GONZALO P. CURIEL, District Judge.
On February 12, 2013, plaintiff [REDACTED] ("Ms. [REDACTED]") filed a first amended complaint ("FAC") on behalf of herself and her minor daughter,[REDACTED] [REDACTED] (together, "Plaintiffs"). (ECF Nos. 10, 15.)
Ms. [REDACTED] filed the FAC after this Court instructed her to file amended versions of her initial complaint, motion to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"), and request for appointment of counsel. (
Upon review of the Amended Motion to Proceed IFP, (ECF Nos. 12, 17), the Court determined the Motion was moot because Plaintiff had paid the required filing fee and did not request service of process by the U.S. Marshal. (
Upon review of the Amended Motion for Appointment of Counsel, (ECF Nos. 13, 16), the Court determined appointment of counsel was not appropriate because the Amended Motion to Proceed IFP had been denied and because the Court determined Plaintiffs had little to no likelihood of success on the merits given the fantastical nature of Plaintiffs' allegations. (ECF Nos. 31, 32.) The Court thus denied the Amended Motion for Appointment of Counsel. (
The Court further noted that "a parent or guardian cannot bring an action on behalf of a minor child without retaining a lawyer." (
On May 6, 2013, defendant County of San Diego ("County") filed a motion to dismiss the FAC. (ECF Nos. 19, 29.) The Court set the County's Motion to Dismiss for a hearing on September 6, 2013. On May 28, 2013, defendants La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and John Parsons also filed a motion to dismiss the FAC, which the Court set for a hearing on September 20, 2013. (ECF Nos. 34, 35.) On July 25, 2013, defendant Wendy Belger (erroneously sued as "Wendy TBD") joined the County's Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 54.) Thereafter, on August 6, 2013, defendants David Morse & Associates, Bill McDaniel, and Julie McDaniel filed a motion to dismiss the FAC, which the Court also set for a hearing on September 20, 2013. (ECF No. 56.)
On June 11, 2013, Plaintiffs filed several motions, including: (1) a renewed motion to proceed IFP to obtain U.S. Marshal service; (2) an alternative request for an extension of time to serve the FAC; (3) a request for an extension of time to retain counsel for Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter; (4) a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint; (5) a motion to disqualify judge; (6) a renewed motion for appointment of counsel; (7) and a motion for extension of time to respond to the County's Motion to Dismiss. (ECF Nos. 40, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49.)
On July 18, 2013, the Count filed an opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for an Extension of Time to Respond to the County's Motion to Dismiss, noting Plaintiffs had not explained why they were unable to timely respond to the County's Motion or require a continuance of the September 6, 2013 hearing that, at the time, was seven weeks away. (ECF Nos. 52, 53.) On August 20, 2013, Plaintiffs filed another motion for extension of time to respond to the County's Motion to Dismiss. (ECF Nos. 57, 59.)
Plaintiffs move to disqualify the undersigned judge because, in denying Plaintiffs' Amended Motion for Appointment of Counsel, the Court relied on language from Plaintiffs' FAC that the County also relied on in its Motion to Dismiss.
Plaintiffs note that both this Court's order and the County's Motion to Dismiss quote Plaintiffs' allegations regarding "multidimensional sexual experience[s]"; the Church of Scientology's practice of "mind f**king"; "cycle[s] of energy vampirism" in which defendants engage in a "predator[y] or parasitic lifestyle or demonic possession," dependent upon locating "human hosts for their survival."
Plaintiffs argues "the defense has taken selected words or phrases from various areas of the plaintiff's Amended Complaint, out of context and strung them together in a couple of sentences and misconstrued the plaintiff's intended meaning." Plaintiffs then provide an explanation of the "selected words or phrases," relying on a book called,
Plaintiffs argue the County failed to diligently investigate Plaintiffs' allegations before asserting Plaintiffs' claims were frivolous. Plaintiffs thus argue the undersigned should recuse himself because "plaintiffs have used this expert supported phrase to describe harmful experience and because the Court[`]s reliance on this phrase as depicted by the defendant indicates a bias against the plaintiffs."
Plaintiffs claim "the Court has accepted obvious defense strategies from the [County]," including a defamatory attack on Ms. [REDACTED]'s credibility. Plaintiffs claim the Court disregarded the Plaintiffs' "references to expert support for her allegations, [and] appears to have been intimidated by mere defensive tactics." Plaintiffs further claim that the County's assertion that "it appears evident that the plaintiff who signed and presumably prepared the Complaint, suffers from an undiagnosed mental disorder" is a defensive tactic "meant to shed doubt on the plaintiff's credibility, [and] [i]mproperly influence the Court to hasten dismissal before any discovery can be conducted." Plaintiffs imply that the Court has shown bias against Plaintiffs by allowing the County to file a motion that contains such statements.
Plaintiffs further claim the Court's warning of dismissal if counsel was not obtained for Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter showed bias because it came soon after the County's assertion that it appeared the author of Plaintiffs' FAC suffered from an undiagnosed mental disorder.
In sum, Plaintiffs claim the Court has shown bias against them "by allowing the defendants[`] defense strategies to influence [the Court] into taking action to ma[k]e the determination that the plaintiffs claim is frivolous."
Recusal of a federal judge is governed by 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 145. A judge must "proceed no further" in a case if he "has a personal bias or prejudice" against or in favor of any party. 28 U.S.C. § 144. A judge "shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned" and "[w]here he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party." 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(1).
"Under both statutes, recusal is appropriate where a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts would conclude that the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
Ordinarily, the party must allege "facts that fairly support the contention that the judge exhibits bias or prejudice directed toward a party that stems from an
"[I]n the absence of a legitimate reason to recuse himself, a judge should participate in cases assigned."
First, the undersigned harbors no actual bias for or against any party to this action. Second, the Court finds no reasonable person, as defined in
On October 9, 2012, Plaintiffs paid the required $350.00 filing fee. (
All parties instituting any civil action, suit or proceeding in a district court of the United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of $350.00.
Ms. [REDACTED] declares she is currently unemployed, and that she was last employed in April 2008. (ECF Nos. 12, 17.) Ms. [REDACTED] states that, in November 2012, she received a lump sum of approximately $11,000 when she cashed out her pension. (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts she owns four vehicles: an inoperable 1974 BMW, a financed 1978 Mercedes with $800 owed, a financed 2007 Sebring with about $3,100 owed, and a financed 2004 GMC with about $6,200 owed. She states that her wedding ring set is worth about $5,000. She states that she owns a single family home with monthly mortgage payments of $1,207.88, and that she pays an HOA fee of $174 per month.
Ms. [REDACTED] states her daughter and her husband are her dependents and that she contributes about $180 a month to each of them. She states she owes approximately $121,700 in student loans. She states that her day-to-day expenses are provided by her husband's retirement and disability benefits. In total, the Court finds Ms. [REDACTED]'s debts and expenses far exceed her assets and income and that she has therefore demonstrated the inability to pay the required filing fee. Accordingly, the Court will grant Plaintiffs' renewed motion to proceed IFP.
Any complaint filed by a person proceeding IFP is subject to sua sponte dismissal by the Court to the extent it contains claims which are "frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seek monetary relief from a defendant immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B);
A complaint will be considered frivolous, and therefore subject to dismissal under Section 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), "where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact."
Here, Plaintiffs allege defendants violated their First, Thirteenth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights by subjecting them to gender, religious, and racial discrimination.
To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege (1) the deprivation of a right secured by the federal Constitution or statutory law, and (2) that the deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law.
Ms. [REDACTED] alleges she attended San Diego State University from August 1981 through August 1986 and that, during that time, defendant Gene Lamke ("Lamke") discriminated against her via a "multidimensional sexual experience," in which he told "everyone in the class have a nice weekend but not [Ms. [REDACTED]." (ECF Nos. 10, 14 at 2.) Ms. [REDACTED] alleges she therefore "experienced a mental breakdown while sitting in class." (
Ms. [REDACTED] alleges that, in the spring of 2003, "Lamke was present the morning after the plaintiff awoke from a Sea World sleep over . . . and indicated to [other children there] that there was something wrong with [Plaintiffs]," thus causing Ms. [REDACTED] to become fearful for her daughter's safety. (
Plaintiffs assert that "sheriff personnel are participating in the discrimination scheme," claiming that because "they are the law enforcement and the State's muscle, it follows that they will take up interests identified to them by State Actors, like Lamke." (
Ms. [REDACTED] provides that she began having problems with sheriff's department personnel in 2003, alleging "they intentionally had multidimensional sex with [Plaintiffs] and drained them of vital energy." (
Ms. [REDACTED] elaborates that Lamke may be considered a social scientist and that "his discriminatory scheme that provides him with sexual gratification likely makes him a sexual psychopath." (
Plaintiffs claim "the defendant conspired with others to violate numerous civil rights on a continuing basis," using what the Church of Scientology calls a "communication highway," which is a "telepathic way to communicate." (
Plaintiffs allege Lamke used "Church of Scientology or other religious methods to violate [Plaintiffs'] civil rights." (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims the aforementioned "communication highway" was used "to cause segregation to the plaintiffs" and "to cause defamation of character, confusion, improper guidance and loss of economic rights, loss of right to associate, to gain knowledge." (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims "[t]he defendants' discrimination is with the intent to annihilate," claiming "the discriminatory method is not only to purpose death upon the plaintiffs but also to their descendants." (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts she "has been able to recall past life experiences that have rights taken away including the memory of three children, the taking of all her descendants, wealth and loss of economic rights and privileges, loss of relationships with family, friends and associations, lack of travel, lack of privacy, other fulfilling and rewarding skills like being a fast reader." (
Ms. [REDACTED] alleges "the discrimination is to prevent her free speech and other First [A]mendment rights." (
Ms. [REDACTED] elaborates that "Defendant arranged for three specifically placed multidimensional sexual experiences for [her daughter] with the intent to alter her natural development for the purpose of her sexual exploitation." (
Ms. [REDACTED] then goes on to describe how each of the remaining defendants were involved in the alleged scheme to discriminate against Ms. [REDACTED] and her daughter.
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts defendant Jesse Dixon ("Dixon") is, like Lamke, a faculty member at San Diego State University, and that Dixon discriminated against Ms. [REDACTED] by changing the answers on her exam to prevent her from obtaining a license to be a recreational therapist. (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts her daughter experienced the second "multidimensional sexual battery" from early July 2003 to mid-August 2003, which "started with significant trust building and training and extended over numerous nights," ending "with the exploitation of [Ms. [REDACTED]'s] daughter by numerous associates of the defendant." (
Ms. [REDACTED] alleges defendant Sonya Wright ("Wright") was also employed at San Diego State University and that she "improperly hired, provided inadequate supervision and inadequate training to the defendants," and that she failed to take action "to prevent the violations suffered by the plaintiffs." (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts defendant William Gore ("Gore") is the Sheriff of San Diego County and that he "knew or should have known of the condition of the sheriff department including improper hiring, inadequate supervision and inadequate training leading to the violation of the plaintiffs' civil rights." (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts defendant Diane Jacobs "is employed as Board of Directors," and that she "knew or should have known of the condition of the sheriff department," and failed to take corrective action. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Al Guerrin ("Guerrin") "is employed as Assistant Sheriff," and that "[h]e was the Captain of the Lemon Grove Sheriff Department in 2004 when [Ms. [REDACTED] visited him . . . at the same time as the severe 2003 multidimensional sexual experiences to [Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter]." (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts defendants Sergeant Bolwerk ("Bolwerk"), Sergeant Yamamoto ("Yamamoto"), Sergeant Kirk Thomson ("Thomson"), Lieutenant Finley ("Finley"), and Deputy Willis ("Willis") are all employees of the sheriff's department and that they participated in the "multidimensional sexual batteries and beatings" against Plaintiffs and/or failed to take corrective action. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Lieutenant Michael Hernandez ("Hernandez") is also employed by the sheriff's department and that he participated in the discrimination against Plaintiffs by failing to take action when Ms. [REDACTED] advised him that Plaintiffs' neighbor—defendant sheriff's deputy Donna Duncan ("Duncan")—had taken an inappropriate interest in Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter and that Ms. [REDACTED] herself was experiencing a drain in vital energy. (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts defendant Sergeant Rose ("Rose") is also employed by the sheriff's department and that she supervised Duncan. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims "Defendant Detective with the PERT nurse" is also employed by the sheriff's department and that he participated in the discrimination against Plaintiffs by going to Plaintiffs' home several days after Ms. [REDACTED] reported Duncan's alleged inappropriate interest in Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter to Hernandez and Rose. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Wendy TBD ("Wendy") was the PERT nurse who accompanied the aforementioned deputy. (
As mentioned above, Ms. [REDACTED] alleges Duncan is also deputy for the sheriff's department, and also that she "lives a couple doors down from" Plaintiffs. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Marilyn TBD ("Marilyn") is also employed by the sheriff's department and that she participated in the alleged discrimination scheme. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Sergeant Wallace ("Wallace") is also an employee of the sheriff's department and that he responded to Ms. [REDACTED]'s 911 call regarding the alleged July 16, 2011 multidimensional attack on Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter, and that Wallace failed to fully investigate Ms. [REDACTED]'s claims. (
Ms. [REDACTED] alleges defendant Deputy Bucher ("Bucher") is also employed by the sheriff's department and that he responded to Ms. [REDACTED]'s call in May 2012 regarding her concern that Duncan was continuing to cause multidimensional attacks against Ms. [REDACTED]'s daughter. (
Moving on to the remaining non-sheriff personnel defendants, Ms. [REDACTED] asserts that defendant Bill McDaniel is a manager that works for defendant David Morse and Associates, is a Church of Scientology member, and "has misused religious practices, science or research violating Plaintiffs' civil rights." (
Ms. [REDACTED] asserts Julie McDaniel is an office manager at David Morse and Associates and is also a Church of Scientology member. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendant Skip Williams ("Williams") is an "Investment Representative" that worked with Ms. [REDACTED] and that he invited and took her to the Church of Scientology. (
Ms. [REDACTED] claims defendants John Parson ("Parson") and Mr. Strickland ("Strickland") were employed as principal and teacher, respectively, at the daughter's school. (
Plaintiffs contend "the Sexual Psychopath in Institutions of Higher Learning statute is unconstitutional because the states valid purpose cannot be achieved," because "[i]t sweeps too broadly or too narrowly to be effective . . . is vague," and "is irrational." (
Plaintiffs conclude their FAC with a prayer for "$4,000,000 to include all remedies available under the law." (
Considering Plaintiffs' entire FAC, as set forth above, the Court finds Plaintiffs' allegations lack an arguable basis in fact.
Even assuming there were a factual basis for Plaintiffs' allegations, Plaintiffs have not provided any legal basis on which to sue Defendants for engaging in such a scheme. Plaintiffs assert Defendants' actions violated their First, Thirteenth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights by subjecting them to gender, religious, and racial discrimination. Plaintiffs have provided no authority, and the Court has found no authority, however, that would allow a plaintiff to recover under these amendments for being subjected to such a scheme. The Court thus finds Plaintiffs' allegations lack an arguable basis in law.
In sum, the Court finds Plaintiffs' allegations are frivolous for purposes of § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and must therefore dismiss Plaintiffs' FAC. Further, because a frivolous claim, by definition, has no merit, the Court will dismiss Plaintiffs' FAC with prejudice.
For the foregoing reasons,