Opinion
No. 16-6057
06-23-2016
COY-CE COLEMAN, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. CHRIS STEPHENS, Defendant - Appellee.
(D.C. No. 5:15-CV-01264-C)
(W.D. Okla.) ORDER AND JUDGMENT Before LUCERO, MURPHY, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. --------
Coy-Ce Coleman appeals the district court's dismissal of his complaint. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.
Coleman filed suit against Assistant United States Attorney Chris Stephens seeking nearly $72 million in damages. He alleged that Stephens violated numerous federal laws in prosecuting him for two counts of interstate stalking. Stephens filed a motion to dismiss, raising various defenses including absolute prosecutorial immunity. The district court dismissed the complaint on that ground. Coleman timely appeals.
Because Coleman's allegations against Stephens—to the extent that we can discern them—stem solely from Stephens' actions in prosecuting Coleman, we agree with the district court that Stephens is entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity. See Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431 (1976) ("[I]n initiating a prosecution and in presenting the State's case, the prosecutor is immune from a civil suit for damages . . . .").
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Carlos F. Lucero
Circuit Judge