Sanders v. United States of America

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM ON DISMISSAL granting 2 MOTION/APPLICATION to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Case is dismissed with prejudice. Pending motions are denied as moot. Email sent to Manager of Three Strikes List. (Signed by Judge Vanessa D Gilmore) Parties notified.(gclair, 4)

United States District Court
Southern District of Texas

ENTERED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
CHRISTOPHER SANDERS,
(Reg. #62316-066)
Plaintiff,

§
§
§

David J. Bradley, Clerk

§

vs.

April 27, 2017

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

§
§
§

CIVIL ACTION H-17-1110

§

Defendant.

§
MEMORANDUM ON DISMISSAL

Christopher Sanders, an inmate of FCI McDowell, sued in April 2017, alleging civil rights
violations resulting from a failure to protect his safety. Sanders, proceeding prose, sued the United
States of America.
The threshold issue is whether Sanders's claims should be dismissed as frivolous. The court
concludes that Sanders's claims lack merit and should be dismissed for the reasons stated below.
Sanders states that while confined at FCI Gilmer in West Virginia, he met a few inmates from Texas.
Sanders states that those inmates were very sick and need help. Sanders wishes to learn the identity
of the inmate who was housed in his cell. Sanders states that he is originally from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and his father's family is from Dallas, Texas. Sanders alleges that the food from
Texas is causing him to get high. Sanders states that he is looking for Shaw Carter, J.Z. from Rock
Nation, Beyonce Knowles, and Solange Knowles. Sanders asks, "where did all the sex pictures
come from in the fake songs in mag. I need answers."
Sanders states that in December 2016, he sent a greeting card to a star named Kelly Rowland.
Sanders alleges that the card came from FCI Berlin. Sanders contends that Rowland and Knowles
0 \RAO\VDG\20\7\17-IJIO aOI wpd

are at FCI Berlin, and Carter is the boss. He asks that the West Virginia Clerk of Court to stay away
from him until he completes his section 2255 motion. Sanders asks that the court assist him in
identifying the inmates from Texas.
A federal court has the authority to dismiss a complaint in which the plaintiff is proceeding

in forma pauperis before service if the court determines that it is frivolous. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). A complaint is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis in law or fact. See Denton
v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25,31 (1992); Richardson v. Spurlock, 260 F.3d 495,498 (5th Cir. 2001)
(citing Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997)). "A complaint lacks an arguable
basis in law if it is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory, such as if the complaint alleges
the violation of a legal interest which clearly does not exist." Davis v. Scott, 157 F.3d 1003, 1005
(5th Cir. 1998)(quoting McCormick v. Stalder, 105 F.3d 1059, 1061 (5th Cir. 1997)). A claim is
factually frivolous when "the facts alleged are 'fantastic or delusional scenarios' or the legal theory
upon which a complaint relies is 'indisputably meritless."' Harris v. Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153, 156
(5th Cir. 1999); see also Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32 (1992). Sanders does not present
a logical set of facts to support any claim for relief. Instead, his complaint presents fantastic
allegations which are fanciful and delusional in nature.

Dismissal is warranted under these

circumstances.
Sanders's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, (Docket Entry No.2), is GRANTED. The
action filed by Christopher Sanders (Reg. #62316-066) lacks an arguable basis in law. His claims
are DISMISSED with prejudice under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Any remaining pending
motions are DENIED as moot.
The Clerk will provide a copy of this order by e-mail to the District Clerk for the Southern

0 \RAOIVDG\2017\17-1110 aOI wpd

2

District of Texas, Attention: Manager of the hree-Strikes List at [e-mail].
SIGNED at Houston, Texas,

'l

~7

---1'--+i--'-=~----' 2017.

~

VANESSA D. GILMORE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

0\RAOIVDG\10!7\17-!J!OaOI wpd

3