Filed Date: March 20, 2020
Closed Date: April 29, 2022
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This is a case alleging a false accusation and conspiracy committed by a state trooper, a retail employee, and a district attorney's office against an individual in Pennsylvania.
On March 20, 2020 the individual pro se plaintiff filed a civil rights complaint in United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania while he was an inmate at the State Correctional Institution, Smithfield, PA. The plaintiff alleged violations of his civil rights regarding his 2019 arrest and prosecution for theft at Walmart. The plaintiff sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and listed the following three defendants in his complaint: (i) Pennsylvania State Trooper in his personal and official capacity, (ii) an asset protection employee at Walmart in her individual and Walmart representative capacity, and (iii) the Commonwealth District Attorney’s Office.
Despite originally pleading guilty to the Walmart theft charges, the plaintiff in his complaint alleged that he was falsely accused and unlawfully charged. Plaintiff alleged that his March 24, 2019 arrest was premised on false and misleading accusations by two of the defendants and that the District Attorney’s office committed acts of conspiracy and malicious prosecution by relying on information provided by defendants. He sought monetary damages in the amount of $350,000 from each of the three defendants.
On June 30, 2021, United States Magistrate Judge J. Susan E. Schwab issued an order concluding that the complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Plaintiff was also granted leave to file an amended complaint.
On September 28, 2021, the Court granted plaintiff an extension of time to file his amended complaint by November 28, 2021. Upon his failure to file an amended complaint, on December 2 the Court ordered that plaintiff show cause demonstrating why the complaint should not be dismissed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Plaintiff did not meet the December 7, 2021 deadline.
In response, on April 4, 2022, the plaintiff filed a letter with the court, explaining he had been in a nursing home and hospital since a car accident the previous summer, and asking the court to expedite and move the case.
On April 8, 2022, United States Magistrate Judge J. Susan E. Schwab issued a Report and Recommendation. The Report found that the complaint failed to comply with federal pleading standards and failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The Magistrate Judge recommended: (1) dismissing the complaint for failure to comply with Rule 8 and failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) and § 1915A; (2) denying further leave to amend as futile; (3) closing the case; and (4) denying as moot the plaintiff's motion to expedite.
On April 29, 2022, United States District Judge, J. Robert D. Mariani adopted the Report and Recommendation and directed the Clerk of the Court to close the case.
Summary Authors
Siddharth Goswami (12/5/2023)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18380432/parties/williams-v-black/
Mariani, Robert David (Pennsylvania)
Williams, Sanford Williams (Pennsylvania)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18380432/williams-v-black/
Last updated Aug. 9, 2025, 10:33 p.m.
State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 20, 2020
Closing Date: April 29, 2022
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmate at State Correctional Institution, Smithfield, in Huntington PA
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Adams), State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Unreasonable search and seizure
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Affected Language(s):
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Policing: