Spaulding v. Department of Health & Human Services

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Spaulding v. Department of Health & Human Services, 140 F. App'x 633 (8th Cir. 2005)

Spaulding v. Department of Health & Human Services

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Sally Spaulding appeals the district court’s 1 adverse grant of summary judgment, and its adverse grant of a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) motion, in her action brought under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act). Having conducted de novo review, see Peebles v. Potter, 354 F.3d 761, 765 (8th Cir. 2004) (summary judgment standard of review); Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. v. Ernst & Young, LLP, 395 F.3d 851, 853 (8th Cir. 2005) (Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal standard of review), we agree with the district court that Spaulding’s retaliation claims were not administratively exhausted, see Wallin v. Minn. Dep’t of Corr., 153 F.3d 681, 688 (8th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1004, 119 S.Ct. 1141, 143 L.Ed.2d 209 (1999); and that the Social Security Administration met its duty under the Rehab Act by restructuring Spaulding’s job, see Peebles, 354 F.3d at 767. Spaulding cannot seek reversal by asserting ineffective assistance of counsel. See Glick v. Henderson, 855 F.2d 536, 541 (8th Cir. 1988) (defendant has no constitutional or statutory right to effective assistance of counsel in civil case).

Accordingly, we affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

1

. The Honorable Charles A. Shaw, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Reference

Full Case Name
Sally SPAULDING, Formerly Known as Sally Tobelmann, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant, Social Security Administration, Appellee
Status
Unpublished