11th Circuit Agrees TP Is "Virtually Unintelligible"
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 3:14 pm
AUBREY MAURICE GARRETT,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE,
COMMISSONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
REBECCA KLINE,
Director of Internal Revenue Service,
each in their professional and personal capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
DO NOT PUBLISH
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 16-15779
Non-Argument Calendar
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Alabama
(August 3, 2017)
Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Aubrey Garrett appeals pro se the sua sponte dismissal without prejudice of his complaint as frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Garrett, a tax protestor, challenged the authority of the Internal Revenue Service and its employees to impose and collect taxes. We affirm.
We review for abuse of discretion the sua sponte dismissal of a complaint as frivolous. Hughes v. Lott, 350 F.3d 1157, 1160 (11th Cir. 2003). Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than pleadings drafted by attorneys and are construed liberally. Id. "A lawsuit is frivolous if the plaintiff's realistic chances of ultimate success are slight." Clark v. Ga. Pardons and Paroles Bd., 915 F.2d 636, 639 (11th Cir. 1984).
The district court did not abuse its discretion when it sua sponte dismissed Garrett's complaint. Garrett applied to proceed in forma pauperis, so the district court was required to review his complaint and to "dismiss the case . . . if . . . the action or appeal . . . was frivolous." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). We have repeatedly rejected Garrett's arguments that he was not a "taxpayer" and was immune from prosecution because he is not a citizen of the United States. See Stoecklin v. Commissioner, 865 F.2d 1221, 1223–24 (11th Cir. 1989); United States v. Ward, 833 F.2d 1538, 1539 (11th Cir. 1987); McNair v. Eggers, 788 F.2d 1509, 1510 (11th Cir. 1986). Additionally, as the district court noted, Garrett's complaint was "virtually unintelligible." Because Garrett had no realistic chance of success, the district court was required to dismiss his action as frivolous.
We AFFIRM the dismissal of Garrett's complaint.
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE,
COMMISSONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
REBECCA KLINE,
Director of Internal Revenue Service,
each in their professional and personal capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
DO NOT PUBLISH
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 16-15779
Non-Argument Calendar
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Alabama
(August 3, 2017)
Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Aubrey Garrett appeals pro se the sua sponte dismissal without prejudice of his complaint as frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Garrett, a tax protestor, challenged the authority of the Internal Revenue Service and its employees to impose and collect taxes. We affirm.
We review for abuse of discretion the sua sponte dismissal of a complaint as frivolous. Hughes v. Lott, 350 F.3d 1157, 1160 (11th Cir. 2003). Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than pleadings drafted by attorneys and are construed liberally. Id. "A lawsuit is frivolous if the plaintiff's realistic chances of ultimate success are slight." Clark v. Ga. Pardons and Paroles Bd., 915 F.2d 636, 639 (11th Cir. 1984).
The district court did not abuse its discretion when it sua sponte dismissed Garrett's complaint. Garrett applied to proceed in forma pauperis, so the district court was required to review his complaint and to "dismiss the case . . . if . . . the action or appeal . . . was frivolous." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). We have repeatedly rejected Garrett's arguments that he was not a "taxpayer" and was immune from prosecution because he is not a citizen of the United States. See Stoecklin v. Commissioner, 865 F.2d 1221, 1223–24 (11th Cir. 1989); United States v. Ward, 833 F.2d 1538, 1539 (11th Cir. 1987); McNair v. Eggers, 788 F.2d 1509, 1510 (11th Cir. 1986). Additionally, as the district court noted, Garrett's complaint was "virtually unintelligible." Because Garrett had no realistic chance of success, the district court was required to dismiss his action as frivolous.
We AFFIRM the dismissal of Garrett's complaint.