collecting cases and noting that the defendant’s “legal arguments directly correspond to meritless rhetoric frequently espoused by tax protesters, sovereign citizens, and self- proclaimed Moorish-Americans.”
How later courts described this case
- collecting cases and noting that the defendant’s “legal arguments directly correspond to meritless rhetoric frequently espoused by tax protesters, sovereign citizens, and self- proclaimed Moorish-Americans.”
- “The filing of vague, general, or conclusory objections does not meet the requirement of specific objections and it tantamount to a complete failure to object.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
State of Ohio
Plaintiff, Case No. 1:22-cv-673
v. Judge Michael R. Barrett
Paciieno Jah’ Love El
Defendant.
ORDER
This matter is before the Court on the Magistrate Judge’s January 12, 2023, Report
and Recommendations (“R&R”) recommending that this action be dismissed and
remanded to Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas from which it was improperly
removed; and recommending that pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) that an appeal of any
order adopting the R&R would not be taken in good faith and therefore Defendant should
be denied leave to appeal in forma pauperis. (Doc.13). Defendant has filed an
“Affidavit of Facts,” “Notice of Special Appearance” and a group of documents which has
been identified in the docket sheet as a “Notice.” (Docs. 14, 15, 16).
I. BACKGROUND
Defendant filed a pro se document that has been docketed as “Notice of Removal”
in this federal court against Plaintiff State of Ohio on November 16, 2022, along with a
Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Doc. 1).
On January 12, 2023, the Magistrate Judge granted Defendant’s Motion for Leave to
Proceed in forma pauperis. (Doc. 11).
According to the cover sheet of the complaint, Defendant is attempting to “remove”
to this Court as a civil case an existing criminal case filed against Defendant in the
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. See Hamilton County Criminal Case No.
B2005828. According to the publicly available electronic records of the state court,
Defendant is charged with eight counts: trafficking in fentanyl-related compound;
trafficking in heroin; aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking of drugs,
possession of a fentanyl-related compound, carrying concealed weapons; failure to
comply with an order of signal of a police officer; and receiving stolen property.
Defendant’s “Notice of Removal” consists of numerous allegations that closely
resemble many filings made by “sovereign citizens.” Defendant also alleges that criminal
proceedings against him in state court are unconstitutional and unlawful, based in part
upon Defendant’s belief that the State of Ohio, is “an unconstitutional, private
corporation.” (Doc. 1-3, PAGEID 11). Defendant demands monetary damages in this
federal court against an extensive list of governmental entities and individuals loosely
associated with the ongoing state criminal court proceedings. (Doc. 1-3, PAGEID 19-20).
The Magistrate Judge conducted a sua sponte review of Defendant’s complaint to
determine whether the complaint, or any portion of it, should be dismissed because it is
frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks
monetary relief from a Plaintiff who is immune from such relief. Accord 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2)(B). The Magistrate Judge noted that Defendant filed documents which
incorporated verbiage commonly used in “sovereign citizens” cases; and the Sixth Circuit
has affirmed summary dismissal of such cases and defenses in many contexts. (Doc. 13,
PAGEID 580-581). In addition, the Magistrate Judge explained that the attempted
removal of the state court action is improper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) because
Defendant is attempting to remove a criminal case, not a civil case. (Doc. 13, PAGEID
581-582).1 Therefore, the Magistrate Judge recommends that this case be dismissed and
the matter be remanded to state court. (Doc. 13, PAGEID 580).
In his Statement of Affidavit, Defendant does not make any specific objections to
the Magistrate Judge’s R&R but instead raises additional claims concerning insufficient
processes, false claims, warrantless arrest, damages and injury. (Doc. 14, PAGEID 588,
592). Defendant also raises claims for violations of his right to a speedy trial and due
process. (Doc.14, PAGEID 588). Defendant demands the dismissal of “fictitious charges
with prejudice.” (Doc.14, PAGEID 592). In addition, Defendant has filed a “Notice of
Special Appearance,” a document addressing the “Clearfield Doctrine,” listings from the
D&B Business Directory and a “Declaration of the Naturalization Act of July 1779.” (Docs.
14, 16).
II. ANALYSIS
When objections to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation are received
on a dispositive matter, the assigned district judge “must determine de novo any part of
the magistrate judge’s disposition that has been properly objected to.” Fed. R. Civ. P.
72(b)(3). After review, the district judge “may accept, reject, or modify the recommended
decision; receive further evidence; or return the matter to the magistrate judge with
instructions.” Id.; see also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). However, “[t]he objections must be
clear enough to enable the district court to discern those issues that are dispositive and
1The Magistrate Judge noted that even if Defendant was attempting to remove his state
criminal case under 28 U.S.C. §1455, Defendant has not set forth any grounds to support
removal. (Doc. 13, PAGEID 582).
contentious.” Miller v. Currie, 50 F.3d 373, 380 (6th Cir. 1995); see also Slater v. Potter,
28 F. App’x 512, 513 (6th Cir. 2002) (“The filing of vague, general, or conclusory
objections does not meet the requirement of specific objections and it tantamount to a
complete failure to object.”).
As the Magistrate Judge explained, a defendant who files legal documents which
incorporate verbiage commonly used in “sovereign citizen” cases is subject to summary
dismissal. See e.g., United States v. Coleman, 871 F.3d 470, 476 (6th Cir. 2017)
(collecting cases and noting that the defendant’s “legal arguments directly correspond to
meritless rhetoric frequently espoused by tax protesters, sovereign citizens, and self-
proclaimed Moorish-Americans.”); El Bey v. Doe, 2017 WL 3923753 (W.D.N.Y., 2017)
(dismissing federal habeas corpus case based upon “Moorish claims.”). In addition, this
Court “may remand a case sua sponte where the allegations which gave rise to the federal
jurisdiction basis are insufficient to confer subject matter jurisdiction on the court.”
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Civil Service Comm'n v. Overstreet, 115
Fed. Appx. 813, 816-17 (6th Cir. 2004). Here, there is a lack of any federal subject matter
jurisdiction, and therefore removal was improper.
Therefore, the Court finds no error in the Magistrate Judge’s conclusion that this
case should be dismissed and remanded to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.
Accord Ohio v. Watson, No. 1:22-CV-708, 2023 WL 2457039, at *3 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 10,
2023) (recommending remand based on improperly removed criminal case); Ohio v.
Murrell, Case No. 1:21-cv-388, 2021 WL 3510314, at *1 (S.D. Ohio, Aug. 10, 2021),
adopted 2021 WL 3883913 (S.D. Ohio, Aug. 31, 2021) (remanding improperly removed
criminal case); Ohio v. Horton, Case No. 1:19-cv-838-SKB-SJD, 2019 WL 5059992, at *2
(S.D. Ohio, October 9, 2019), adopted in part, remanded and dismissed without prejudice
at 2019 WL 5696065 (S.D. Ohio Nov. 4, 2019) (same).
The Court will now address one final matter. In Defendant’s “Affidavit of Facts”, he
alleges claims concerning insufficient processes, false claims, warrantless arrest,
damages, and injury. Defendant also raises claims for violations of his right to a speedy
trial and due process. Even if the Court were to construe Defendant’s response to the
Magistrate Judge’s R&R as a motion to amend his complaint to add these claims,
Defendant has failed to include enough factual content to state a claim of relief which is
plausible on its face. While a pro se litigant’s pleadings must be liberally construed,
“[l]iberal construction does not require a court to conjure allegations on a litigant's behalf.”
Erwin v. Edwards, 22 F. App'x 579, 580 (6th Cir. 2001) (quoting Wells v. Brown, 891 F.2d
591, 594 (6th Cir. 1989)).
III. CONCLUSION
Having reviewed this matter de novo in accordance with Rule 72 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court finds the Magistrate Judge’s R&R to be thorough,
well-reasoned, and correct. Accordingly, the Magistrate Judge’s January 12, 2023,
R&R (Doc. 13) is ADOPTED, and Defendant’s Objections are OVERRULED. It is
hereby ORDERED that:
1. This case is DISMISSED and REMANDED to the Hamilton County Court of
Common Pleas from which it was improperly removed; and
2. The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) that for the foregoing reasons
an appeal of this Order adopting this Report and Recommendation would not be
taken in good faith, and therefore Defendant is DENIED leave to appeal in forma
pauperis. Defendant remains free to apply to proceed in forma pauperis in the
Court of Appeals. See Callihan v. Schneider, 178 F.3d 800, 803 (6th Cir. 1999),
overruling in part Floyd v. United States Postal Serv., 105 F.3d 274, 277 (6th Cir.
1977).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Michael R. Barrett
JUDGE MICHAEL R. BARRETT