Moon v. Boddie

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia grants the pro se plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis but dismisses the complaint as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The court concludes that the complaint’s allegations of conspiracy, criminal wrongdoing, and related religious proclamations are irrational, incomprehensible, and insufficient to establish subject-matter jurisdiction.

Holdings

1. A complaint may be dismissed as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) when its factual allegations are irrational, wholly incredible, or fanciful, and a complaint that is plainly abusive of the judicial process may be dismissed as malicious. The court held that this complaint fell into both categories.
2. The complaint failed to state a plausible claim for relief because it did not contain sufficient factual matter to support a claim that was plausible on its face.
3. Federal courts lack power to entertain claims that are so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely devoid of merit; the court therefore could not exercise subject matter jurisdiction over the complaint.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the complaint stated a plausible claim for relief.
2. Whether the complaint was frivolous or maliciously abusive of the judicial process and therefore subject to dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
3. Whether the alleged claims were so unsubstantial and attenuated that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over them.

Disposition

dismissed