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CALDWELL v. BARRIERE (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.2021-04-22No. 20-1409-cv

Summary

Holding. The court affirmed the district court's dismissal of Caldwell's complaint, finding that the prior dismissal with prejudice barred the action under claim preclusion doctrine and that amendment would be futile.

Caldwell, representing himself, appealed the dismissal of a legal malpractice and civil rights complaint filed in forma pauperis against his former attorney. The district court dismissed the complaint under the statute governing in forma pauperis proceedings, determining that the action was barred by claim preclusion because an earlier complaint raising identical claims against the same defendant had been dismissed with prejudice over a decade prior, and that amendment would be futile.

On appeal, Caldwell failed to address or challenge the district court's reasoning regarding claim preclusion or futility of amendment. The appellate court noted that despite extending liberal construction to pro se briefs, litigants must still comply with rules requiring clear statement of issues on appeal. The court found Caldwell waived any challenge to these dispositive rulings and concluded that the district court acted properly under principles of claim preclusion and pleading standards.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a complaint raising identical claims dismissed with prejudice more than a decade earlier is barred by claim preclusion
  • Whether leave to amend should be denied when substantive defects cannot be cured by repleading
  • Scope of appellate review when pro se litigant fails to address dispositive holdings in briefing

Procedural posture

Caldwell appealed the district court's sua sponte dismissal of his in forma pauperis complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) without leave to amend.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Appellant Boisey Caldwell (“Caldwell”), proceeding pro se, appeals the District Courts sua sponte dismissal of his complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) without leave to amend. Caldwell sued his former attorney for legal malpractice and violations of his civil rights in connection with representation in a prior civil action, and the District Court dismissed the complaint because, among other reasons, Caldwells prior complaint raising the same claims against the same attorney had been dismissed with prejudice. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal.

We review de novo a district courts sua sponte dismissal under § 1915(e)(2). Hardaway v. Hartford Pub. Works Dept, 879 F.3d 486, 489 (2d Cir. 2018). Under § 1915(e), a district court must dismiss a complaint filed in forma pauperis if it determines that the action “(i) is frivolous or malicious; (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)(B). To avoid dismissal, a complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007).

While we “liberally construe pleadings and briefs submitted by pro se litigants, reading such submissions to raise the strongest arguments they suggest,” McLeod v. Jewish Guild for the Blind, 864 F.3d 154, 156 (2d Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks omitted), pro se appellants must still comply with Fed R. App. P. 28(a), which “requires appellants in their briefs to provide the court with a clear statement of the issues on appeal,” Moates v. Barkley, 147 F.3d 207, 209 (2d Cir. 1998). Despite affording pro se litigants “some latitude” in meeting the rules governing litigation, we “normally will not[ ] decide issues that a party fails to raise in his ․ appellate brief.” Id.

Caldwells appellate brief does not address the District Courts holding that his complaint was barred because his prior complaint raising the same claims against the same defendant was dismissed with prejudice more than a decade earlier. Nor does he address the District Courts holding that amendment would be futile. He has thus waived any challenge to the Courts rulings on these issues, which were dispositive. LoSacco v. City of Middletown, 71 F.3d 88, 92–93 (2d Cir. 1995). In any event, neither holding was in error. See Proctor v. LeClaire, 715 F.3d 402, 411 (2d Cir. 2013) (“Under the doctrine of res judicata, or claim preclusion, a final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties or their privies from relitigating issues that were or could have been raised in that action[.]” (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted)); Cuoco v. Moritsugu, 222 F.3d 99, 112 (2d Cir. 2000) (leave to replead should be denied as futile where defects in the complaint are substantive and cannot be cured by repleading).

CONCLUSION

We have reviewed all of the arguments raised by Caldwell on appeal and find them to be without merit. For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the April 17, 2020 judgment of the District Court.