Filed: Aug. 17, 2018
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 17, 2018 _ Elisabeth A. Shumaker Clerk of Court BENJAMIN D. VELAYO, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 18-3103 (D.C. No. 2:17-CV-02713-CM) JOHN TALAMAYAN, Officer of the V.A. (D. Kan.) Medical Center Police Department; VICTOR GRABBE, Major of the V.A. Medical Center Police Department, Defendants - Appellees. _ ORDER AND JUDGMENT* _ Before LUCERO, HARTZ, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges. _ Benjamin
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 17, 2018 _ Elisabeth A. Shumaker Clerk of Court BENJAMIN D. VELAYO, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 18-3103 (D.C. No. 2:17-CV-02713-CM) JOHN TALAMAYAN, Officer of the V.A. (D. Kan.) Medical Center Police Department; VICTOR GRABBE, Major of the V.A. Medical Center Police Department, Defendants - Appellees. _ ORDER AND JUDGMENT* _ Before LUCERO, HARTZ, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges. _ Benjamin ..
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FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 17, 2018
_________________________________
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
BENJAMIN D. VELAYO,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v. No. 18-3103
(D.C. No. 2:17-CV-02713-CM)
JOHN TALAMAYAN, Officer of the V.A. (D. Kan.)
Medical Center Police Department;
VICTOR GRABBE, Major of the V.A.
Medical Center Police Department,
Defendants - Appellees.
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
_________________________________
Before LUCERO, HARTZ, and McHUGH, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________
Benjamin Velayo appeals the district court’s dismissal of his civil rights
complaint. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.
Velayo filed a complaint against John Talamayan and Victor Grabbe. He
alleged without elaboration that Talamayan, a Veterans Affairs (“VA”) police officer,
violated his “privacy rights on January 13, 2016 at [his] apartment” and that Grabbe
*
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding
precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral
estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with
Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
covered up this violation. A magistrate judge recommended that the complaint be
dismissed for failure to state a claim. Velayo objected, stating that Talamayan
approached him at his apartment, in a cafeteria, and while exercising on the VA
campus, and that Grabbe had instructed officers not to approach Velayo’s apartment
building. The district court dismissed the case pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B). Velayo timely appealed.
We review de novo a district court’s sua sponte dismissal of a complaint
pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim. Perkins v. Kan. Dep’t of
Corr.,
165 F.3d 803, 806 (10th Cir.1999). “We must accept all the well-pleaded
allegations of the complaint as true and must construe them in the light most
favorable to the plaintiff.” David v. City & Cty. of Denver,
101 F.3d 1344, 1352
(10th Cir. 1996) (quotation omitted). A complaint must allege “enough facts to state
a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S.
544, 570 (2007). Because Velayo is pro se, we construe his filings liberally, but we
may not act as his advocate. Hall v. Bellmon,
935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991).
We agree with the district court that Velayo has failed to state a claim. Even
taking into account the additional allegations contained in his objection to the
magistrate judge’s recommendation, Velayo has not pled sufficient facts to make out
a plausible violation of his constitutional rights. In his appellate briefing, Velayo
adds further detail, indicating that Talamayan knocked on the door of his apartment
and “glimpsed inside” when Velayo answered. But even if we were to consider these
additional allegations, Velayo has not made out a claim. See United States v.
2
Carloss,
818 F.3d 988, 992 (10th Cir. 2016) (“[P]olice officers do not violate the
Fourth Amendment by going to the front door of a home and knocking, seeking to
speak with the occupants.”).
AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Carlos F. Lucero
Circuit Judge
3