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Woods v. Copyright Infringement Emp'r Who Withheld Fund

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Sep 3, 2019
19-CV-7904 (CM) (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 3, 2019)

Opinion

19-CV-7904 (CM)

09-03-2019

RAYVAUGHN D. WOODS, Plaintiff, v. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT EMPLOYER WHO WITHHELD FUND AS WE THE BEST MUSIC, Defendant.


ORDER OF DISMISSAL :

Plaintiff, appearing pro se, brings this action under the Court's diversity jurisdiction. By order dated August 23, 2019, the Court granted Plaintiff's request to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis. The Court dismisses the complaint 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

Plaintiff Rayvaughn D. Woods resides in Oklahoma. Defendant, listed as "Copyright Infringement Employer Who Withheld Fund As We The Best Music," is in Miami, Florida. The allegations in Plaintiff's complaint are not clear. He alleges:

As I spoke to my spouse over the telephone for four months. We the Best Music broke restricted policy of communication Act 1934 by using solicited automated equipment. Which throughout the years of 2003-2015 was a mix tape largely use surrounding the music industry for over the counter sells. I was cut loseing [sic] my feeling inside my right arm cause by listeners of the music who was party goers. They fail to notify me that they was controlling the market which use mix tape also how I got anxiety pains.
(No. 19-CV-7904, 2 at 5.) Plaintiff further asserts that he has a "crip[pled] right arm and need [psych[iatric] help for anxiety. Given to copyright infringement employer who withheld fund as We the Best Music." (Id. at 6.) Plaintiff seeks 78.2 million in damages.

DISCUSSION

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, the Court declines to grant Plaintiff leave to amend and dismisses the action as frivolous. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).

CONCLUSION

The Clerk of Court is directed to assign this matter to my docket, mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, and note service on the docket.

Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed as frivolous under 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. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).

The Clerk of Court is directed to docket this as a "written opinion" within the meaning of Section 205(a)(5) of the E-Government Act of 2002. SO ORDERED. Dated: September 3, 2019

New York, New York

/s/_________

COLLEEN McMAHON

Chief United States District Judge


Summaries of

Woods v. Copyright Infringement Emp'r Who Withheld Fund

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Sep 3, 2019
19-CV-7904 (CM) (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 3, 2019)
Case details for

Woods v. Copyright Infringement Emp'r Who Withheld Fund

Case Details

Full title:RAYVAUGHN D. WOODS, Plaintiff, v. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT EMPLOYER WHO…

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Date published: Sep 3, 2019

Citations

19-CV-7904 (CM) (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 3, 2019)