Plater v. United States
Plater v. United States
Opinion of the Court
On December 4, 2017, Defendants United States of America and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke
After considering the papers filed in support of, and in opposition to, the Motion, the Court Grants the Motion in part and denies the Motion in part.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff alleges the following facts in her First Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 19) ("FAC").
Plaintiff suffered strokes in 2004 and 2007 that caused multiple physical disabilities. (FAC at ¶¶ 5, 11). Plaintiff is unable to walk, and is confined to a wheelchair. (FAC at 11). While she can understand what a person says to her, she cannot respond verbally. (FAC at ¶ 5). Since she is right-handed, and her strokes have affected the right side of her body, Plaintiff cannot hold a pen to write. (FAC at ¶ 11). She communicates with others by nodding or shaking her head. (FAC at ¶ 5).
Plaintiff suffers from several other medical conditions including diabetes, incontinence, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic ischemic heart disease, and sick sinus syndrome. (FAC at ¶ 11).
In March 2014, Plaintiff's sister, Chantel Bonet, made arrangements for Plaintiff to move from a skilled nursing facility in Los Angeles to a residential facility for disabled persons in Arizona. (FAC at ¶ 18). Bonet moved to Arizona herself, arranged *935for Plaintiff's new residence, and transferred Plaintiff's Medicare/Medicaid payments from California to Arizona. (FAC at ¶ 18). Because Plaintiff's California Medicare/Medicaid payments were terminated effective March 31, 2014, Plaintiff had to move to Arizona by April 1, 2014 so the State of Arizona would pay for Plaintiff's living facility. (FAC at ¶ 18).
It appears that in advance of her April 1, 2014 flight, Plaintiff did not have any other form of photo identification apart from a California Identification Card that had expired on September 28, 2012. (See FAC at ¶¶ 19, 12). On March 20, 2014, Bonet wrote to the California Department of Motor Vehicles to request a renewal of Plaintiff's identification card. (FAC at ¶ 19). Plaintiff's other sister, Sherry Wright, took her to the California Department of Motor Vehicles on March 31, 2014, and received a receipt for an application for an identification card renewal. (FAC at ¶ 19).
On March 25, 2014, Bonet wrote to executives of Southwest, Delta, American, and United, requesting assistance for Plaintiff at the Los Angeles Airport ("LAX"). (FAC at ¶ 20). Bonet also tried to contact the Transportation Security Administration's "TSA Cares" department to prepare Plaintiff for her April 1, 2014 flight. (FAC at ¶ 20). Bonet placed calls to TSA Cares on March 25, 26, 27 and 30, but did not receive assistance. (Id. ). Bonet finally left a telephone message with TSA Cares Supervisor Karen Hennigan on March 31, 2014, asking for the appropriate steps Plaintiff would need to take to board a flight on April 1, 2014. (Id. ). Hennigan did not return Bonet's phone call. (Id. ).
With Wright's assistance, Plaintiff went to LAX the evening of April 1, 2014 so she could take Southwest Airlines Flight 1015 for Phoenix, Arizona. (FAC at ¶ 12). At the airport, Plaintiff attempted to get through TSA security screening by presenting her expired California Identification Card, the receipt for application for a new identification card, and her Social Security card. (FAC at ¶ 12).
TSA employees Sandra Vences and Pablo Paiva were responsible for screening passengers for Plaintiff's flight. (FAC at ¶¶ 15, 17). They refused to accept Plaintiff's proffered forms of identification, and did not allow Plaintiff to pass through the TSA security screening. (FAC at ¶ 13).
Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:44 p.m., Vences and Paiva repeatedly asked Plaintiff to either say or write her name to identify herself. (FAC at ¶ 15). They made it clear to Plaintiff that if she did not write or say her name, she would not be allowed to board her flight. (FAC at ¶ 15). Plaintiff tried to say her name, but because of her disability, she could only make garbled sounds. (FAC at ¶ 15). Neither could Plaintiff hold a pen to write her name. (FAC at 15). Plaintiff was reduced to tears and remained crying while Vences and Paiva continued to demand that Plaintiff write or say her name. (FAC at ¶ 15). Vences and Paiva did not let Plaintiff board her flight, which departed at 9:55 p.m. (FAC at ¶ 16).
After Plaintiff had missed her flight, her sister made arrangements for Plaintiff to travel alone by bus to Phoenix. (FAC at ¶ 21). The bus ride was long and uncomfortable. (Id. ).
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), a district court must dismiss an action if the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of the suit. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). The party seeking to invoke federal jurisdiction bears the burden of establishing that jurisdiction exists.
*936Scott v. Breeland,
B. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) allows a party to bring a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Rule 12(b)(6) is read along with Rule 8(a), which requires a short, plain statement upon which a pleading shows entitlement to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) ; Conley v. Gibson,
"While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff's obligation to provide the 'grounds' of her 'entitlement to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." Twombly,
To survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must allege "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Twombly,
The Ninth Circuit has clarified that (1) a complaint must "contain sufficient allegations of underlying facts to give fair notice and to enable the opposing party to defend itself effectively" and (2) "the factual allegations that are taken as true must plausibly suggest an entitlement to relief, such that it is not unfair to require the opposing party to be subjected to the expense of discovery and continued litigation." Starr v. Baca,
Although the scope of review is limited to the contents of the complaint, the Court *937may also consider exhibits submitted with the complaint, Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co.,
III. DISCUSSION
Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. (See Doc. No. 26 at 8). The Court addresses Defendants' arguments below.
A. Defendants Assert that the Court Lacks Subject Matter Jurisdiction for Plaintiff's First, Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Claims.
"It is axiomatic that the United States may not be sued without its consent and that the existence of consent is a prerequisite for jurisdiction." United States v. Mitchell,
Defendants seek dismissal of Plaintiff's First and Third Claims on the basis that there has been no waiver of sovereign immunity. (Doc. No. 26 at 8, 11, 17-18). Defendants also seek dismissal of Plaintiff's Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Claims on the ground that the Discretionary Function exception applies to the Federal Tort Claims Act's waiver of sovereign immunity. (Doc. No. 26 at 21-24). Defendants also argue that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Defendant Duke. (Doc. No. 26 at 12 n.4, 19 n.5, 21, n.6). The Court addresses these jurisdictional arguments below.
1. There Has Been No Waiver of Sovereign Immunity for Emotional Distress Damages Brought Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act.
Plaintiff's first claim is for violation of the Rehabilitation Act,
Defendants argue that since Plaintiff only seeks monetary damages, her claim must be dismissed because Lane v. Pena,
The plaintiff in Lane v. Pena, James Lane, was a student in the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Lane argued that since Section 505(a)(2) of the Rehabilitation Act incorporates by reference the remedies available in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and because Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 included compensatory damages, these statutory provisions together constituted a waiver of the Federal Government's sovereign immunity against compensatory damages.
Plaintiff argues that the Eleventh Circuit's opinion in Sheely v. MRI Radiology Network, P.A.,
The Court finds that the government has not waived its sovereign immunity against emotional distress damages for the Defendants' alleged violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Accordingly, Plaintiff's First Claim for disability discrimination is DISMISSED for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
2. The FTCA Waives Sovereign Immunity for Plaintiff's Third Claim Brought Pursuant to the California Disabled Persons Act.
Plaintiff's third claim is for violation of the California Disabled Persons Act ("CDPA"). (Doc. No. 1 at 10-11, ¶¶ 38-42). Defendants argue that this claim is also barred by sovereign immunity. (Doc. No. 35 at 7-8).
The Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2674 ("FTCA") waives sovereign immunity for claims brought against the United States of America "respecting the provisions of this title relating to tort claims, in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances." 28 U.S.C. 2674. Plaintiff argues that this provision waives sovereign immunity for her CDPA claim. (Doc. No. 28 at 14).
*939Defendants argue, citing no authority, that this provision of the FTCA does not waive sovereign immunity for Plaintiff's CDPA claim because "Plaintiff's claim under the CDPA is not a tort claim." (Doc. No. 35 at 7). The Court finds that Plaintiff's CDPA claim is best understood as a statutory tort. See Wilkins-Jones v. Cty. of Alameda, No. C-08-1485 EMC,
3. The Discretionary Function Exception to the FTCA's Waiver of Sovereign Immunity Applies to Plaintiff's Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Claims.
The FTCA waives the Government's sovereign immunity to tort claims and provides exceptions for claims where immunity is not waived. See Mundy v. U.S.,
*940Doe v. Holy See,
Where the actions of a government employee fall within the discretionary function exception to the waiver of absolute immunity provided by the FTCA, the Court lacks jurisdiction. See
[a]ny claim based upon an act or omission of an employee of the Government, exercising due care, in the execution of a statute or regulation, whether or not such statute or regulation be valid, or based upon the exercise or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a federal agency or an employee of the Government, whether or not the discretion involved be abused.
A discretionary action must fulfill two conditions (1) the act in question must "involv[e] an element of judgment or choice" and (2) that judgment must be "the kind that the discretionary exception was designed to shield." United States v. Gaubert,
" 'An agency does not retain discretion whether to act where a statute or policy directs mandatory and specific action and the agency has no lawful option but to adhere to the directive.' " Keiper v. Victor Valley Transit Auth., No. EDCV 15-00703 BRO (SPx),
In opposition to Defendants' Motion, Plaintiff argues that certain other statutes and regulations "do not allow for discretion" in the hiring, training, and supervision of TSA employees. (Doc. No. 28 at 15-18). These statutes and regulations are inapposite. Plaintiff points to
Since Defendants have met their burden to show that the conduct underlying Plaintiff's fifth, sixth, and seventh claims involved an element of judgment or choice, the Court next determines whether this judgment was the kind that the discretionary function exception was designed to shield. The Ninth Circuit has repeatedly held this to be the case. Cloes v. City of Mesquite,
This Court finds that Defendants are entitled to discretionary immunity for this alleged conduct. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion with regards to Plaintiff's Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
B. The FTCA Does Not Confer Jurisdiction Over Defendant Duke.
Defendant Elaine Duke was the acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the time Plaintiff filed her lawsuit. (See Doc. No. 19 at 3, ¶ 7). Defendants seek dismissal of Plaintiff's second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh claims against Defendant Elaine Duke since the FTCA does not confer jurisdiction over a defendant other than the United States of America. (Doc. No. 26 at 12 n.4, 19 n.5, 21, n.6). In opposition, Plaintiff makes no argument that Duke was a proper defendant for these claims. (See Doc. No. 28 at 18 (arguing that Duke was a necessary defendant for Plaintiff's Rehabilitation Act claim) ).
The FTCA only confers jurisdiction over the United States of America, not federal agencies or those in charge of such agencies.
Accordingly, the Court DISMISSES Plaintiff's second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction to the extent that they are brought against Duke.
*942C. Plaintiff Has Not Alleged Sufficient Facts to State a Claim for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.
A claim for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress ("IIED") requires a showing of the following: "(1) extreme and outrageous conduct by the defendant with the intention of causing, or reckless disregard of the probability of causing, emotional distress; (2) the plaintiff's suffering severe or extreme emotional distress; and (3) actual and proximate causation of the emotional distress by the defendant's outrageous conduct." Christensen v. Superior Court,
"Extreme and outrageous conduct" generally "does not extend to mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities, but only to conduct so extreme and outrageous as to go beyond all possible bonds of decency." Ankeny v. Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.,
Here, Plaintiff alleges that TSA employees Sandra Vences and Pablo Paiva intentionally caused her emotional distress by repeatedly asking her to write or say her name to identify herself when Plaintiff's disability plainly prevented her from doing so. (Complaint at ¶¶ 15, 35). This conduct, while insensitive to Plaintiff, is not so extreme as to exceed all bounds of that usually tolerated in a civilized community. Vences and Paiva's "conduct did not include threats of physical harm, public harassment[,] or other such conduct which the cases require to be deemed 'extreme and outrageous.' " See Standard Wire & Cable Co. v. AmeriTrust Corp.,
Furthermore, as Defendants point out, asking Plaintiff to say or write her name is in line with TSA guidelines. (Doc. No. 35 at 5). Plaintiff's photo identification had expired, and Vences and Paiva determined that it was unacceptable. (Complaint at ¶¶ 15, 19). According to TSA guidelines, the identity verification process in this situation required Plaintiff to fill out a certificate of identity and to answer questions regarding her identity verbally. See 81 FR 78623-01 ("To initiate the identity verification process, a traveler without an acceptable verifying identity document must complete ... TSA Form 415 [that] requests the traveler's name and address. After completing the form, the traveler is connected with TSA's Identity Verification Call Center (IVCC) [who] ... asks the traveler a series of questions based on information found in the databases to verify the individual's identity."). This further supports Defendants' argument that the alleged conduct was neither outrageous nor reckless. See Standard Wire & Cable Co.,
The Court GRANTS the Motion as to Plaintiff's IIED claim.
D. Plaintiff Has Not Alleged Sufficient Facts to State a Claim for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.
To allege a claim for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress ("NIED"), *943Plaintiff must show that (1) Defendants owed her a duty; (2) they breached that duty; (3) Plaintiff has suffered serious emotional distress as a result, which Defendants should have foreseen; and (4) damages. See Kasramehr v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A., No. CV 11-00551-GAF,
Here, Plaintiff has not alleged that Vences or Paiva threatened physical injury, or that her case is one of the rare exceptions. See Kasramehr,
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendants' Motion. The Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion as to Plaintiff's First, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff's First, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh claims are hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion as to Plaintiff's Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh claims to the extent that they are brought against Defendant Duke. Plaintiff's Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE for lack of subject matter jurisdiction to the extent that they are brought against Defendant Duke. The Court also GRANTS Defendants' Motion as to Plaintiff's Second and Fourth claims for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff's Second claim is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiff's Fourth claim is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. The Court DENIES Defendants' Motion to dismiss Plaintiff's Third Claim.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Plaintiff notes that on or about December 6, 2017, Kristjen M. Nielsen was sworn in as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, and that Plaintiff plans on moving to amend her complaint to name Ms. Nielsen instead of Ms. Duke. (Doc. No. 28 at 18 n.5).
Defendants also argue that the Rehabilitation Act preempts the CDPA. (Doc. No. 26 at 18; Doc. No. 35 at 7-8). The cases cited by Defendants, however, stand for the more limited proposition that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act preempts claims related to employment discrimination by federal agencies. See, e.g., Boyd v. U.S. Postal Serv.,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Heidi Summer Wright PLATER a.k.a Heidi Wright v. UNITED STATES of America
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published