The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CLERK
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 4:58 pm, Aug 30, 2023
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U.S. DISTRICT COURT
RICHARD JONES, #427958,
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
LONG ISLAND OFFICE
Plaintiff,
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
-against- 23-CV-1564(GRB)(ST)
FIREBALL CLASS ACTION SUIT,
Defendant.
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GARY R. BROWN, United States District Judge:
Before the Court is the application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) filed by pro se
plaintiff Richard Jones (“Plaintiff”) while incarcerated at the Suffolk County Correctional
Facility (“Jail”) in relation to his complaint brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (“Section
1983”) against the “Fireball Class Action Suit” (“Defendant”).1 Docket Entry “DE” 1, 5.
However, Plaintiff did not file the required Prisoner Litigation Authorization form (“PLA”) with
his IFP application. Accordingly, by Notice of Deficiency dated April 24, 2023, Plaintiff was
instructed to file the PLA as well as a complete copy of his complaint. (DE 5.) The Court’s
Notice and the Court’s case opening letter were both returned to the Court as undeliverable on
May 3, 2023. (DE 6-7.) By Electronic Order dated May 18, 2023, the Court ordered Plaintiff to,
by no later than June 2, 2023, to provide a current mailing address and the PLA. (Elec. Order,
dated May 18, 2023.) By letter dated June 5, 2023, Plaintiff apprised the Court that he was out
on bail but has now returned to the Jail. (DE 8.) Albeit untimely filed, the Court accepted
Plaintiff response and afforded him a final opportunity to cure the deficiencies noted earlier.
The Electronic Order provided:
By Notice of Deficiency dated April 24, 2023, the Court notified plaintiff that
1 Plaintiff used the Court’s form for complaints brought pursuant to Section 1983 but his submission was missing
pages 2 and 4.
his complaint is missing pages 2 and 4. Because the Courts Notice and May
18, 2023 order were returned to the Court as undeliverable during the time
he was discharged, the Court affords plaintiff a FINAL opportunity to cure
these deficiencies.
To be clear, Plaintiff is ORDERED to, by no later than June 29, 2023: (1)
apprise the Court in writing that the complaint filed on April 10, 2023 is
complete or provide the Court with a complete complaint; and (2) file the
Prisoner Litigation Authorization form.
PLAINTIFF IS ON NOTICE: Failure to timely respond to this Electronic
Order will result in this case being DISMISSED without prejudice and
without further notice.
(See Elec. Order, dated June 12, 2023.) In response, Plaintiff filed a letter dated May 26, 2023
and received on June 30, 2023, wherein he reported that he did not have a PLA form to file.
(DE 9.) Accordingly, the Court ordered the Clerk of the Court to mail the PLA form to Plaintiff
and ordered that Plaintiff “by no later than August 1, 2023: (1) apprise the Court in writing
that the complaint filed on April 10, 2023 is complete or provide the Court with a complete
complaint; and (2) file the Prisoner Litigation Authorization form enclosed with this
Electronic Order.” (Elec. Order dated July 11, 2023.) On July 31, 2023, Plaintiff filed the
PLA but did not file a complete complaint nor did he apprise the Court that the original
complaint filed is complete. (DE 10.) Accordingly, the Court accepts the original complaint,
filed on April 10, 2023 as Plaintiff’s pleading and screens it in accordance with the requirements
on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915, 1915A. For the reasons that follow, the Court grants Plaintiff’s
application to proceed IFP and finds that Plaintiff has not alleged a plausible claim. Thus, the
complaint is dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B) and 1915A(b).
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BACKGROUND
1. Summary of the Complaint2
Plaintiff’s complaint is submitted on the Court’s form for civil rights actions brought
pursuant to Section 1983 and is missing pages 2 and 4.3 See DE 1. In its entirety, Plaintiff
alleges that, at various Bellport, New York locations including Sunoco gas stations and 7/11 stores,
during the period June 2022 to January 2023, he presumably purchased “Fireball” products and:
I’m seeking compensation for false advertisement of said “Fireball” alcohol being
not the real alcohol being sold at gas stations and 7-11 stores. Would like to be
added to class action suit and compensation.
DE 1 at ¶ V.
LEGAL STANDARDS
The Second Circuit has established a two-step procedure wherein the district court first
considers whether plaintiff qualifies for in forma pauperis status, and then considers the merits of
the complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Potnick v. E. State Hosp., 701 F.2d 243, 244 (2d
Cir. 1983).
I. In Forma Pauperis
Upon review of the IFP application, the Court finds that plaintiff is qualified by his
financial status to commence this action without the prepayment of the filing fee. Therefore, the
application to proceed IFP (DE 2) is granted.
2 Excerpts from the complaint are reproduced here exactly as they appear in the original. Errors in spelling,
punctuation, and grammar have not been corrected or noted.
3 Notably, page 4 of the form asks for a description of the facts giving rise to the claim(s) and any injuries suffered
as a result of those events. See Section 1983 Compl. Form, annexed to this Order.
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II. Sufficiency of the Pleadings
As Judge Bianco summarized,
A district court is required to dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint if the action
is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or
seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28
U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii). The Court is required to dismiss the action as
soon as it makes such a determination. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii).
It is axiomatic that district courts are required to read pro se complaints liberally,
see Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429
U.S. 97, 106 (1976)); Chavis v. Chappius, 618 F.3d 162, 170 (2d Cir. 2010), and to
construe them “‘to raise the strongest arguments that [they] suggest [ ].’” Chavis,
618 F.3d at 170 (quoting Harris v. City of New York, 607 F.3d 18, 24 (2d Cir.
2010)). Moreover, at the pleadings stage of the proceeding, the Court must assume
the truth of “all well-pleaded, nonconclusory factual allegations” in the complaint.
Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., 621 F.3d 111, 123 (2d Cir. 2010), aff’d, ---
U.S. ----, 133 S. Ct. 1659, 185 L. Ed. 2d 671 (2013) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
U.S. 662 (2009)). However, “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of
action, supported by mere conclusory statements . . . are not entitled to the
assumption of truth.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citation omitted).
Notwithstanding a plaintiff’s pro se status, a complaint must plead sufficient facts
to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff
pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that
the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. The
plausibility standard requires “more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has
acted unlawfully.” Id.; accord Wilson v. Merrill Lynch & Co., 671 F.3d 120, 128
(2d Cir. 2011). While “detailed factual allegations” are not required, “[a] pleading
that offers ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a
cause of action will not do.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at
555). Plaintiff’s factual allegations must also be sufficient to give the defendant
“fair notice of what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests,” Twombly,
550 U.S. at 555 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
Patrick v. Bronx Care, No. 14-CV-7392 (JFB)(AKT), 2014 WL 7476972, at *1-2 (E.D.N.Y. Dec.
31, 2014).
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DISCUSSION
Section 1983 provides that:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or
usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to
be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction
thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the
Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in
equity, or other proper proceeding for redress . . . .
42 U.S.C. § 1983. Section 1983 “creates no substantive rights; it provides only a procedure for
redress for the deprivation of rights established elsewhere.” Sykes v. James, 13 F.3d 515, 519 (2d
Cir. 1993). To maintain a Section 1983 action, a plaintiff must show that the defendant (1) acted
under color of state law (2) to deprive the plaintiff of a right arising under the Constitution or
federal law. See id. The Court analyzes plaintiff’s Section 1983 claim below.
I. Lack of State Action or a Constitutional Deprivation
Plaintiff names the “Fireball Class Action” as the sole Defendant. Further, although he
used the Section 1983 complaint form, he does not allege the deprivation of any constitutional
right. Indeed, the complaint lacks any facts and, critically, does not allege that a state actor
deprived him of some constitutional right. Thus, his Section 1983 claim is not plausible and is
dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(b)(i)-(ii); 1915A(b)(1).
II. Leave to Amend
A pro se plaintiff should ordinarily be given the opportunity “to amend at least once when
a liberal reading of the complaint gives any indication that a valid claim might be stated.” Shomo
v. City of New York, 579 F.3d 176, 183 (2d Cir. 2009) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted). However, 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).
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To the extent that Plaintiff seeks to join the “Fireball Class Action”, Plaintiff is advised
that, although a complaint had been filed in the United Stated District Court for the Northern
District of New York, 23-CV-0097, Marquez, individually and on behalf of all others similarly
situated, v. Sazerac Company, Inc., it is now closed. A copy of docket sheet for that action is
attached.
However, given Plaintiff’s pro se status, in an abundance of caution, the Court grants leave
to amend the complaint to afford him an opportunity to allege as plausible claim against a proper
defendant. If Plaintiff chooses to amend his complaint, he shall do so within thirty (30) days from
the date of this Order. Any amended complaint shall be clearly labeled “Amended Complaint”
and shall bear the same docket number as this Order, 23-CV-1564(GRB)(ST). If Plaintiff does
not timely file an amended complaint, judgment shall enter without further notice and this case
will be closed. Alternatively, Plaintiff may pursue any valid claims he may have in state court.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s application to proceed IFP (DE 2) is granted.
However, complaint is dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(ii) and 1915A(b)(1).
Plaintiff is afforded an opportunity to amend his complaint. If Plaintiff chooses to amend the
complaint against a proper defendant in accordance with this Order, he shall do so within thirty
(30) days from the date of this Order. Any amended complaint shall be clearly labeled “Amended
Complaint” and shall bear the same docket number as this Order, 23-CV-1564(GRB)(ST). If
Plaintiff does not timely file an amended complaint, judgment shall enter without further notice
and this case will be closed.
The Clerk of the Court shall mail a copy of this Order together with a complaint form and
the docket sheet for 23-CV-0097(N.D. Ill.) to the pro se Plaintiff at his address of record and note
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service on the docket.
The Court certifies pursuant to 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 any appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).
SO ORDERED.
/s/ Gary R. Brown
_______________________
Hon. Gary R. Brown
United States District Judge
Dated: August 30, 2023
Central Islip, New York
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