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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA federal judge has had about enough from a litigant who has brought so many frivolous lawsuits that he may be barred from filing future complaints.
Judge Tayna Walton Pratt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Friday dismissed Homer Hoskins’ lawsuit that sought $3 trillion from the Nation of Islam because he alleged the group “wasted my time.”
“Wasting someone’s time does not create a federal cause of action. Even the relief sought is frivolous,” Pratt wrote in an order dismissing Hoskins’ complaint and denying his motion to proceed in forma pauperis.
Pratt also directed Hoskins to stop filing frivolous claims. The claims have been filed without fees.
“This complaint warrants no further judicial time. It is one of 28 cases and counting that the plaintiff has filed, mostly against private citizens, within the past week,” Pratt wrote.
Hoskins recently has filed suits against defendants including American Idol, Steak ’n’ Shake, White Castle, Circle Center Mall, the Indianapolis-Marion County City County Building, various local TV news operations, “all nation abroad,” and public figures including Bill Cosby.
“The plaintiff is abusing the Court’s limited resources and if he fails to stop filing frivolous claims and claims that lack federal jurisdiction, the Court will issue appropriate sanctions” that could include filing restrictions, Pratt wrote.
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