From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Earley v. Abramo

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION
Jul 10, 2019
Case No. 19-cv-11976 (E.D. Mich. Jul. 10, 2019)

Opinion

Case No. 19-cv-11976

07-10-2019

Denzel Earley, Plaintiff, v. Guy Abramo, Defendant.


Mag. Judge Elizabeth A. Stafford OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYING FEES [2] AND DISMISSING CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Plaintiff Denzel Earley filed a complaint alleging that he was "denied [] the right to employment after [a] background check." (ECF No. 1, PageID.5.) He argues that this denial was in violation of "trust law" and "international law," including the "1796 Treaty of Tripoli." (Id., PageID. 4-5.)

Earley requests permission to proceed without prepaying fees or costs (in forma pauperis). (ECF No. 2.) The in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) states: "any court of the United States may authorize the commencement . . . of any suit, action or proceeding . . . without prepayment of fees . . . by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement . . . that the person is unable to pay such fees." The Court is satisfied that Mr. Earley is unable to pay fees and therefore grants his application to proceed in forma pauperis.

But the in forma pauperis statute continues. It requires dismissal of a case brought in forma pauperis "at any time if the court determines that . . . the action or appeal . . . fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). The complaint fails to state a claim. Earley cites to the "1796 Treaty of Tripoli" as the basis of jurisdiction and merely states, without providing any factual allegations, that he was denied employment in violation of international law. He continues that his denial of employment "is a carry on of the Catholic bulla Dum Diversas." These broad allegations, without more, do not constitute a legal claim.

The Court assumes Earley is referring to the Treaty of Tripoli of 1797, which states that "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." Bormuth v. Cty. Of Jackson, 849 F.3d 266, 291 (6th Cir. 2017), modified on reh'g, 870 F.3d 494 (6th Cir. 2017). --------

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Earley's motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) and DISMISSES the complaint without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: July 10, 2019

Ann Arbor, Michigan

s/Judith E. Levy

JUDITH E. LEVY

United States District Judge

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned certifies that the foregoing document was served upon counsel of record and any unrepresented parties via the Court's ECF System to their respective email or First Class U.S. mail addresses disclosed on the Notice of Electronic Filing on July 10, 2019.

s/Shawna Burns

SHAWNA BURNS

Case Manager


Summaries of

Earley v. Abramo

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION
Jul 10, 2019
Case No. 19-cv-11976 (E.D. Mich. Jul. 10, 2019)
Case details for

Earley v. Abramo

Case Details

Full title:Denzel Earley, Plaintiff, v. Guy Abramo, Defendant.

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

Date published: Jul 10, 2019

Citations

Case No. 19-cv-11976 (E.D. Mich. Jul. 10, 2019)