Summary
dismissing plaintiff's complaint, which alleged Section 1983 claims against the witnesses who testified against him at trial, as frivolous, but still granting plaintiff's request to proceed in forma pauperis
Summary of this case from Shulman v. Facebook.ComOpinion
Civ. A. No. 89-0578.
February 2, 1989.
MEMORANDUM
The plaintiff has submitted a pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint against two witnesses who testified against him at his criminal trial, and the Philadelphia police department, alleging the defendants "knowingly, intentionally, and falsely" gave false testimony, perjured themselves, and fabricated evidence.
The plaintiff has filed a request to proceed in forma pauperis. Whenever the required affidavit of poverty is filed, the right to proceed in forma pauperis should be granted, except in extreme circumstances. Sinwell v. Shapp, 536 F.2d 15, 19 (3d Cir. 1976). This is particularly appropriate when the plaintiff is acting pro se, as the plaintiff is in this case. Therefore, leave to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. See King v. Jeffes, 680 F. Supp. 400, 401-02 (E.D.Pa. 1985).
In Brawer v. Horowitz, 535 F.2d 830, 886 (3d Cir. 1976), the Third Circuit held that witnesses are immune from liability in a § 1983 civil rights action. See Williams v. Hepting, 844 F.2d 138 (3d Cir. 1988); e.g., Dodson v. Lloyd, No. 88-8677 (E.D.Pa. Dec. 7, 1988) [1988 WL 186517] (available on LEXIS, 1988 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 14214].
The plaintiff requests damages in excess of "(12) million of dollars or more" in his complaint, but it is in essence a point-by-point rebuttal to the evidence presented against him at trial. If the plaintiff wishes to challenge his conviction, he has a number of legal alternatives, but a § 1988 action against the witnesses who testified at his trial is not one of them.
Accordingly, this complaint is dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).