Lindsey v. Bondi et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
WESTERN DIVISION
CHARLES E. LINDSEY,
Plaintiff,
v.
PAM BONDI, DENNY HOPKINS,
Defendants.
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Case No. 4:26-cv-00024-RK
ORDER
Before the Court are Charles E. Lindsey’s pro se motion for leave to proceed in forma
pauperis and Affidavit of Financial Status in Support, (Docs. 1, 2), and motion to consolidate,
(Doc. 3). After careful consideration and review, and for the reasons explained below, the Court
ORDERS that Plaintiff’s pro se motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED, this case is
DISMISSED pursuant to the Court’s initial screening under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), and
Plaintiff’s motion to consolidate1 is DENIED as moot.
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) authorizes the Court to allow indigent persons to commence
a civil action without the prepayment of costs. However, “[t]he opportunity to proceed in forma
pauperis is a privilege, not a right.” 	Weaver v. Pung, 925 F.2d 1097, 1099 n.4 (8th Cir. 1991).
When presented with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court first determines whether
the plaintiff satisfies the economic eligibility requirements. Local Rule 83.7(a) provides that the
standard for determining in forma pauperis status is whether the requirement to pay the costs of
the lawsuit would cause the applicant to be forced to give up the basic necessities of life. If the
applicant meets the economic eligibility requirements, the Court then determines whether the
applicant’s complaint is “frivolous or malicious; fails to state a claim upon which relief may be
granted; or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B).
To begin, it appears from his affidavit of financial status that Plaintiff does not qualify by
economic status. His affidavit states that he owns a trust fund valued at either $230 million or $6
1 On January 5, 2026, Plaintiff filed another case in this district, Charles E. Lindsey v. Katrin Hataway,
Michael Keyhole, No. 4:26-cv-00006-RK. Plaintiff moves to consolidate the cases.
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trillion and his only monthly expense is $200 for groceries. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma
pauperis is accordingly denied because based upon Plaintiff’s affidavit of financial status, it does
not appear that paying the required filing fee would cause Plaintiff to give up the basic necessities
of life. See Local Rule 83.7(a).
Even if Plaintiff did satisfy the economic eligibility requirements, however, his claims are
subject to dismissal as frivolous and for failure to state a claim. “[A] court may dismiss a claim
as factually frivolous only if the facts alleged are clearly baseless, a category encompassing
allegations that are fanciful, fantastic, and delusional,” or if the facts alleged appear “irrational” or
“wholly incredible.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992) (internal citation omitted).
Plaintiff lists numerous laws, including unfair competition and antitrust laws and the RICO
and Hobbs Acts. (Doc. 1-2 at 6-7.) He alleges few facts and the facts he does allege are irrational
or unintelligible. Plaintiff alleges unspecified threats “to kill [his] family tree” but also that “the
local or federal government is using the Kansas City College of Bio science to condem [sic] local
small business who owner is using ex parte Court order to stop me from repairing my home
because they are not being allowed repair their property[.]” Plaintiff’s claims are frivolous under
the § 1915(e)(2)(B) standard.
Conclusion
Accordingly, after careful consideration and for the reasons explained above, the Court
ORDERS that Plaintiff’s pro se motion to proceed in forma pauperis, (Doc. 1), is DENIED, this
case is DISMISSED without prejudice, and Plaintiff’s motion to consolidate, (Doc. 3), is
DENIED as moot.
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this Order to:
Charles E. Lindsey
5533 Virginia Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64110
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Roseann A. Ketchmark
ROSEANN A. KETCHMARK, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DATED: May 18, 2026
Case 4:26-cv-00024-RK Document 4 Filed 05/18/26 Page 2 of 2