Cuara R. v. Consolidated Edison Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH CENTRAL DIVISION CONSTANTINO CUARA R., MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER PERMITTING THE FILING Plaintiff, OF AN AMENDED COMPLAINT v. CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC., et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-00604 Defendants. Magistrate Judge Daphne A. Oberg Plaintiff Constantino Cuara R., proceeding in forma pauperis (without paying the filing fee) and without an attorney, filed this action against Consolidated Edison, Inc., SEIA Solar Energy Industries Association, the Elektron Solar Project, California Energy Commission, and Rocky Mountain Power.1 Because the complaint is deficient as set forth below, the court permits Mr. Cuara R. to file an amended complaint to correct these deficiencies by September 27, 2023. LEGAL STANDARDS Whenever a court authorizes a party to proceed in forma pauperis, the court must dismiss the case if it determines the complaint “fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted.”2 In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim for relief, the court employs the standard for analyzing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) of the 1 (See Compl., Doc. No. 4.) [2] 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e)(2)(B)(ii). Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.3 To avoid dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must allege “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”4 The court accepts well-pleaded factual allegations as true and views the allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff’s favor.5 But the court need not accept the plaintiff’s conclusory allegations as true.6 “[A] plaintiff must offer specific factual allegations to support each claim.”7 Because Mr. Cuara R. proceeds pro se (without an attorney), his filings are liberally construed and held “to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.”8 Still, pro se plaintiffs must “follow the same rules of procedure that govern other litigants.”9 For instance, a pro se plaintiff “still has the burden of alleging sufficient facts on which a recognized legal claim could be based.”10 While the court must make some allowances for a pro se plaintiff’s “failure to cite proper legal authority, his confusion of various legal theories, his poor 3 Kay v. Bemis, 500 F.3d 1214, 1217 (10th Cir. 2007). 4 Hogan v. Winder, 762 F.3d 1096, 1104 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 547 (2007)). 5 Wilson v. Montano, 715 F.3d 847, 852 (10th Cir. 2013). 6 Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991). 7 Kan. Penn Gaming, LLC v. Collins, 656 F.3d 1210, 1214 (10th Cir. 2011). 8 Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110. 9 Garrett v. Selby, Connor, Maddux & Janer, 425 F.3d 836, 840 (10th Cir. 2005). 10 Jenkins v. Currier, 514 F.3d 1030, 1032 (10th Cir. 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted). syntax and sentence construction, or his unfamiliarity with pleading requirements,”11 the court “will not supply additional factual allegations to round out a plaintiff’s complaint or construct a legal theory on a plaintiff’s behalf.”12 ANALYSIS Mr. Cuara R.’s complaint lacks coherent factual allegations and fails to state a plausible claim for relief. The complaint alleges Mr. Cuara R. is the “owner of the land and all trademarks of United States of America and global network federal and states entities, under sha [sic] 256 fingerprint hereditary blood, malicious and misco[]nduct.”13 These allegations are unintelligible and fail to support any cognizable claim. The complaint contains no other factual allegations, and it fails to allege any actions or omissions by the named defendants. Mr. Cuara R. attached what appears to be an investment account statement as an exhibit to his complaint,14 but this fails to elucidate his claims; it is unclear what claims or allegations this document relates to. Mr. Cuara R. checked boxes on the pro se complaint form indicating he is bringing the case under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985,15 but his incoherent allegations fail to state a claim under either statute. He fails to allege a “deprivation of a federal right by . . . a person acting 11 Hall, 935 F.2d at 1110. 12 Smith v. United States, 561 F.3d 1090, 1096 (10th Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). 13 (Compl., Doc. No. 4 at 3.) 14 (Ex. 1 to Compl., Doc. No. 4-1.) 15 (Compl., Doc. No. 4 at 1.) under color of state law” as required to state a claim under section 1983.16 And he fails to allege any conspiracy to interfere with civil rights under section 1985.17 The complaint also makes conclusory references to numerous other federal statutes but fails to offer any factual allegations in support.18 Merely listing statutes without accompanying allegations is insufficient to state a claim.19 Because Mr. Cuara R.’s complaint fails to state a plausible claim for relief, it is subject to dismissal.20 Nevertheless, “[d]ismissal of a pro se complaint for failure to state a claim is proper only where it is obvious that the plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts he has alleged and it would be futile to give him an opportunity to amend.”21 Accordingly, Mr. Cuara R. will be given an opportunity to amend his complaint. CONCLUSION The court ORDERS as follows: 1. Mr. Cuara R. may file an amended complaint by September 27, 2023. The words “Amended Complaint” should appear in the caption of the document. 16 Watson v. Kan. City, 857 F.2d 690 , 694 (10th Cir. 1988). 17 See 42 U.S.C. § 1985 ; Archuleta v. City of Roswell, 898 F. Supp. 2d 1240, 1247 (D.N.M. 2012). 18 (See Compl., Doc. No. 4 at 3–4.) 19 See Kan. Penn Gaming, LLC, 656 F.3d at 1214 (“[A] plaintiff must offer specific factual allegations to support each claim.”). 20 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e)(2)(B)(ii). 21 Kay, 500 F.3d at 1217 (internal quotation marks omitted). 2. Mr. Cuara R. is advised that an amended complaint will completely replace all prior versions of the complaint. Claims which are not realleged in the amended complaint will be deemed abandoned.” 3. Once filed, the court will screen the amended complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 (e) and Local Civil Rule DUCivR 3-2(b). 4. Other than an amended complaint, the restriction on filing motions or other documents set forth in the court’s September 6, 2023 order”? remains in place. 5. Failure to file an amended complaint may result in dismissal of this action. DATED this 6th day of September, 2023. BY THE COURT: Eagle A. Berg United States Magistrate Judge 2 See Pierce v. Williams, No. CIV 20-284-RAW-SPS, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 185074 , at *6 (E.D. Okla. Oct. 6, 2020) (unpublished) (“An amended complaint completely replaces the original complaint and renders the original complaint of no legal effect.” (citing Miller v. Glanz, 948 F.2d 1562, 1565 (10th Cir. 1991))). 3 (Doc. No. 3.)