Keys v. Red Roof Inn Hotel

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

EASTERN DIVISION

SIDNEY KEYS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) No. 4:22-CV-1100-RLW

)

RED ROOF INN HOTEL, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

This matter is before the Court on the motion of self-represented plaintiff Sidney Keys for

leave to commence this civil action without prepayment of the required filing fee.1 ECF No. 2.

Upon consideration of the financial information provided with the motion, the Court finds plaintiff

is unable to pay any portion of the filing fee. As a result, plaintiff will be granted leave to proceed

in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Additionally, for the reasons discussed below,

plaintiff will be directed to show cause as to why this case should not be dismissed for lack of

subject matter jurisdiction. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).

Legal Standard on Initial Review

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court is required to dismiss a complaint filed in forma

pauperis if it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. To

state a claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate a plausible claim for relief, which is more than a “mere

possibility of misconduct.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). “A claim has facial

plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable

1The Court notes plaintiff Sidney Keys has previously filed eighteen (18) in forma pauperis civil

cases in this Court, all of which have been dismissed for failure to state a claim, voluntarily dismissed by

plaintiff, or dismissed for failure to comply with a Court order.

inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. at 678. Determining whether

a complaint states a plausible claim for relief is a context-specific task that requires the reviewing

court to draw upon judicial experience and common sense. Id. at 679. The court must “accept as

true the facts alleged, but not legal conclusions or threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of

action, supported by mere conclusory statements.” Barton v. Taber, 820 F.3d 958, 964 (8th Cir.

2016). See also Brown v. Green Tree Servicing LLC, 820 F.3d 371, 372-73 (8th Cir. 2016) (stating

that court must accept factual allegations in complaint as true, but is not required to “accept as true

any legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation”).

When reviewing a self-represented complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court

must give it the benefit of a liberal construction. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). A

“liberal construction” means that if the essence of an allegation is discernible, the district court

should construe the plaintiff’s complaint in a way that permits his or her claim to be considered

within the proper legal framework. Solomon v. Petray, 795 F.3d 777, 787 (8th Cir. 2015).

However, even self-represented complaints are required to allege facts which, if true, state a claim

for relief as a matter of law. Martin v. Aubuchon, 623 F.2d 1282, 1286 (8th Cir. 1980). See

also Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914-15 (8th Cir. 2004) (stating that federal courts are not

required to “assume facts that are not alleged, just because an additional factual allegation would

have formed a stronger complaint”). In addition, affording a self-represented complaint the benefit

of a liberal construction does not mean that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation must be

interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel. See McNeil v. United

States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993).

The Complaint

Plaintiff is a self-represented litigant who filed the instant civil action against defendants

Red Roof Inn Hotel and Bill Hall, the CEO of Red Roof Inn. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff asserts this Court

has federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 because he is “a disabled United

States Marine and United States Postal Employee of 27 years of Federal Employment and

Service.” Id. at 3. It is unclear whether plaintiff also intends to allege diversity of citizenship

jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332. Plaintiff states he is a citizen of “America.” Id. at 3.

He further indicates “Mr. Bill Hall – CEO (Red Roof)” is incorporated under the laws of the State

of Ohio and has its principal place of business in the State of Missouri. Id. at 4. In the caption,

plaintiff lists his home address in St. Louis, Missouri, and the address of Red Roof Inn in Maryland

Heights, Missouri. Id. at 1. Plaintiff writes “Jury Deliberation” under the section designated to

assert the amount in controversy. He does not state the amount of monetary damages he seeks and,

instead, asks for “whatever is suitable for this type of discrimination[.]” Id. at 7.

Plaintiff alleges that on October 11, 2022, he checked into the Red Roof Inn located at

11837 Lackland Road, Maryland Heights, Missouri. He states he was “given an [un]inhabitable

hotel room twice when in fact the[y] had [a] newly renovated vacant hotel room available.” Id. at

5. Plaintiff claims the first room they assigned him “smelled like urine” and appeared to have urine

on a bed pillow, and the second room they assigned him was infested with bed bugs that bit him,

his partner, and his infant son. Id. at 5-6. Plaintiff asserts he was provided with dirty rooms due to

racial discrimination, and alleges the incident caused “pyscological [sic] and physical harm and

possible infection.” Id.

Discussion

The Court has carefully reviewed the instant complaint and determined plaintiff has not

carried his burden of establishing the existence of subject matter jurisdiction.

A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court’s power to decide a certain class of cases.

LeMay v. U.S. Postal Serv., 450 F.3d 797, 799 (8th Cir. 2006). “Federal courts are not courts of

general jurisdiction; they have only the power that is authorized by Article III of the Constitution

and the statutes enacted by Congress pursuant thereto.” Bender v. Williamsport Area Sch. Dist.,

475 U.S. 534, 541 (1986). See also Gunn v. Minton, 568 U.S. 251, 256 (2013) (“Federal courts are

courts of limited jurisdiction, possessing only that power authorized by Constitution and statute”).

The presence of subject matter jurisdiction is a threshold requirement that must be assured in every

federal case. Kronholm v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp., 915 F.2d 1171, 1174 (8th Cir. 1990). See also

Sanders v. Clemco Indus., 823 F.2d 214, 216 (8th Cir. 1987) (“The threshold requirement in every

federal case is jurisdiction and we have admonished the district court to be attentive to a

satisfaction of jurisdictional requirements in all cases”). As such, the issue of subject matter

jurisdiction may be raised at any time, by any party or by the court. Gray v. City of Valley Park,

Mo., 567 F.3d 976, 982 (8th Cir. 2009).

Federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction over both federal question cases and

diversity of citizenship cases. McLaurin v. Prater, 30 F.3d 982, 984-85 (8th Cir. 1994) (noting

Congress has directed that district courts shall have jurisdiction in

both federal question and diversity cases); see Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Tribal Court of Spirit

Lake Indian Reservation, 495 F.3d 1017, 1020 (8th Cir. 2007) (finding that subject matter

jurisdiction is lacking if neither diversity of citizenship nor federal question jurisdiction applies).

The burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction belongs to the plaintiff when a case is originally

filed in federal court. V S Ltd. P'ship v. Dep't of Hous. & Urban Dev., 235 F.3d 1109, 1112 (8th

Cir. 2000).

B. Federal Question Jurisdiction Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331

Federal question jurisdiction gives district courts “original jurisdiction over civil actions

arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” Griffioen v. Cedar Rapids &

Iowa City Ry. Co., 785 F.3d 1182, 1188 (8th Cir. 2015). See also 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Whether a

claim arises under federal law is determined by reference to the “well-pleaded complaint.” Great

Lakes Gas Transmission Ltd. P'ship v. Essar Steel Minn. LLC, 843 F.3d 325, 329 (8th Cir. 2016).

The well-pleaded complaint rule provides that jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is

presented on the face of a plaintiff’s properly pleaded complaint. Markham v. Wertin, 861 F.3d

748, 754 (8th Cir. 2017). See also Thomas v. United Steelworkers Local 1938, 743 F.3d 1134,

1139 (8th Cir. 2014) (“Under the well-pleaded complaint rule, a federal question must exist on the

face of the plaintiff’s properly pleaded complaint in order to establish federal question subject

matter jurisdiction”).

Plaintiff’s complaint must establish “either that federal law creates the cause of action or

that the plaintiff’s right to relief necessarily depends on the resolution of a substantial question of

federal law.” Williams v. Ragnone, 147 F.3d 700, 702 (8th Cir. 1998). See also Northwest South

Dakota Production Credit Ass'n v. Smith, 784 F.2d 323, 325 (8th Cir. 1986) (stating that “[a] non-

frivolous claim of a right or remedy under a federal statute is sufficient to invoke federal

question jurisdiction”). “If the asserted basis of federal jurisdiction is patently meritless, then

dismissal for lack of jurisdiction is appropriate.” Biscanin v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 407 F.3d

905, 907 (8th Cir. 2005).

C. Diversity of Citizenship Jurisdiction Under 28 U.S.C. § 1332

“Under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a), district courts have original diversity jurisdiction over civil

actions when the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000, without considering interest and costs,

and when the citizenship of each plaintiff is different from the citizenship of each defendant.” Ryan

ex rel. Ryan v. Schneider Nat. Carriers, Inc., 263 F.3d 816, 819 (8th Cir. 2001).

With regard to the amount in controversy, a complaint making a good faith allegation of

the jurisdictional amount is sufficient to confer jurisdiction. Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Universal Crop

Prot. All., LLC, 620 F.3d 926, 931 (8th Cir. 2010). However, a “complaint will be dismissed if it

appears to a legal certainty that the claim is really for less than the jurisdictional amount.” Id. See

also Kopp v. Kopp, 280 F.3d 883, 884 (8th Cir. 2002). “The legal certainty standard is met where

the legal impossibility of recovery is so certain as virtually to negative the plaintiff’s good faith in

asserting the claim.” Peterson v. The Travelers Indem. Co., 867 F.3d 992, 995 (8th Cir. 2017).

“Complete diversity of citizenship exists where no defendant holds citizenship in the same

state where any plaintiff holds citizenship.” OnePoint Solutions, LLC v. Borchert, 486 F.3d 342,

346 (8th Cir. 2007). Diversity jurisdiction requires that the parties be citizens of different states,

not merely residents. Sanders, 823 F.2d at 216. For purposes of diversity, state citizenship requires

an individual’s physical presence in the state coupled with an indefinite intention there to remain.

Blakemore v. Missouri Pac. R.R. Co., 789 F.2d 616, 618 (8th Cir. 1986).

D. Failure to Prove Subject Matter Jurisdiction

The burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction belongs to the plaintiff. V S Ltd. P’ship,

235 F.3d at 1112. In this case, plaintiff has failed to establish the existence of subject matter

jurisdiction.

As to diversity jurisdiction, plaintiff has not shown that the amount in controversy exceeds

the jurisdictional threshold because he has not alleged any amount in controversy. In addition,

plaintiff has not established diversity of citizenship between the parties. For diversity of citizenship

to exist, plaintiff cannot be a citizen of the same state as any of the defendants. In the Caption,

plaintiff provides a Missouri address for both himself and defendant Red Roof Inn. ECF No. 1 at

1. In the section of the form complaint for identifying the parties’ citizenship, he states that Red

Roof Inn’s principal place of business is in Missouri. See ECF No. 1 at 4. If plaintiff and any

defendant are citizens of the same state, the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction under

28 U.S.C. § 1332.

As to federal question jurisdiction, plaintiff asserts he meets the requirements because he

is “a disabled United States Marine and United States Postal Employee of 27 years of Federal

Employment and Service.” Id. at 3. Federal question jurisdiction gives district courts original

jurisdiction of civil actions “arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.”

28 U.S.C. § 1331. Federal question jurisdiction is proper where a plaintiff asserts “[a] non-

frivolous claim of a right or remedy under a federal statute.” Northwest South Dakota Prod. Credit

Ass'n, 784 F.2d at 325. “If the asserted basis of federal jurisdiction is patently meritless, then

dismissal for lack of jurisdiction is appropriate.” Biscanin, 407 F.3d at 907. Here, plaintiff does

not cite to a specific federal statute or provision of the United States Constitution which is at issue

in this case. Being a former employee of the federal government or serving in the military is not a

basis for federal question jurisdiction.

E. Order to Show Cause

As discussed above, plaintiff has the burden of establishing the Court’s subject matter

jurisdiction. In this case, plaintiff has not provided a jurisdictional amount in controversy, has not

clearly alleged facts to show the parties’ diversity of citizenship, and has not identified a federal

statute or constitutional provision to establish that his claim in this case involves a federal matter.

Therefore, the Court will order plaintiff to show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed

for lack of jurisdiction. Plaintiff will be given thirty (30) days to submit a written response. Failure

to comply with this Order will result in the dismissal of this case without prejudice and without

further notice.

Motion to Appoint Counsel

Plaintiff has filed a motion to appoint counsel. ECF No. 3. In civil cases, a pro se litigant

does not have a constitutional or statutory right to appointed counsel. Ward v. Smith, 721 F.3d 940,

942 (8th Cir. 2013). Rather, a district court may appoint counsel in a civil case if the court is

“convinced that an indigent plaintiff has stated a non-frivolous claim . . . and where the nature of

the litigation is such that plaintiff as well as the court will benefit from the assistance of counsel.”

Patterson v. Kelley, 902 F.3d 845, 850 (8th Cir. 2018). When determining whether to appoint

counsel for an indigent litigant, a court considers relevant factors such as the complexity of the

case, the ability of the pro se litigant to investigate the facts, the existence of conflicting testimony,

and the ability of the pro se litigant to present his or her claim. Phillips v. Jasper Cty. Jail, 437

F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006).

After reviewing these factors, the Court finds that the appointment of counsel is not

warranted at this time. In particular, the Court has determined that plaintiff has failed to adequately

allege the Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, and has ordered him to show cause as to why this

action should not be dismissed. The Court will entertain future motions for appointment of counsel

as the case progresses, if appropriate.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis

[ECF No. 2] is GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [ECF

No. 3] is DENIED at this time.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff is ordered to show cause in writing by

November 28, 2022, why this action should not be dismissed for lack of subject matter

jurisdiction.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if plaintiff fails to submit a written show cause

response by November 28, 2022, this action will be dismissed without prejudice and without

further notice.

RONNIE L. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Dated this 28th day of October, 2022.