The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
1:24-cv-00208-MR
PAUL VALDEZ-BEY, JR., )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. ) ORDER
)
)
DUSTIN SMITH, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
___________________________ )
THIS MATTER is before the Court on initial review of Plaintiff’s
Amended Complaint, [Doc. 1], filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, see 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1915(e) and 1915A, and Plaintiff’s miscellaneous filings [Docs. 4, 7].
Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis. [Docs. 2, 6].
I. BACKGROUND
Pro se Plaintiff Paul Valdez-Bey, Jr., is a pretrial detainee currently
housed at the Cherokee County Detention Center (the “Jail”) in Murphy,
North Carolina. He filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on August
12, 2024, against the following Defendants: (1) Dustin Smith, identified as
the Cherokee County Sheriff; (2) Captain FNU Smith; (3) Lieutenant FNU
Avero; (4) Sergeant FNU Gibbs; and (5) Sergeant FNU Flattenes.1,2 [Id. at
2-4]. Plaintiff sues Defendants in their official capacities only. [Id.].
By way of summary, Plaintiff appears to allege that during his detention
at the Jail he and other Muslim detainees have been hindered from fully
practicing their Muslim religion and that he has been physically prevented
from leading religious services by placement in “the hole.” [Id. at 6-7].
Plaintiff claims violation of his First Amendment right to the free
exercise of religion. [Id. at 3]. Plaintiff does not allege what injury he has
suffered. [Id. at 8]. For relief, Plaintiff seeks monetary relief and for “people
of all colors not to be persecuted Because of they’re faith and Targeted
because of they’re color and for the people who took a oath to uphold the
constitutional rights of humans[.]” [Id. (errors uncorrected)].
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court must
review the Complaint to determine whether it is subject to dismissal on the
grounds that it is “frivolous or malicious [or] fails to state a claim on which
1 Plaintiff has since filed an unsigned letter and an unsigned purported “Notice” with the
Court seeking to correct the spelling of the last names of Defendants Flattenes and Avero.
[Docs. 4, 7]. The Court will strike these improper filings. Plaintiff is strongly cautioned to
carefully review the Court’s Standing Order in this case, the Local Rules of this Court, and
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure before filing any further documents with this Court.
2 Plaintiff also alleges that Defendants Smith, Avero, Gibbs, and Flattenes are “Deput[ies]”
employed by Defendant Sheriff Smith and the Jail. [Doc. 1 at 2-4].
relief may be granted.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). Furthermore, under § 1915A
the Court must conduct an initial review and identify and dismiss the
complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if it is frivolous, malicious, or fails
to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or seeks monetary relief
from a defendant who is immune to such relief.
In its frivolity review, this Court must determine whether the Complaint
raises an indisputably meritless legal theory or is founded upon clearly
baseless factual contentions, such as fantastic or delusional scenarios.
Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989). Furthermore, a pro se
complaint must be construed liberally. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520
(1972). However, the liberal construction requirement will not permit a
district court to ignore a clear failure to allege facts in his Complaint which
set forth a claim that is cognizable under federal law. Weller v. Dep’t of Soc.
Servs., 901 F.2d 387 (4th Cir. 1990).
III. DISCUSSION
To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege that he was
deprived of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States,
and that the alleged deprivation was committed by a “person” acting under
color of state law. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan,
526 U.S. 40, 49-50 (1999); Health & Hosp. Corp. of Marion Cnty. v. Talevski,
599 U.S. 166, 143 S.Ct. 1444 (2023). Plaintiff’s Complaint fails initial review
for several reasons.
Suits against an officer in his official capacity “generally represent only
another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an
agent.” Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165, 105 S.Ct. 3099 (1985)
(1985) (quoting Monell v Dep’t of Soc. Servs. of the City of New York, 436
U.S. 658, 690 n. 55, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 2035 (1978)). The Office of Sheriff is
not liable under § 1983 for an employee’s acts “unless action pursuant to
official municipal policy of some nature caused [the] constitutional tort.”
Collins v. City of Harker Heights, 503 U.S. 115, 120-21, 112 S.Ct. 1061,
1066 (quoting Monell, 436 U.S. at 691, 98 S.Ct. at 2036). That is, “[f]or a
governmental entity to be liable under section 1983, the official policy must
be the moving force of the constitutional violation.” Moore v. City of
Creedmoor, 345 N.C. 356, 366, 481 S.E.2d 14, 21 (1997) (internal quotation
marks and citations omitted). “Thus, the entity’s ‘policy or custom’ must have
played a part in the violation of federal law.” Id. (quoting Monell, 436 U.S.
658, 694, 98 S.Ct. at 2037-38).
Plaintiff purports to sue Defendants, who he alleges are employees of
either the Jail or the Defendant Sheriff, in their official capacities only.
Plaintiff, however, fails to allege that any official policy was the moving force
behind or otherwise played a part in any constitutional violation. The Court,
therefore, will dismiss these claims.
Moreover, to establish liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff “must
affirmatively show that the official charged acted personally in the
deprivation of [his] rights.” Williamson v. Stirling, 912 F.3d 154, 171 (4th Cir.
2018) (cleaned up); see Vinnedge v. Gibbs, 550 F.2d 926, 928 (4th Cir. 1977)
(citation omitted). In his Complaint, Plaintiff neglects to clearly allege which
Defendant is responsible for which conduct. That is, Plaintiff alleges that
“they” or “he” or “we” or “us” acted in certain ways or did certain things, but
he fails to clearly allege to whom these pronouns refer or he omits the
subject of the sentence altogether. [See Doc. 1 at 6-7]. The Court cannot
guess at what Plaintiff intends to allege.
To the extent Plaintiff purports to assert rights held by other detainees,
these claims fail as a matter of law. Plaintiff has no standing to bring such
claims on behalf of others that are not parties to and have not signed the
Complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a); Ellis v. Werfel, 86 F.4th 1032 (4th Cir.
Nov. 15, 2023).
Because Plaintiff has failed to state a claim for relief, Plaintiff’s
Complaint fails initial review, and the Court will dismiss it without prejudice.
The Court, however, will allow Plaintiff to amend his Complaint to state a
claim for relief. Should Plaintiff amend his Complaint, he is expressly
instructed to clearly and carefully allege which Defendant or Defendants
were responsible for which alleged action or event.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that Plaintiff’s
Complaint fails initial review and will be dismissed without prejudice. The
Court will allow Plaintiff thirty (30) days to amend his Complaint, if he so
chooses, to properly state a claim upon which relief can be granted in
accordance with the terms of this Order. Any amended complaint will be
subject to all timeliness and procedural requirements and will supersede the
Complaint. Piecemeal amendment will not be permitted. Should Plaintiff fail
to timely amend his Complaint in accordance with this Order, the Court will
dismiss this action without prejudice.
ORDER
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Complaint fails initial
review under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b)(1) and 1915(e)(2)(B) for Plaintiff’s
failure to state a claim for relief and shall be DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE in accordance with the terms of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff shall have thirty (30) days in
which to amend his Complaint in accordance with the terms of this Order. If
Plaintiff fails to so amend his Complaint, the matter will be dismissed without
prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's filings [Docs. 4, 7] are
hereby STRICKEN from the record in this matter.
The Clerk is respectfully instructed to mail Plaintiff a blank prisoner
1983 form.
IT IS SO ORDERED. signed: September 22, 2024
Martifi Reidinger ee
Chief United States District Judge “AES