St. Pierre v. City of Ukiah

Background

Kylle St. Pierre, a pro se plaintiff, sued the City of Ukiah, Mendocino County, and an affiliated commission. The court described the operative amended complaint as more than 100 pages long with attachments and as alleging a wide range of claims that appeared to involve a property parcel in Mendocino County. St. Pierre applied to proceed in forma pauperis, meaning without paying the court’s filing fees. He also filed requests for a temporary restraining order, expedited discovery, and a protective order.

Filing-Fee Application

The court denied the application to proceed without paying fees. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the court first considers whether the plaintiff’s financial circumstances justify that status. St. Pierre reported that he was self-employed, that his monthly income exceeded his expenses, and that he had a positive bank-account balance. The court concluded that these circumstances did not warrant fee-free status.

Complaint Screening

The court then screened the amended complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), applying the same standard used for a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The court explained that a pro se complaint still must comply with Rule 8 and allege facts supporting a plausible claim for relief. Even reading the complaint generously, the court found it to be an incomprehensible mass of allegations, anecdotes, and asides without clear factual or legal significance. It concluded that the complaint did not provide the short and plain statement required by Rule 8(a).

Rulings and Filing Restrictions

The court dismissed the amended complaint with leave to amend. St. Pierre may file a second amended complaint by November 3, 2025, and the court stated that this would likely be his final opportunity to state a plausible claim. The court also stated that St. Pierre did not appear to be a lawyer admitted to practice in California or in the Northern District of California and therefore could not represent anyone other than himself.

The requests for preliminary relief were terminated as moot. The other motions and requests were terminated without prejudice. Because St. Pierre had filed an excessive number of documents, the court limited his electronic filing privileges: he may file a second amended complaint only unless the court orders otherwise, and other electronic filings may be summarily stricken. The court stated that it may terminate his electronic filing privileges. Failure to meet the November 3 deadline or otherwise comply with the order will result in dismissal of the case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

Nature of the Decision

This was a procedural screening order. The court did not reach the merits of St. Pierre’s underlying claims.