Prasad v. Federal Trade Commission et al
Filing
11
MEMORANDUM OPINION. SEE OPINION for complete details. Signed by District Judge M. Hannah Lauck on 05/16/2018. Copy mailed to Plaintiff as directed.(ccol, ) (Main Document 11 replaced on 5/16/2018) (ccol, ).
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Richmond Division
MAY I 6 20IB
SUNDARIK.PRASAD,
CL^K. U.S. DISTRICT coutn
Plaintiff,
RICHMOND. VA
Civil Action No.3:17CV224
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION,et al..
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Sundari K. Prasad, a Virginia inmate proceeding pro se and informa pauperis,filed this
42 U.S.C. § 1983 action.' The matter is before the Court for evaluation pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915(e)(2)and 1915A.
I. Preliminary Review
Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act("PLRA")this Court must dismiss any
action filed by a prisoner ifthe Court determines the action(1)"is frivolous" or(2)"fails to state
a claim on which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The first standard includes
claims based upon "'an indisputably meritless legal theory,'" or claims where the "'factual
contentions are clearly baseless.'" Clay v. Yates, 809 F. Supp. 417,427(E.D. Va. 1992)
(quoting Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,327(1989)), aff'd, 36 F.3d 1091 (4th Cir. 1994).
' statute provides, in pertinent part:
The
Every person who, under color of any statute ... ofany State ... subjects,
or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within
the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities
secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an
action at law....
42U.S.C.§ 1983.
The second standard is the familiar standard for a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P.
12(b)(6).
"A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6)tests the sufficiency of a complaint;
importantly, it does not resolve contests surrounding the facts, the merits of a claim, or the
applicability of defenses." Republican Party o/N.C. v. Martin, 980 F.2d 943,952(4th Cir.
1992)(citing 5A Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1356
(1990)). In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, a plaintiffs well-pleaded
allegations are taken as true and the complaint is viewed in the light most favorable to the
plaintiff. Mylan Labs., Inc. v. Matkari,1 F.3d 1130, 1134(4th Cir. 1993);see also Martin,980
F.2d at 952. This principle applies only to factual allegations, however, and "a court considering
a motion to dismiss can choose to begin by identifying pleadings that, because they are no more
than conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption oftruth." Ashcroft v. Iqbal,556 U.S.662,
679(2009).
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure "require[]only 'a short and plain statement ofthe
claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to 'give the defendant fair notice of
what the...claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544,555(2007)(second alteration in original)(quoting Conley v. Gibson,355 U.S. 41,
47(1957)). Plaintiffs cannot satisfy this standard with complaints containing only "labels and
conclusions" or a "formulaic recitation of the elements ofa cause ofaction." Id. (citations
omitted). Instead, a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient "to raise a right to relief above the
speculative level," id. (citation omitted), stating a claim that is "plausible on its face," id. at 570,
rather than merely "conceivable." Id. "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." Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678(citing BellAtl. Corp.,550 U.S. at 556). In
order for a claim or complaint to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, the plaintiff must
"allege facts sufficient to state all the elements of[his or] her claim." Bass v. E.I. DuPont de
Nemours & Co.,324 F.3d 761,765 (4th Cir. 2003)(citing Dickson v. Microsoft Corp.,309 F.3d
193,213(4th Cir. 2002); lodice v. United States, 289 F.3d 270,281 (4th Cir. 2002)). Lastly,
while the Court liberally construes pro se complaints, Gordon v. LeeJ^, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th
Cir. 1978), it will not act as the inmate's advocate and develop,sua sponte, statutory and
constitutional claims that the inmate failed to clearly raise on the face of his or her complaint.
See Brock V. Carroll, 107 F.3d 241,243(4th Cir. 1997)(Luttig, J., concurring); Beaudett v. City
ofHampton,775 F.2d 1274,1278(4th Cir. 1985).
II. Prasad's Complaint
The action proceeds on Prasad's Particularized Complaint("Complaint," ECF No. 10).^
As an initial matter, the Court notes that Prasad's Complaint consists oframbling allegations,
conclusory statements, and mere phrases. Moreover,the Court notes that in some instances,
Prasad's Complaint is not legible. The Court makes its best attempt to decipher words and
recites the most relevant factual information for each Defendant.^
2
The Court employs the pagination assigned by the CM/ECF docketing system to
Prasad's submissions. The Court corrects the spelling, punctuation, and removes the emphasis in
the quotations from Prasad's Complaint.
^ Beginning on page five ofthe Complaint,Prasad has attached two pages with
miscellaneous allegations that do not appear to follow logically her allegations in the previous
pages. {See Compl. 5-6.) These pages outline her medical history and disabilities, and appear to
raise different claims against the Hampton Roads Regional Jail and Hamilton Hendrix. {See id.)
To the extent that Prasad wishes to raise claims pertaining to her medical history against the
Hampton Roads Regional Jail and Hamilton Hendrix,she is firee to file a separate civil action
raising these claims. As these allegations do not appear related to her original allegations, the
Court will not consider them here.
3
In her Complaint, Prasad names the Federal Trade Commission,Sprint PCS,Verizon
Wireless, Richard Locke, Stephen Bloomquest, David Arnold Carpenter, Hamilton Lee Hendrix,
Jonathan D. Headlee, and Jane "Justice" a/k/a "Paradox Jane," as Defendants. (Compl. 1.) As
pertinent here, Prasad's factual allegations state.
This entire issue arises out of pornographic photos of myself and content
being transferred between cellular networks that was/is unauthorized . . . and
illegally taken and videos that I was unaware were being recorded and did not
agree to - as well as nude photos of my infant son being transferred as well
between lawyers with no legal action taken- between people as well- which was
child pornography. (Police report taken) and threats from Hendrix, Headlee, and
Bloomquest over two networks. Stephen Boomquest [and] Richard Locke -
attomey(s) of Hamilton Hendrix - was told about everything and did nothing
. . . . [Defendants Carpenter, Hendrix, Headlee, and Jane Justice] all
spoke/texted/recorded words that tended to violence and breach of peace (on cell
phones)...[M]y "private property"(my and my son's body) was "taken" via
photo on cellphone for public use and distributed illegally; I was not compensated
for my photos as I was a nude model
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(Compl. 1-2.) Prasad then alleges the various Defendants violated, inter alia, 18 U.S.C. § 2258,'
the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 8.01—45 ofthe Virginia Code,^ the Virginia State
Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, the Constitution of Virginia,"copyright over a cell network,"
This statute provides:
A person who, while engaged in a professional capacity or activity
described in subsection (b) of section 226 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of
1990 on Federal land or in a federally operated (or contracted) facility, or a
covered individual as described in subsection (a)(2) of such section 226 who,
learns of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of
child abuse, as defined in subsection (c) ofthat section, and fails to make a timely
report as required by subsection (a) of that section, shall be fined under this title
or imprisoned not more than 1 year or both.
18 U.S.C. §2258(West 2018).
^ "All words shall be actionable which from their usual construction and common
acceptance are construed as insults and tend to violence and breach ofthe peace." Va. Code
Ann.§ 8.01-45(West 2018).
4
the First Amendment,® Fifth Amendment,'Ninth Amendment,® Tenth Amendment,® and the
Thirteenth Amendment.'® {Id. at 2-4.) Prasad requests, inter alia, that this Court grant her and
her son "monetary relief of 193 million dollars for failure to act[and] prosecute,[and] legal
remedy ofjail time enacted on all parties." {Id. at 7.)
III. Analysis
It is both unnecessary and inappropriate to engage in an extended discussion ofPrasad's
theories for relief. See Cochran v. Morris, 73F.3dl310,1315 (4th Cir. 1996)(emphasizing that
"abbreviated treatment" is consistent with Congress's vision for the disposition offrivolous or
"insubstantial claims"(citing Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,324(1989))). Ultimately,
Prasad's Complaint will be dismissed for failing to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6) and as legally frivolous.
In order to state a viable claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that a
person acting under color ofstate law deprived him or her ofa constitutional right or of a right
conferred by a law ofthe United States. See Dowe v. Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke
® "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom ofspeech, or ofthe press, or the right ofthe
people to peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
U.S. Const, amend. I.
' person shall be ...deprived oflife, liberty, or property, without due process of
"No
law
" U.S. Const, amend. V.
"The enumeration in the Constitution, ofcertain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people." U.S. Const, amend. IX.
® "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it
to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." U.S. Const, amend. X.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject
to their jurisdiction." U.S. Const, amend. XIII.
5
Valley, 145 F.3d 653,658 (4th Cir. 1998)(citing 42 U.S.C. § 1983). Courts must liberally
construe pro se civil rights complaints in order to address constitutional deprivations. Gordon v.
Leeke,574 F.2d 1147,1151 (4th Cir. 1978). Nevertheless, the Fourth Circuit has explained that
"[tjhough [pro se] litigants cannot, ofcourse, be expected to frame legal issues with the clarity
and precision ideally evident in the work ofthose trained in law, neither can district courts be
required to conjure up and decide issues never fairly presented to them." Beaudett v. City of
Hampton,775 F.2d 1274,1276(4th Cir. 1985). In other words,"[djistrictjudges are not mind
readers," id. at 1278, and "they cannot be expected to construct full blown claims from sentence
fragments." Id.
A. Prasad Fails to State a Constitutional Violation
Despite listing various violations ofthe law, Prasad's Complaint essentially boils down to
a single claim that the Defendants were not prosecuted for their alleged illegal sharing ofnude
photos ofPrasad and her son. {See Compl. 1-2.) In her Prayer for Relief, Prasad requests
monetary relief"for failure to act[and] prosecute" and the "legal remedy ofjail time enacted on
all parties." {Id. at 7.) But Prasad, as"a private citizen lacks ajudicially cognizable interest in
the [criminal] prosecution or nonprosecution of another." Linda R.S. v. Richard D.,410 U.S.
614,619(1973). To the extent that Prasad seeks prosecution against these Defendants for
criminal wrongdoing, her claims will be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Moreover,for the
reasons stated below, none ofthe named Defendants are amenable to suit under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983.
B. Defendants Federal Trade Commission. Sprint PCS,and Verizon
Prasad primarily complains of various activities by "cellular networks" Federal Trade
Commission, Sprint PCS,and Verizon. (Compl. 1.) From what the Court can discern, Prasad
complains that nude photos of herself and her son were electronically taken and/or sent using
cellphones which allegedly implicates the Federal Trade Commission, Sprint PCS,and Verizon.
(See id. at 1—2.) However,the Federal Trade Commission is not a proper defendant under 42
U.S.C. § 1983 and Prasad fails to provide sufficient facts for this Court to infer that Sprint PCS
and Verizon acted under color ofstate law.
First, the Federal Trade Commission is a federal entity and thus is not amenable to suit
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Chatman v. Hernandez, 805 F.2d 453,455 (1st Cir. 1986)(citation
omitted)(observing that "Section 1983 applies to persons acting 'under color ofstate law' and
not to persons acting pursuant to federal law"); Evans v. IRS,No.2:17-CV-05809-RGK-KES,
2017 WL 4350161, at *4(C.D. Cal. Aug. 11,2017)(citation omitted)(explaining that"actions
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 are available only against state actors, not federal actors"). Moreover, to
the extent that Prasad seeks to bring a Bivens^^ suit against the Federal Trade Commission,she
has also failed to name a proper defendant for such an action. See Corr. Servs. Corp. v. Malesko,
534 U.S. 61,72(2001)(explaining that an inmate "may bring a Bivens claim against the
offending individual officer," but that the inmate "may not bring a Bivens claims against the
officer's employer,the United States, or the BOP"). Therefore,Prasad's claims against the
Federal Trade Commission will be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Prasad's next group ofclaims is against Sprint PCS and Verizon. Prasad has not pled any
facts that plausibly suggest that Defendants Sprint PCS and Verizon acted under color of state
law. Rather, Sprint PCS and Verizon are private companies, not state actors. See In re
Rochester,468 F. App'x 393,395 (4th Cir. 2012)(noting "the corporate defendants are not state
actors amenable to suit under § 1983"(citing West v. Atkins,487 U.S. 42,48(1988))); cf. Evans,
"Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents ofFed. Bureau ofNarcotics, 403 U.S. 388
(1971).
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2017 WL 4350161, at *4(concluding Verizon and other corporate defendants, without sufficient
facts indicating otherwise, were not state actors under 42 U.S.C. § 1983); Molefe v. Verizon N.Y.,
/«c.. No. 14-CV-1835-LTS-GWG,2015 WL 1312262, at *2(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 24,2015)
(concluding that Verizon was not a state actor). Because Prasad has failed to plead facts
indicating that Sprint PCS and Verizon are state actors, her claims against Sprint PCS and
Verizon will be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
C. Defendants Locke and Bloomouest
Next,Prasad names Defendants Richard Locke and Stephen Bloomquest. (Compl. 1.)
Prasad identifies Locke and Bloomquest as "attomey(s) of Hamilton Hendrix." {Id.) However,
"[i]t is well-settled that attorneys engaged in private practice do not act under color ofstate law
within the meaning of§ 1983." Parent v. New York,786 F. Supp. 2d 516,538(N.D.N.Y. 2011)
(citation omitted), qff^d, 485 F. App'x 500(2nd Cir. 2012);see Milan v. Wertheimer, 808 F.3d
961, 964(2d Cir. 2015); Davis v. Self, 547 F. App'x 927,934(11th Cir. 2013); cf Polk Cty. v.
Dodson,454 U.S. 312, 318,(1981)(holding that court appointed lawyer is not an officer ofthe
court within § 1983). Accordingly,Prasad's claims against Defendants Locke and Bloomquest
will be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
D. Defendants Carpenter, Hendrix, Headlee,and Jane "Justice" a/k/a "Paradox
Jane"
In her Complaint,Prasad alleges that Defendants Carpenter, Hendrix, Headlee and Jane
"Justice" a/k/a "Paradox Jane"
all spoke/texted/recorded words that tended to violence and breach of peace (on
cell phones)... as my "private property"(my and my son's body) was "taken"
via photo on cellphone for public use and distributed illegally; I was not
compensated for my photos as I was a nude model.... [M]y son is only 2- and
that is child pornography ....
(Compl. 2.)
Prasad's allegations fail to plausibly suggest that Defendants Carpenter, Hendrix,
Headlee, or Jane "Justice" acted under color ofstate law.'^ Therefore, Defendants Carpenter,
Headlee, Hendrix, and Jane "Justice" are not state actors amenable to suit under § 1983. See Am.
Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 50(1999)("[T]he under-color-of-state-law element
\
of§ 1983 excludes from its reach 'merely private conduct, no matter how discriminatory or
wrongful.'"(quoting Blum v. Yaretsky,457 U.S. 991,1002(1982)). Given Prasad's litigation
history, and because ofthe frivolous and malicious nature of her claims, the Court will dismiss
her claims against Defendants Carpenter, Headlee, Hendrix, and Jane "Justice" WITH
PREJUDICE. See Cain v. Virginia, 982 F. Supp. 1132,1136(E.D. Va. 1997).
rv. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Prasad's claims against Defendants Federal Trade
Commission, Richard Locke, Stephen Bloomquest, David Arnold Carpenter, Hamilton Lee
Hendrix, Jonathan D. Headlee, and Jane "Justice" a/k/a "Paradox Jane" are DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE for failure to state a claim, as legally frivolous, and malicious. Prasad's claims
against Defendants Sprint PCS and Verizon will be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
The action will be DISMISSED.
An appropriate Order will accompany this Memorandum Opinion.
Date:
DAY 1 6 2(NB
4
j
• •
Richmond, Virginia
United States'Di^ct Judge
°
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Prasad has repeatedly named the same defendants in the forty-plus civil suits she has
filed in this Court. In another action, Prasad identifies Defendant Carpenter as a "former
photographer and ex-boyfriend," Defendant Headlee as "her other ex-boyfriend," and Jane
"Justice" as a"white supremacist[.]" Part. Compl. 1-2,Prasad v. Flynt, No. 16cv899,ECF
No. 12(E.D. Va. filed May 25,2017). In yet another action, Prasad identifies Defendant
Hendrix as a man she "ha[s] a custody case in Chesterfield Va.[with.]" Part. Compl. \,Prasad
V. Newport News Circuit Court, No. 16cv899,ECF No. 11 (E.D. Va. filed June 16,2017).
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