Ruff v. Carter

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division · March 27, 2025 · No. 2:25-cv-10692

Summary

This United States District Court order grants the plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis and summarily dismisses her complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The court finds the allegations frivolous and lacking factual plausibility, noting they mirror claims previously dismissed in related litigation. Consequently, the complaint is dismissed, and leave to proceed in forma pauperis on any appeal is denied.

Court
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division
Writing for the Court
Linda V. Parker
Jurisdiction
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division
Decision date
March 27, 2025
Docket number
2:25-cv-10692
Procedural posture
Plaintiff's pro se civil rights action dismissed under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(2) after the court granted in forma pauperis status.
Precedential value
nonprecedential
Disposition
dismissed

Topics

motions to dismisssummary judgmentcivil proceduresection 1983

Practice areas

civil procedurecivil rights

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the complaint is frivolous and subject to summary dismissal under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(2)
  2. Whether the plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis

Holdings

  1. The complaint is frivolous and is summarily dismissed.
  2. Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted.

Key quotations

District courts are required by statute to dismiss an action filed IFP if the complaint is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(2); see also McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 608‑09 (6th Cir. 2007). (at 1)
A complaint is frivolous if “it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact” or describes “fantastic or delusional scenarios.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 328 (1989). (at 1)

Factual background

Plaintiff alleges that after being subpoenaed as a federal witness she was stalked by the named defendants. The court found the allegations implausible, lacking factual support, and not sufficient to state a claim.

Procedural history

Plaintiff filed the pro se complaint on November 4, 2024 in the Southern District of New York; the case was transferred to the Eastern District of Michigan on March 12, 2025. The court granted the plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis and then summarily dismissed the complaint as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(2).

Court Document

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