Cruz v. La Clinica Del Pueblo De Rio Arriba

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO ERNESTINA R. CRUZ, as guardian ad litem for A.P., a minor child, Plaintiff, Vv. No. 23-cv-270 KG/GBW LA CLINICA DEL PUEBLO DE RIO ARRIBA, MARGARET (AKA “MARGO”) BRACE, in her individual and professional capacities, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants.

ORDER THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Defendant the United States’ Unopposed Motion for Summary Judgment as to all claims of Plaintiff Ernestina R. Cruz, as guardian ad litem for A.P., a minor child. Doc. 11. The Court, having reviewed the Unopposed Motion and being otherwise fully informed, finds the Motion well taken and therefore GRANTS the Motion.

As the Unopposed Motion provides and the parties agree, this Court lacks federal subject matter jurisdiction over this case because: (A) Defendant La Clinica del Pueblo de Rio Arriba cannot be sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), as La Clinica is a federally supported health center immunized from liability under the Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act (FSHCAA), 42 U.S.C. § 233(g)-(n); (B) Defendant the United States has not waived sovereign immunity under the FTCA in this case because Defendant Margaret (AKA “Margo”) Brace does not meet FSHCAA’s qualified contractor requirements under 42 U.S.C. § 233(g)(5), meaning the United States cannot be held liable for her alleged conduct; and (C) Plaintiff's state law tort claims against Defendant Brace do not satisfy the requirements for supplemental jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1367), federal question jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1331), or diversity jurisdiction (28 U.S.C. § 1332).

As such, summary judgment is GRANTED in favor of the United States as to all of Plaintiff’s claims, all of Plaintiff’s claims are hereby DISMISSED without prejudice for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction, and the Clerk is directed to mark this case CLOSED. See, e.g., Brereton v. Bountiful City Corp., 434 F.3d 1213, 1216 (10th Cir. 2006) (“[W]here the district court dismisses an action for lack of jurisdiction ... the dismissal must be without prejudice’’).

DATED: | | els acas UNI me i RICT JUDGE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY: /s/ Benjamin G. Minegar Benjamin G. Minegar Assistant United States Attorney P.O. Box 607 Albuquerque, NM 87103 (505) 346-7274 [email protected] Counsel for Defendant the United States /s/ Kelly Stout Sanchez Kelly Stout Sanchez Julio C. Romero Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero, P.C.

1801 Rio Grande Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 (505) 343-1776 [email protected] [email protected] Counsel for Plaintiff