Pineda v. Blagg
Pineda v. Blagg
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 98-50740 Summary Calendar
GRACE FRAUSTO PINEDA, in her own behalf and as parent and next friend of Margarita Jamie Frausto; JAMIE FRAUSTO; MARIA FRAUSTO; MARY E. WHITING; HEATHER STAFFORD; DESIREE OSBORNE,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
versus
GREGORY W. BLAGG; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendants-Appellees.
-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. EP-96-CV-478 --------------------
September 9, 1999
Before SMITH, BARKSDALE, and PARKER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Plaintiffs appeal from the district court’s grant of summary
judgment in favor of the United States. They argue that the
regulations at issue are mandatory and thus fall under the second
paradigm of United States v. Gaubert,
499 U.S. 315, 324(1991).
However, because the regulations give discretion to a soldier’s
commanding officer in deciding whether to impose pretrial
restraint or confinement, they fall under the third Gaubert
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 98-50740 -2-
paradigm, and the discretionary-function exception applies.
Because the application of this exception involves a question of
law, the factual issues raised by the appellants have no bearing
on this determination. See Buchanan v. United States,
915 F.2d 969, 970(5th Cir. 1990). Further, because the application of
the exception revokes the Federal Tort Claim Act’s waiver of
sovereign immunity, the appellants’ argument that Texas law
imposes a duty in this situation is also unavailing. The
district court thus did not err in granting the Government’s
motion for summary judgment.
The Government has also filed a motion to correct the record
in which it seeks to add certain factual matters into the record.
Because the resolution of this case turns on a purely legal
issue, these factual matters have no bearing on the disposition
of this case. Thus, the district court’s grant of summary
judgment to the Government is AFFIRMED, and the Government’s
motion to correct the record is DENIED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished