy Buy Baby argues that Lawhorn has not alleged sufficient facts to support such a claim. (Id.)
Lawhorn’s response in opposition does not address these arguments. (Doc. No. 9.) He
repeats the allegations from his complaint and adds that his “employment requires a lot of walking
. . . .” (Id. at PageID# 26.) Lawhorn also attached medical and employment records to his response.
(Doc. No. 9.) Buy Buy Baby’s reply points out that Lawhorn has not responded to its dismissal
arguments and further argues that the Court should not consider Lawhorn’s attachments in
resolving its motion to dismiss. (Doc. No. 10.)
II.

Legal Standard
In deciding a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the Court
must “construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, accept all well-pleaded
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factual allegations in the complaint as true, and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the
plaintiff.” Courtright v. City of Battle Creek, 839 F.3d 513, 518 (6th Cir. 2016). Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) requires only that a complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the
claim[.]” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). However, “[t]he factual allegations in the complaint need to be
sufficient to give notice to the defendant as to what claims are alleged, and the plaintiff must plead
‘sufficient factual matter’ to render the legal claim plausible, i.e., more than merely possible.” Fritz
v. Charter Twp. of Comstock, 592 F.3d 718, 722 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
U.S. 662, 678 (2009)).
“The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more
than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556 (2007)). A plaintiff must plead more than “‘labels
and conclusions[,]’” “‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action[,]’” or “‘naked
assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.’” Id. (third alteration in original) (quoting
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 557). “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.” Id.
Because Lawhorn proceeds pro se, the Court construes his filings “‘liberally’” and holds
his complaint “‘to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers[.]’” Erickson
v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976)). There are
limits to liberal construction, however, and “courts are not required to conjure up unpleaded
allegations or guess at the nature of an argument.” Brown v. Cracker Barrel Rest., 22 F. App’x
577, 578 (6th Cir. 2001) (citing Wells v. Brown, 891 F.2d 591, 594 (6th Cir. 1989)).

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III.

Analysis
Even liberally construed, Lawhorn’s complaint fails to identify any factual or legal basis
for his claims. He does not assert that the hook was dangerous or that Buy Buy Baby knew of the
danger and failed to correct it or warn him about it. This Court is “not required to conjure up
unpleaded allegations or guess at the nature of an argument.” Brown, 22 F. App’x at 578. The
Court finds that Lawhorn’s allegations are insufficient to support any plausible claims for relief.
Buy Buy Baby’s motion to dismiss should therefore be granted.

IV.

Recommendation
For these reasons, the Magistrate Judge RECOMMENDS that Defendant Buy Buy Baby,
Inc.’s motion to dismiss (Doc. No. 5) be GRANTED and that this action be DISMISSED.
Any party has fourteen days after being served with this Report and Recommendation to

file specific written objections. Failure to file specific objections within fourteen days of receipt
of this report and recommendation can constitute a waiver of appeal of the matters decided.
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 155 (1985); Cowherd v. Million, 380 F.3d 909, 912 (6th Cir. 2004).
A party who opposes any objections that are filed may file a response within fourteen days after
being served with the objections. Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2).
Entered this 17th day of February, 2021.

____________________________________
ALISTAIR E. NEWBERN
United States Magistrate Judge

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