National Forest Legal News Blog

Furlong v. Garland, Case No. 1:10-cv-453-JD (D.N.H.).  A local man has filed pro se and apparently frivolous lawsuit against a local Forest Service ranger.  The nutty plaintiff claims in his lawsuit that the ranger discriminated against him based on his past homelessness and drunkeness.  Apparently, the one-time homeless, drunk (according to his own complaint) thinks that the ranger tried to block his access to snowmobiling and is seeking to stop a land exchange.  He is seeking $5 million in actual damages.  What the judge should do after the suit is proven to be frivolous is sanction the man with a stiff fine and not allow him to file any additional lawsuits in federal court until the fine is paid.  What will happen?  Nothing.  The man's suit will be dismissed after a lot of time and work by Forest Service and the U.S. Attorneys' Office.  The court won't issue any sanctions because the man is pro se.  The man will be angry, maybe file and appeal and willl certainly file more cases in the future.  Our wonderful legal system.