Judges toss ‘illegible’ federal lawsuits

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Federal judges in Indianapolis last week wasted no time tossing two lawsuits from an abusive serial filer whose hand-scrawled complaints couldn’t be deciphered.

“Because this case is completely illegible, it cannot be declared frivolous. However, a complaint which (defies) all understanding because the markings do not represent readable letters cannot proceed,” U.S. Southern District of Indiana Judge Tanya Walton Pratt wrote last week in an order dismissing Tyrone Hurt v. Unknown (ineligible) et al., 1:14-CV-2016.

Hurt, who also has filed cases in other federal districts under the name Hunt, filed a handwritten complaint  on Dec. 8 and sought pauper counsel, a request Pratt also denied three days later in dismissing Hurt’s case. That case appeared to be against six unknown narcotics agents.

“Mr. Hurt is a frequent filer of frivolous litigation,” Pratt wrote, noting filing restrictions have been placed on him in federal courts for the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of California and the District of Massachusetts for vexatious litigation.

Separately, Hurt filed another case on Dec. 8 that U.S. Southern District of Indiana Judge William T. Lawrence also threw out three days later. That case was Tyrone Hurt v. Social Security Admin., Unknown Narcotic Agent, Former Pres. George W. Bush, 1:14-CV-2015.

“Although most of Mr. Hurt’s complaint is illegible, based on the fact that Mr. Hurt is attempting to sue a) a federal agency while he has no connection with this district, b) unknown individuals, … and c) a former President who has immunity from suit, this complaint warrants no further discussion,” Lawrence wrote.

 

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