Opinion
19-CV-11202 (CM)
02-05-2020
ROBERT W. JOHNSON, Plaintiff, v. PROGRESSIVE.COM, et al., Defendants.
ORDER OF DISMISSAL :
Plaintiff Robert W. Johnson, of the Bronx, New York, filed this complaint pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP). The Court dismisses this action for the reasons set forth below.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The Court must dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B), 1915A(b); see Abbas v. Dixon, 480 F.3d 636, 639 (2d Cir. 2007). While the law mandates dismissal on any of these grounds, the Court is obliged to construe pro se pleadings liberally, Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009), and interpret them to raise the "strongest [claims] that they suggest," Triestman v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 470 F.3d 471, 474-75 (2d Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted) (emphasis in original).
A claim is frivolous when it "lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324-25 (1989), abrogated on other grounds by Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007); see also Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992) (holding that "finding of factual frivolousness is appropriate when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible"); Livingston v. Adirondack Beverage Co., 141 F.3d 434, 437 (2d Cir. 1998) ("[A]n action is 'frivolous' when either: (1) the factual contentions are clearly baseless . . . ; or (2) the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory.") (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Plaintiff filed this complaint against multiple insurance companies and other entities, including Progressive, Axxcess Insurance Agencies Ltd., New York Automobile Insurance Plan, Global Liberty Insurance Company, Arizona Premium Finance, Chevrolet, ADESA, Nationwide, Victoria Fire & Casualty Company, Allstate, Geico, and AAA. Plaintiff seeks "$999 trillion" in punitive damages, "$999 billion for future pain and suffering," and "100% ownership of corporation assets, bank accounts & equities." The complaint contains no facts.
Even when read with the "special solicitude" due pro se pleadings, Triestman, 470 F.3d at 474-75, Plaintiff's claims rise to the level of the irrational, and there is no legal theory on which he can rely. See Denton, 504 U.S. at 33; Livingston, 141 F.3d at 437.
District courts generally grant a pro se plaintiff an opportunity to amend a complaint to cure its defects, but leave to amend is not required where it would be futile. See Hill v. Curcione, 657 F.3d 116, 123-24 (2d Cir. 2011); Salahuddin v. Cuomo, 861 F.2d 40, 42 (2d Cir. 1988). Because the defects in Plaintiff's complaint cannot be cured with an amendment, and in light of Plaintiff's abusive litigation history, discussed below, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff leave to amend.
Plaintiff has filed scores of cases around the country in connection with a 2017 car accident in Buffalo, New York, and this complaint is consistent with his pattern of vexatious and frivolous litigation. In Johnson v. Wolf, ECF 1:19-CV-7337, 5 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 5, 2019), Judge Wood, after discussing Plaintiff's extensive litigation history, dismissed Plaintiff's action as frivolous, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, and for seeking monetary relief against Defendants who are immune from such relief; he also ordered Plaintiff to show cause why he should not be barred from filing any future action IFP in this Court without prior permission). Plaintiff did not file a declaration as directed, but instead, on November 13, 2019, Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal, and that appeal is pending.
A review of the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system reveals that since November 5, 2019, Plaintiff has filed ten new actions in other federal district courts and, including this case, four new actions in this Court. See Johnson v. New York State Ins. Fund, ECF 1:19-CV-11831, 2 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 20. 2019); Johnson v. Progressive.com, ECF 1:19-CV-11202, 2 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 5, 2019); Johnson v. New York State Dep't of Trans., ECF 1:19-CV-11127, 2 (S.D.N.Y. filed Dec. 2, 2019).
By order dated January 27, 2020, entered in Johnson v. Town of Onondaga, ECF 1:19-CV-11128, 4 (CM) (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 27, 2020), this Court also directed Plaintiff to show cause why a filing injunction should not be imposed. And at least one other court has already barred Plaintiff from filing pro se complaints without prior permission. See Johnson v. Abel, No. 19-CV-2685 (E.D. Ohio Aug. 5, 2019) (deeming Plaintiff a "vexatious" litigant and barring him from filing new pro se actions without prior leave of court).
The Court's prior warnings remain in effect.
CONCLUSION
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff and note service on the docket.
The Court dismisses this action as frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: February 5, 2020
New York, New York
/s/_________
COLLEEN McMAHON
Chief United States District Judge