Richard Henry Johnston, Jr. v. City and County of Honolulu, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Hawai‘i grants in part the defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings in Richard Henry Johnston, Jr.’s action alleging harassment, false imprisonment, and attempted false imprisonment. The court dismisses the operative complaint for failure to state a claim but grants leave to amend, requiring a standalone amended complaint with specific factual allegations. The court sets April 16, 2026, as the deadline for amendment and warns that failure to amend will result in dismissal with prejudice.

Holdings

1. The operative complaint failed to state a claim because it merely labeled alleged wrongdoing without providing sufficient factual allegations to make any claim plausible.
2. Despite the deficient pleading and Johnston's prior unsuccessful attempts to amend, leave to amend was appropriate under the circumstances, particularly because Johnston was proceeding pro se.
3. Any amended complaint must stand alone and separately provide short, plain factual statements identifying the right allegedly violated, each responsible defendant, the defendant's conduct and timing, the connection between that conduct and the violation, and the specific resulting injury.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the operative complaint stated plausible claims for harassment, false imprisonment, or attempted false imprisonment under the federal pleading standards.
2. Whether dismissal should be with prejudice or whether Johnston should be granted leave to amend.
3. What pleading content Johnston must provide if he elects to file an amended complaint.

Disposition

other