Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar RORY MCDANIEL v. THE UNITED STATES

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-06-05 Docket: 1:26-cv-00073-SEG The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s sua sponte dismissal of Rory McDaniel’s amended complaint as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The court applied the standard that a claim is frivolous if it lacks arguable merit in law or fact, meaning its factual contentions are clearly baseless, irrational, or wholly incredible. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, the court held that McDaniel’s complaint—which sought $500 million in damages under the Fourteenth Amendment based on delusional claims that the government committed treason, piracy, and counterfeiting by recognizing Jewish people as Jews while allegedly discriminating against him as a Black person—was legally and factually without merit. The court further affirmed the district court’s decision to dismiss the complaint without leave to amend, concluding that any amendment would be futile given the irredeemably frivolous nature of the allegations. Consequently, McDaniel’s appeal is denied, his motion for a ruling based on his brief alone is denied as moot, and the district court’s dismissal order stands. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.