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Rasheed v. City of Texarkana, 4:17-cv-04057. (2018)

Court: District Court, W.D. Arkansas Number: infdco20180212323 Visitors: 18
Filed: Jan. 19, 2018
Latest Update: Jan. 19, 2018
Summary: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE BARRY A. BRYANT , Magistrate Judge . Before this Court is the Motion to Dismiss filed herein by Defendant, Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wulff ("AUSA Wulff"). ECF No. 20. Plaintiff filed several responses to this motion. ECF No. 26, 34. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1) and (3) (2005), the Honorable P. K. Holmes, III referred this motion to this Court for the purpose of making a report and recomme
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REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Before this Court is the Motion to Dismiss filed herein by Defendant, Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Wulff ("AUSA Wulff"). ECF No. 20. Plaintiff filed several responses to this motion. ECF No. 26, 34. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3) (2005), the Honorable P. K. Holmes, III referred this motion to this Court for the purpose of making a report and recommendation. On January 10, 2018, a hearing was held on this Motion. All Defendants appeared through counsel. Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, also appeared. The Court, having reviewed the parties' arguments and briefing, recommends the Motion To Dismiss (ECF No. 20) of AUSA Wulff be GRANTED.

1. Background

On July 17, 2017, Plaintiff filed a pro se Complaint against several parties. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff's claims relate to a traffic stop involving his son, Demetrius Stanley. The limited facts alleged in the Complaint state that on March 27, 2016, Co-Defendant Officer Darren Jones arrested the Plaintiff's son, Demetrius Stanley. ECF No. 1. This arrest followed a traffic stop conducted by Co-Defendant Officer Freeman for expired car registration. Id. Following the stop, it was confirmed that Demetrius Stanley had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation out of Bowie County, Texas. Id. The traffic stop and arrest occurred at the intersection of St. Michael Drive and State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Texas. Id. Plaintiff's Complaint makes no allegation he was present during the traffic stop and arrest on March 27, 2016. Additionally, Plaintiff, at the hearing held on January 10, 2018, acknowledged he was not present at the time of the traffic stop and arrest of Demetrius Stanley.

Defendant AUSA Wulff filed a Motion to Dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) for lack of standing, 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, 12(b)(5) for improper service, and for immunity based on his status as a Federal Prosecutor. ECF. No. 20. Plaintiff responded to this motion. ECF Nos. 26, 34. Because this court finds Plaintiff lacks standing under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) to bring this suit, only this ground will be addressed in the Report and Recommendation.

2. Discussion

Because the Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the Court has liberally construed his complaint. However, the Plaintiff must still allege sufficient facts to support his claims. See Stone v. Harry, 364 F.3d 912, 914 (8th Cir. 2004).

Standing is a necessary component of the jurisdiction of an Article III court, which exists to resolve cases or controversies. Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 93 S.Ct. 2908, 37 L.Ed.2d 830 (1973). If a Plaintiff lacks standing, the district court has no subject matter jurisdiction. Friedmann v. Sheldon Cmty. Sch. Dist., 995 F.2d 802, 804 (8th Cir.1993). To establish standing, the Plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) he suffered an injury in fact which is (a) concrete and particularized and (b) actual and imminent; (2) a causal connection between the conduct complained of and the alleged injury; and, (3) it must be likely, as opposed to speculative, that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision. Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560-561 (1992).

All of Plaintiff's claims relate to a traffic stop involving his son, Demetrius Stanley. Plaintiff was not involved, nor even present, at the time of the traffic stop. Plaintiff's Complaint makes no allegation showing he was in any way stopped, detained, touched, arrested or effected in any way by the traffic stop which occurred on March 27, 2016. Plaintiff has not pled a single contact with AUSA Wulff related to the March 27, 2016 traffic stop.1 Plaintiff's position at the hearing on this Motion was simply that he "had the right to defend his son." Plaintiff has failed to allege any injury he suffered related to the March 27, 2016 traffic stop.

Accordingly, this Court finds Plaintiff lacks standing to bring this action and, consequently the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to entertain Plaintiff's claims.

3. Conclusion

Based upon the foregoing, this Court recommends that Defendant Benjamin Wulff's Motion To Dismiss, (ECF No. 20) be GRANTED.

The parties have fourteen (14) days from receipt of this Report and Recommendation in which to file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties are reminded that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the district court. See Thompson v. Nix, 897 F.2d 356, 357 (8th Cir. 1990).

FootNotes


1. Benjamin Wulff is an Assistant U. S. Attorney in connection with a criminal case filed in the United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Texarkana Division, Case No. 4:16-CR-40022-001 that involved Demetrius Stanley, Plaintiff's son. Mr. Stanley as pled guilty in that case and is awaiting sentencing.
Source:  Leagle

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