Wilson v. Hussman

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
WESTERN DIVISION
MELAINE R. WILSON,
Plaintiff 5:22-cv-5091
vs. MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
JOHN HUSSMAN,SR.,
Defendant
In her pro se Complaint, Plaintiff seeks substantial damages from Defendant
in connection with allegations ofrape when she was a child. (Doc. 1). She also
has filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis with accompanying financial
information. (Doc. 2).
I. Motion for Leave to Proceed In forma Pauperis
28 U.S.C. §1915(a)(l)directs the court to authorize the commencement of a
civil action without prepayment offees upon proofof plaintiffs inability to pay. A
person may be permitted to proceed in forma pauperis if he or she "submits an
affidavit that includes a statement of all assets" the person possesses, and also
states "that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefore." Id.
The Eighth Circuit has established parameters for addressing in forma pauperis
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motions and has instructed that a petitioner's financial status should be evaluated
first, and screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 should follow. Martin-Trigona v.
Stewart, 691 F.2d 856, 857(8th Cir. 1982). The court has recognized that the
applicant need not establish "absolute destitution." Lee v. McDonald's Corp., 231
F.3d 456,459(8th Cir. 2000). See also Babino v. Janssen & Son,2017 WL
6813137, at *1 (D.S.D. 2017). The District Court's task is to determine whether
the plaintiffs allegation of poverty is true, and that determination is within the
court's discretion. Lee, 231 F.3d at 459.
Plaintiff has submitted sufficient documentation to establish that she should
be permitted to proceed in forma pauperis. In her declaration, Ms. Wilson indicates
she currently has income in the form of military retirement and disability
payments, minimal assets, and significant housing expenses.(Doc. 2). The court
finds Ms. Wilson is indigent within the meaning of§1915(a)(1). This
determination means her claims will be screened under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e).
U, Screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§ 1915
A. Legal Standard
A proceeding in forma pauperis is governed by 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)
which provides:
(2)Notwithstanding any filing fee ...the court shall dismiss the case at any
time if the court determines that—...
(B)the action or appeal—
(i) is fi-ivolous or malicious;
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(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or
(iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from
such relief.
28 U.S.C.§ 1915(e)(2).
This provision allows the court sua sponte to review a complaint filed
with an in forma pauperis application to determine if the action warrants dismissal.
In screening plaintiffs pro se complaint,the court must liberally construe it and
assume as true all facts well pleaded in the complaint. Erickson v. ParduSy 551
U.S. 89,94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007). Even with this
construction,"a pro se complaint must contain specific facts supporting its
conclusions." Martin v. Sargent, 780 F.2d 1334, 1337(8th Clr. 1985). To state a
claim for relief, a complaint must plead more than "legal conclusions" and
"[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements ofa cause ofaction's elements, supported by
mere conclusory statements." v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937,
173 L.Ed.2d 868(2009)(citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544,555, 127
S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Bd.2d 929(2007)). A reviewing court has the duty to examine a
pro se complaint "to determine ifthe allegations provide for relief on any possible
theory." Williams v. Willits, 853 F.2d 586,588(8th Cir. 1988). A plaintiff must
demonstrate a plausible claim for relief, that"allows the court to draw the
reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged."
Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 675. If it does not contain these bare essentials, dismissal is
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appropriate. The court is not required to construct legal theories for the plaintiff to
enable the case to proceed. Marglon v City ofSioux Falls Police Dept., 2020 WL
906521,*2(D.S.D. 2020)(citing Stone v. Hariy,364 F.3d 912,914(8th Cir.
2004)).
B. Plaintiffs Allegations
Plaintiff alleges that she was a child in foster care living with Defendant and
his family. (Doc. 1). She further alleges that when she was "in the 3d grade(8
years old) and in the 4th Grade(9 years old)," Defendant violently raped her. (Id.,
PgID 5). She further asserts that she ran away in 1982 when she was 12 years old,
meaning the alleged actions would have occurred in the 1978-80 timeffame. (Id.,
PglD 6). She asserts she tried to obtain relief through the criminal justice system
but was told the statute of limitations had expired. She also tried to obtain relief
from the tribal court but to no avail. (Id.).
C. Analysis
Plaintiff has stated that she initiated this lawsuit because on September 16,
2022,President Biden signed into law PL 117-176, which eliminates the statute of
limitations for certain criminal conduct when the victim seeks recompense through
a civil suit. Id., 136 Stat. 2108, September 16, 2022. The version ofthis Public
Law that appears at 18 U.S.C. § 2255, reads as follows:
§ 2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries
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(a)In general.~Any person who, while a minor, was a victim of a violation
of sectionl589, 1590, 1591, 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252
A,2260, 2421, 2422, or 2423 ofthis title and who suffers personal injury as
a result of such violation, regardless of whether the injury occurred while
such person was a minor, may sue in any appropriate United States District
Court and shall recover the actual damages such person sustains or
liquidated damages in the amount of$150,000, and the cost ofthe action,
including reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably
incurred. The court may also award punitive damages and such other
preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate.
(b) Statute of limitations.-There shall be no time limit for the filing of a
complaint commencing an action under this section.
The source for the codification at 18 U.S.C. § 2255 is the language in PL 117-176,
136 Stat. 2108, which was based on Senate Bill 3130(cited by Plaintiff at Doc. 1,
PgID 8). The Public Law and Statutes at Large versions are identical, and differ
from the United States Code version in a significant respect pertinent to Plaintiffs
claim. Read literally, under the United States Code version, the Plaintiffs claim
would proceed. However, the Public Law and Statutes at Large versions control,
and under that law the Plaintiffs claim does not proceed. Sec. 3 ofthe Act
addresses the applicability ofthe law and reads as follows:
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall—
(1)take effect on the date of enactment ofthis Act; and
(2)apply to—
(A)any claim or action that, as ofthe date described in paragraph (1),
would not have been barred under section 2255(b) of title 18, United
States Code, as it read on the day before the date of enactment of this
Act; and
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(B)any claim or action arising after the date of enactment ofthis Act.
Approved September 16,2022.
PL 117-176, 136 Stat. 2108, September 16, 2022.
As indicated in the citation, P.L. 117-176 is codified in the Statutes at Large
at 136 Stat. 2108. Where there is an inconsistency between the text of die United
States Code section and the Statutes at Large, the language ofthe latter controls. 1
U.S.C. § 204(a). SQtStephan v. United States, 319 U.S. 423,426(1943)("... die
Code cannot prevail over the Statutes at Large when the two are inconsistent").
See dXso Jewish Centerfor Aged v. U.S. Dept. ofHousing and Urban Development,
2007 WL 2121691,*4(E.D. Mo.2007); Peart v. Motor Vessel Bering Explorer,
373 F. Supp.927,928(D. Alaska 1974). In the present case, the language of the
Statutes at Large controls.
On its face, Section 3 eliminates the statute of limitations for actions or
claims arising after enactment of the statute. Cases arising before that time require
further analysis, however. In accordance with §(2)(A), it is necessary to assess
whether an older claim would have been barred by the applicable statute of
limitations before September 16, 2022.
Prior to the version of 18 U.S.C. § 2255 now in effect, the statute provided a
ten-year statute of limitations which began to run on the later ofthe plaintiffs
discovery ofthe violation or discovery ofthe injury, or not later than ten years
after the victim reached the age of eighteen. PL 115-126, 132 Stat. 318, February
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14, 2018. The 2018 amendment provided additional options for a victim to employ
in a lawsuit. Id. A ten-year statute of limitation was in effect; it had replaced a six-
year statute of limitations in 2013. PL 113-4,127 Stat. 54, March 7, 2013. Thus, a
ten-year statute of limitations was in effect as of 2013, but it would not have
revived a claim such as Plaintiffs dating from more than three decades earlier.
See generally Nimham-El-Dey v. Childrens Aid Society, 2022 WL 4109781 (S.D.
NY 2022){claims time-barred pursuant to ten-year statute of limitations); Elden v.
Nirvana, LLC., 2022 WL 4079271 (C.D. CA 2022)(same).
Previous versions of statutes affecting the statute of limitations and other
aspects of 18 U.S.C. § 2255 expanded the pool of people who could bring suit
from "any minor" to "any person" who fit within the applicable sections ofthe
federal criminal code. PL 109-248, 120 Stat. 587, July 27, 2006. The list of
crimes that could be the subject of suit had been expanded previously. PL 105-
314, 112 Stat. 2974, October 30, 1998. The remedy ofa civil suit had been
established initially with a six-year statute of limitations and required the suit be
initiated by a minor who suffered injuries as a result of violations of applicable
sections ofthe federal criminal code. PL 99-591, 100 Stat. 3341, October 30,
1986. See generally, Stephens v. Clash, 796 F.3d 281 (3d Cir. 2015); K.H., on
behalfofDoe v. Reese, 2023 WL 35327(M.D. Pa. 2023); Estate ofDevins v.
Oneida County, 2022 WL 4549228(N.D. NY 2022).
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In her complaint, Plaintiff asserts the alleged rapes occurred when she was 8
and 9 years old. Based on her statement that she was 12 when she ran away in
1982,the Court assumes a birthdate ofsometime in 1970. It is possible she could
have pursued a civil action when 18 U.S.C. § 2255 was amended in 1986 to
authorize civil suits for certain sexual assaults, PL 99-591, id. Apparently,
Plaintiff did not do so.
The September 16, 2022, amendment tol8 U.S.C.§ 2255 that Plaintiff cites
as eliminating the statute of limitations does so only for certain cases, and
Plaintiffs is not in that category. Plaintiffs lawsuit is barred by the statute of
limitations, 18 U.S.C. § 2255, and has not been revived by any ofthe ensuing
amendments to the statute. When a court is conducting screening pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1915 and determines a claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2255 is time-barred,
dismissal is appropriate when "it is obvious from the face ofthe complaint and no
further factual record is required to be developed." Harding v. Watch Tower Bible
& Tract Society ofNew York, Inc., 2022 WL 3025816,*2(10th Cir. 2022).
CONCLUSION
The allegations on the face ofPlaintiffs Complaint demonstrate she is not
entitled to relief. The statute of limitations bars relief on her Complaint and the
recent amendment has not eliminated the statute of limitations for Plaintiffs claim
which originated several decades ago. PL 117-176, 136 Stat. 2108, September 16,
8
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2022. Therefore, the Court dismisses her Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2)(B)(u).
Accordingly,IT IS ORDERED that:
1. Plaintiffs motion to proceed in forma pauperis(Doc. 2)is granted; and
2. Plaintiffs Complaint is dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii).
(Doc. 1).
Dated this 15th day of February, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
twice L. Piersol
ATTEST: United States District Judge
MATTHEW W.THELEN,CLERK
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