Jones v. Mirza
Jones v. Mirza
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Matthew Jones, who appears pro se, filed this action on November 4, 2015, against Dr. Khaled Mirza (improperly named as Dr. Khalid Mirza) and Dover Behavioral Health System (improperly named as Dover Behavioral Health Hospital). The original complaint was dismissed on August 8, 2016, and Plaintiff was given leave to amend only to the extent that he raise claims that are not time-barred, Defendants are not immune from suit, and the Court has jurisdiction.
BACKGROUND
The Amended Complaint (D.I. 72) indicates the basis for jurisdiction is the U.S.
Medical records attached to the Amended Complaint indicate that Plaintiff was hospitalized at Dover Behavioral Health System from September 24, 2015 through October 8, 2015 when he was discharged. (D.I. 73). He was seen by Dr. Mirza and other physicians during that time. (Id.). Plaintiff was involuntarily hospitalized a second time from October 19, 2015 through November 3, 2015 and seen by Dr. Mirza, as well as other physicians, during the second hospitalization. (Id.).
The Amended Complaint alleges that Defendants’ acts caused Plaintiff physical harm. He seeks compensatory damages.
STANDARDS OF LAW
Rule 12(b)(1). Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits the dismissal of an action for “lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” A Rule 12(b)(1) motion may be treated as either a facial or factual challenge to the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. See Constitution Party of Pa. v. Aichele, 757 F.3d 347, 357-58 (3d Cir. 2014). In reviewing a facial attaek, “the court must only consider the allegations of the complaint and documents referenced therein and attached thereto, in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Id. at 358 (quoting In re Schering Plough Corp. Intron, 678 F.3d 235, 243 (3d Cir. 2012)). In reviewing a factual attack, the court may consider evidence outside the pleadings. Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. and Loan Ass’n, 549 F.2d 884, 891 (3d Cir. 1977).
Rule 12(b)(5). A defendant may file a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5) when a plaintiff fails to properly serve him or her with the summons and complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5). A plaintiff “Is responsible for having the summons and complaint served within the time allowed by Rule 4(m).” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(1). Rule 4(m) imposes a time limit
Rule 12(b)(6). Under Rule 12(b)(6), a motion to dismiss may be granted only if, accepting the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, a court concludes that those allegations “could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 558, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). Though “detailed factual allegations” are not required, a complaint must do more than simply provide “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Davis v. Abington Mem’l Hosp., 765 F.3d 236, 241 (3d Cir. 2014) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S.
A court reviewing the sufficiency of a complaint must take three steps: (1) take note of the elements the plaintiff must plead to state a claim; (2) identify allegations that, because they are no more than conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption of truth; and (3) for any well-pleaded factual allegations, assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief. Connelly v. Lane Constr. Corp., 809 F.3d 780, 787 (3d Cir. 2016). Deciding whether a claim is plausible is a “eontext-speeific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). Because Plaintiff proceeds pro se, his pleading is liberally construed and his complaint, “however inartfully pleaded, must be held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). To survive a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. See Williams v. BASF Catalysts LLC, 765 F.3d 306, 315 (3d Cir. 2014).
Defendants move for dismissal pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), (5) and (6) on the grounds that: (1) Plaintiff failed to serve them with the Amended Complaint and its exhibits; (2) the Court lacks jurisdiction; (3) the medical claims do not rise to the level of constitutional violations; (4) to the extent Plaintiff raises medical negligence, he failed to comply with Delaware’s statutory requirements; (5) the claims are time-barred; (8) the Amended Complaint improperly reinstates 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims and is deficient in suggesting that Defendants are State actors; (7) there are no plausible claims for relief; and (8) the claims are frivolous. (D.I. 74).
As Defendants point out in their replies (D.I. 76, 77), Plaintiffs opposition (D.I. 75) does not address Defendants’ grounds for dismissal. Instead it refers to his mother (a non-party) and medical treatment she received from Dr. Mirza. Plaintiffs sur-re-ply
DISCUSSION
As currently pled, the Amended Complaint does not raise a federal question. The Amended Complaint alleges jurisdiction by reason of a U.S. government defendant, but no such defendant has been named. While the Amended Complaint invokes numerous federal criminal statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 241, 242, 245, 248, 249, 351(e), 1113, 1117, and 2340A, they do not serve to vest this court with jurisdiction and Plaintiff lacks standing to proceed under those statutes. See Allen v. Administrative Of
In addition, the Court does not have jurisdiction by reason of diversity. The Complaint states that Plaintiff and Defendants are citizens of the State of Delaware and, therefore, the requisites for diversity jurisdiction are not met. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1) (for diversity jurisdiction the matter in controversy must be between citizens of different States). Accordingly, because the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this matter, dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) is appropriate.
To the extent, the Amended Complaint attempts to again raise constitutional claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 with regard to Plaintiffs two hospitalizations
Finally, after thoroughly reviewing the Amended Complaint, the Court draws on its judicial experience and common sense and finds that the allegations are not plausible on their face. Indeed, the Amended Complaint consists of fantastical or delusional claims that are clearly baseless, frivolous, and fail to state claims upon which relief may be granted. Therefore, dismissal pursuant Rule 12(b)(6) is also appropriate.
CONCLUSION
For the above reasons, the Court will grant Defendants’ motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and (6).
An appropriate order will be entered.
. The August 8, 2016 memorandum opinion and order dismissed Defendant Delaware Psychiatric Center (improperly named as Delaware Psychiatric Hospital), (D.I. 70, 71).
. When Plaintiff filed this action on November 4, 2015, the time limit for service was 120 days. Rule 4(m) was amended effective December 1, 2015, to make the time limit 90 days.
. Plaintiff's sur-reply was filed in violation of D. Del. LR 7.1.2(b), which provides that following the filing of a reply, no additional papers shall be filed absent Court approval. The Court, however, considers the sur-reply given Plaintiff’s status as a pro se litigant.
. Plaintiff makes it clear in his sur-reply that he does not allege medical negligence claims. (See D.I. 78 at 6).
. The Court sees no need to address whether dismissal pursuant to Rule 12(b)(5) is appropriate.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Matthew JONES v. Dr. Khalid MIRZA
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published