RICHARD G. ANDREWS, District Judge.
Plaintiff Younes Kabbaj filed this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 alleging diversity of citizenship and damages in excess of $75,000, which he elsewhere specifies as $2,694,400. (D.I. 1, ¶ 13; D.I. 1-1). He appears pro se and has paid the filing fee. (Docket Text re: D.I. 1). He has moved to amend the complaint, accompanied by a proposed amended complaint. (D.I. 13 & 14; see also D.I. 19; D.I. 23). There was a further motion to amend the complaint that was not accompanied by a proposed amended complaint. (D.I. 37 & 38). There was later a further "Notice of First Amended Complaint" (D.I. 47) and "First Amended Complaint." (D.I. 48). Before the Court are Defendants' motions to dismiss (D.I. 10, 25, 27), as well as various other motions. (D.I. 11, 28, 32, 52). Kabbaj too has filed numerous motions. (D.I. 6, 13, 20, 23, 24, 30, 37, 48, 49, 50, 51).
Kabbaj is a former employee of the American School of Tangier. He has filed numerous lawsuits.
On July 25, 2014, Kabbaj filed the instant complaint against AST, its Board of Trustees, Gabriel, Eastman (collectively, "AST defendants"), Simpson, Brian K. Albro, and John Does 1-83 without receiving written permission from the Court. Kabbaj alleges conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and false imprisonment. (D.I. 1). Subsequent amended complaints do not substantially change the defendants, other than adding more John Doe defendants, but do reduce the number of claims. (E.g., D.I. 14 (85 John Doe defendants; four claims including breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, and "negligence/negligent misrepresentation/fraudulent misrepresentation"); D.I. 48 (108 John Doe defendants; four claims)).
The AST defendants, Simpson, and Albro move to dismiss the complaint for Kabbaj's failure to comply with the April 24, 2012 order. (D.I. 10, 27). In addition, the AST defendants seek an order relieving them from having to respond to further filings made by Kabbaj unless specifically directed to do so by the Court (e.g., D.I. 10 ¶ 9) and Albro and Simpson move to strike certain filings by Kabbaj. (D.I. 52). Finally, the AST defendants seek sanctions in the sum of $2,000 for having to respond to the complaint in light of Kabbaj's failure to comply with the April 24, 2012 order. (D.I. 27). In turn, Kabbaj seeks sanctions. (D.I. 30). Simpson and Albro similarly move for dismissal on the grounds that Kabbaj failed to obtain permission to file this action as required by the April 24, 2012 order. (D.I. 25, 26)
AST, its Board of Trustees, Gabriel, Eastman, and Simpson were named as Releasees in the settlement of C.A. No. 10-431-RGA. According to the Court's April 24, 2012 order:
(C.A. No. 10-431-RGA, D.I. 54, at 2-3).
Kabbaj has represented in other filings that Albro is Simpson's husband.
There is nothing on the court docket that indicates Kabbaj provided a copy of the instant complaint to Seegull. Nor did Kabbaj seek leave to file a complaint against the named Releasees. Kabbaj agreed in the executed settlement documents to follow a certain procedure regarding any further civil action against any Releasee, yet he failed to do so. As is evidenced by his numerous court filings, Kabbaj is well aware of the procedures by which he is required to abide. Yet he chose not to follow the procedures to which he agreed. Thus, the motions to dismiss will be granted
The majority of the allegations are directed towards Simpson and Albro. In general, the allegations relate to "a massive internet operation against [Kabbaj]." (D.I. 1, ¶ 16). Kabbaj names the John Doe "internet defendants" (D.I. 1, ¶ 17) as acting on behalf of the AST defendants, Simpson, and Albro.
The Court notes that Kabbaj, after following the appropriate procedure and in compliance with the April 24, 2012 order, was recently given permission to file a complaint, somewhat similar to the complaint herein, against Simpson, Albro, and John Doe defendants. (See C.A. No. 10-431-RGA at D.I. 70, 87).
The Court will grant Defendants' motions to dismiss. (D.I. 10, 25, 27). The Court will dismiss the complaint and all proposed amended complaints as the original complaint was filed in contravention of the April 24, 2012 order and the settlement agreement entered into by Kabbaj. Kabbaj and Defendants have filed numerous other motions in this case. (D.I. 6, 11, 13, 20, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32, 37, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52). Most of the motions (D.I. 6, 11, 13, 20, 23, 25, 30, 32, 37, 48, 49, 51, 52) are moot, and will therefore be dismissed.
As to D.I. 24, Kabbaj moves to unseal exhibits and pleadings and, in particular, D.I. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 22, which were previously sealed by the Court. The sealing of D.I. 14, 15, 16, 18 and 22 was erroneous. They will therefore be unsealed. Subsequent to the filing of the motion to unseal, the Court sealed D.I. 38, which is 533 pages long. Having reviewed D.I. 38, it also appears that it should not have been sealed. Most of the contents of the sealed documents were publicly available prior to having been filed with the Court. Previous public availability, at least in the circumstances of this particular case and considering the documents at issue, indicates that the documents should not remain under seal. See generally West Penn Allegheny Health Sys., Inc. v. UPMC, 2012 WL 512681, *8-9 (W.D. Pa. Feb. 14, 2012). But D.I. 17 also contain irrelevant personal information.
As to D.I. 28, since the Court is dismissing the case, the Court will grant the motion to quash third party subpoenas. (D.I. 28).
As to D.I. 30, since Kabbaj's position is meritless, his request for sanctions (D.I. 30) will be denied.
As to D.I. 50, the Motion Requesting Establishment of Procedure to Pursue Claims, it relates to C.A. No. 10-431-RGA, and not to this case. Therefore, it will be denied.
At this juncture, the Court declines to impose the sanctions sought by the AST defendants. Kabbaj, however, is placed on notice that future complaints that name any of the Releasees and are filed without seeking permission pursuant to the process established in No. 10-431-RGA will be summarily dismissed. In addition, sanctions may issue should Kabbaj continue to file new complaints containing repetitive allegations and/or repetitive motions or motions in closed cases.