The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 NOBLE BERNISEARL MCGILL EL No. 2:19-cv-01958-MCE-CKD PS
BEY,
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Plaintiff,
13 ORDER AND
v.
14 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. DIAZ, et al.,
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Defendants.
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18 Plaintiff Noble BernisEarl McGill El Bey is proceeding without counsel in this action.
19 His first complaint was dismissed with leave to amend. (ECF No. 3.) Plaintiff filed his first
20 amended complaint (“FAC”), which is presently before the court. (ECF No. 4.) The federal in
21 forma pauperis statute authorizes federal courts to dismiss a case if the action is legally frivolous
22 or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief
23 from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
24 A claim is legally frivolous when it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.
25 Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227-28 (9th
26 Cir. 1984). The court may, therefore, dismiss a claim as frivolous where it is based on an
27 indisputably meritless legal theory or where the factual contentions are clearly baseless. Neitzke,
28 490 U.S. at 327.
1 To avoid dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more than “naked
2 assertions,” “labels and conclusions,” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of
3 action.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555-57 (2007). In other words,
4 “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory
5 statements do not suffice.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Furthermore, a claim
6 upon which the court can grant relief must have facial plausibility. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570.
7 “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to
8 draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556
9 U.S. at 678. When considering whether a complaint states a claim upon which relief can be
10 granted, the court must accept the well-pled factual allegations as true, Erickson v. Pardus, 551
11 U.S. 89, 94 (2007), and construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, see
12 Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 283 (1986).
13 Pro se pleadings are liberally construed. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21
14 (1972); Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). Unless it is clear
15 that no amendment can cure the defects of a complaint, a pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma
16 pauperis is ordinarily entitled to notice and an opportunity to amend before dismissal. See Noll v.
17 Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987) superseded on other grounds by statute as stated in
18 Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122 (9th Cir.2000) (en banc); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221,
19 1230 (9th Cir. 1984).
20 The FAC names four defendants: the California Highway Patrol, California Department of
21 Motor Vehicles, Officer A. Diaz, and Officer Danny Leece. The complaint alleges that plaintiff
22 was pulled over by Officer A. Diaz, who issued plaintiff a citation for failure to have a proper
23 vehicle registration plate. (ECF No. 4 at 2.) Plaintiff then went to the Tracy Highway Patrol
24 Office where Officer Leece informed plaintiff that California does not recognize his indigenous
25 plates. (Id.)
26 Plaintiff claims that he was not in California Highway Patrol’s jurisdiction as a result of
27 his status as an Indigenous Aboriginal Moorish American National. (Id.) Plaintiff additionally
28 alleges that “No Law requires you to record / pledge your private automobile,” cites to the UCC,
1 the criminal code, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the “Proclamation, Ancient Imperial Moors
2 Are Out of Interregnum.” (Id.) Plaintiff’s FAC suffers from similar defects the court outlined in
3 dismissing his original complaint. (See ECF No. 3.)
4 As an initial matter, plaintiff cannot state a claim upon which relief can be granted
5 premised on 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242, as these federal criminal statutes confer neither any
6 substantive rights nor any private rights to bring a civil action for damages. See Aldabe v.
7 Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980) (per curiam).
8 Additionally, plaintiff cannot state a claim premised on the assertion that California
9 officers, while in California, lacked jurisdiction over plaintiff, or any similar claim of sovereign
10 immunity. The United States has not recognized the Moorish Nation as a sovereign state. See
11 Ingram El v. Crail, 2019 WL 3860192, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2019) (“[T]he United States has
12 not recognized the sovereignty of the Moorish Nation, thus precluding sovereign immunity
13 claims” (quoting Khattab El v. U.S. Justice Dep’t, 1988 WL 5117, at 5 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 22, 1988));
14 Benton–El v. Odom, 2007 WL 1812615, at *6 (M.D.Ga. June 19, 2007); Osiris v. Brown, 2005
15 WL 2044904, at *2 (D.N.J. Aug.24, 2005); see also We the People Beys and Els v. State of New
16 York, 165 F.3d 16, 1998 WL 801875, at *1 (2nd Cir. 1998) (unpublished opinion). Plaintiff
17 cannot unilaterally bestow sovereign immunity upon himself. See United States v. Lumumba,
18 741 F.2d 12, 15 (2nd Cir. 1984).
19 Finally, plaintiff’s claim that the government cannot require citizens to register their
20 vehicles is without merit. Requiring vehicles to be registered is an exercise of the police power of
21 the state. See Ingels v. Boteler, 100 F.2d 915, 919 (9th Cir. 1938).
22 Due to the reasons explained above, the FAC is legally frivolous and plaintiff has not
23 stated a claim upon which relief can be granted. Although plaintiff is proceeding pro se, and the
24 court liberally construes his pleading, the undersigned concludes that allowing plaintiff to file an
25 additional amended complaint would be futile.
26 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that:
27 1. The action be dismissed without leave to amend; and
28 2. The Clerk of Court be directed to close this case.
1 In light of those recommendations, IT Is ALSO ORDERED that all pleading, discovery,
2 | and motion practice in this action are STAYED pending resolution of the findings and
3 || recommendations. With the exception of objections to the findings and recommendations, and
4 | non-frivolous motions for emergency relief, the court will not entertain or respond to any motions
5 | or filings until the findings and recommendations are resolved.
6 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
7 | assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen (14)
8 | days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
9 | objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
10 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any reply to the objections
11 | shall be served on all parties and filed with the court within fourteen (14) days after service of the
12 | objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may
13 | waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th
14 | Cir. 1998); Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991).
15 IT IS SO ORDERED AND RECOMMENDED.
16 || Dated: December 26, 2019 CA rd Kt | { gt
7 CAROLYN K.DELANEY 7
18 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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