Gonzalez v. Basu

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri denied Natalie Gonzalez’s application to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissed her complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). The court determined that the complaint failed to state a claim and was frivolous and malicious because it consisted of bare allegations and was filed nearly identically in numerous federal courts.

Holdings

1. The complaint failed to state a claim because it contained only conclusory allegations, lacked factual context, and did not provide sufficient factual matter to make a claim plausible on its face.
2. The complaint was malicious because its filing as the same bare complaint against the same defendant in numerous federal courts within a few days demonstrated an intent to harass the defendant, the court, or both.
3. The application to proceed in forma pauperis was denied because the complaint was subject to dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

Questions Presented

1. Whether the complaint stated a claim for relief under the applicable pleading standard.
2. Whether the complaint was frivolous and malicious within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).
3. Whether Gonzalez's application to proceed in forma pauperis should be denied.

Disposition

dismissed