The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
TYRONE HURT, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) No. 4:20-cv-819-CDP
)
AMERICAN COLLEGE DICTIONARY and )
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter comes before the Court upon review of plaintiff Tyrone Hurt’s self-represented
complaint. Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee for this civil action, nor has he filed a separate
motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Instead, he includes a section in the body of the
complaint in which he requests in forma pauperis status. The Court will allow plaintiff to proceed
without payment of the filing fee, and will dismiss this action because it is frivolous and because
venue is improper.
Background
Plaintiff is a self-represented litigant who currently lives in Washington, D.C. Since
January 21, 2020, he has filed 31 civil actions pro se and in forma pauperis in this United States
District Court. The cases that have been reviewed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) have been
dismissed on initial review. Review of plaintiff’s federal court filings shows that in addition to
the cases he has filed in this Court, he has filed numerous other actions in district courts across the
nation. See Hurt v. Civil Rights Lawyer, No. 3:17-cv-39-DJH (W.D. Ky. March 22, 2017) (noting
that instant case was “not the first time Hurt has brought in this Court a disjointed complaint with
no connection to this jurisdiction, and, in fact, Hurt has a pattern of doing so in courts across the
country”); and Hurt v. D.C. Board of Parole, et al., No. 1:13-cv-5365-LAP (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 11,
2013) (noting that plaintiff has “filed hundreds of lawsuits around the country that [have] been
dismissed as frivolous”).
Plaintiff’s practice of filing multiple, frivolous lawsuits has subjected him to pre-filing
injunctions in numerous federal courts. See Hurt v. Nat’l Museum of African-American History &
Culture, No. 5:17-cv-97-H (E.D.N.C. May 30, 2017) (collecting cases). For example, he has been
barred from proceeding in forma pauperis in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia, the district where he lives. Hurt v. United States, No. 1:19-cv-2785-UNA (D.D.C. Oct.
8, 2019). That bar has been extended to keep him from proceeding in forma pauperis on appeal
in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Hurt v. Soc. Sec.
Admin., 544 F.3d 308, 311 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
In Hurt v. United States of America and Donald Trump, No. 4:20-cv-774 (E.D. Mo. Jun.
8, 2020), the Honorable John A. Ross determined that Mr. Hurt’s repeated filing of frivolous
lawsuits in this United States District Court amounted to abuse of the judicial process. Judge Ross
also noted Mr. Hurt’s history of abusing the judicial process in other jurisdictions, and warned him
that the Court could seek to impose restrictions if he continued the practice.
The Complaint
Plaintiff brings this civil action against the American College Dictionary and the United
States of America. The complaint is handwritten, it was not prepared using a Court-provided form,
and it is almost entirely illegible. As best the Court can tell, plaintiff filed this action to complain
about the “techniques” used by now deceased American entertainers, Fred Astaire and Ginger
Rogers. Plaintiff also seems to take issue with defendant American College Dictionary’s definition
of “dance.” He seeks relief in the amount of $1 million.
Discussion
A pleading is frivolous, and therefore subject to dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), if it
“lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989).
The Supreme Court has held that federal courts should not sua sponte dismiss an action
commenced in forma pauperis if the facts alleged are merely unlikely; however, such an action
can be dismissed if the plaintiff’s allegations are found to be “fanciful,” “delusional,” or
“fantastic,” or if they “rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible.” Denton v.
Hernandez, 504 U.S. 525, 32-33 (1992).
Here, plaintiff has filed a bizarre and almost completely illegible pleading. One of the
defendants he attempts to sue is the United States of America. He provides no factual support for
the contention that any of his rights have been violated or that he is entitled to any form of relief,
much less $1 million. Accordingly, the Court concludes that this action is frivolous, and will
dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
Additionally, plaintiff has alleged no basis upon which to conclude that venue lies in this
United States District Court. He lives in Washington, D.C., he provides no support that any
defendant resides in this district, and there is no indication that any events or omissions that could
be understood to give rise to any claim occurred in the Eastern District of Missouri. In short, none
of the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1391 are present in this case, and venue is therefore improper.
In this situation, the Court must either dismiss the action, or if it is in the interest of justice,
transfer it to the proper United States District Court. 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a). Here, even if the
complaint were not frivolous, transfer of this action would not be in the interest of justice due to
plaintiff’s above-described history of abusive litigation practices, and the fact there are restrictions
imposed upon him in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This case is
subject to dismissal for this reason, as well.
As a final matter, the Court reminds plaintiff that his practice of repeatedly filing frivolous
lawsuits in this United States District Court amounts to abuse of the judicial process, and also
reminds him that if he continues the practice, this Court may seek to impose restrictions on his
ability to file cases pro se and in forma pauperis.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis in this action.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED. A separate order of
dismissal will be entered herewith.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that an appeal from this dismissal would not be taken in
good faith.
Dated this 21st day of July, 2020.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE