Summary
finding that, in a § 1983 suit in federal court against DRD, "[s]uch [Eleventh Amendment] immunity functions as an absolute bar to suit"
Summary of this case from Lyman v. Phila. Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Div.Opinion
No. 05-5168.
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) December 15, 2006.
Filed: February 6, 2007.
On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, (D.C.Civ. No. 05-cv-02962), District Judge: Honorable Berle M. Schiller.
Kelly Dutton, Philadelphia, PA, pro se.
A. Taylor Williams, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Administrative Office of PA Courts, Philadelphia, PA, for Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia Domestic Relations Division.
BEFORE: SLOVITER, McKEE and AMBRO, Circuit Judges.
OPINION
Kelly Dutton appeals the order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granting the defendant's motion to dismiss his lawsuit and denying his motions for injunctive relief. We will affirm.
On June 23, 2005, Dutton filed his complaint against the defendant, the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia Domestic Relations Division ("Court of Common Pleas" or "Family Court"), alleging that he disputes the amount of his child support obligation in arrears. Specifically, he asserted that his child support obligation was terminated in 1996, at which time he owed slightly more than $10,000.00, but according to the Court of Common Pleas, he owes more than $20,000.00; a bench warrant for him was issued on June 9, 2005. Dutton further contended that he had filed for bankruptcy protection on May 19, 2005, but he was told that bankruptcy law does not apply to Family Court. He sought the District Court's clarification on this issue of bankruptcy law. Dutton also filed a motion to enjoin the defendant from acting on the bench warrant pending the resolution of the matter. The defendant filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Dutton then filed a motion to terminate the bench warrant, attaching a copy of an updated notice issued by the Family Court.
By order entered November 17, 2005, the District Court granted the defendant's motion to dismiss. First, to the extent that Dutton brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the District Court held that the Court of Common Pleas is not a "person" subject to section 1983 liability. Second, the District Court held that the Court of Common Pleas is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment. Finally, the District Court denied the motions to enjoin and terminate the bench warrant, declining to exercise jurisdiction under the Younger abstention doctrine. See Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746, 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971). Dutton appeals.
We have jurisdiction to review the District Court's order under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Dismissals under Rule 12(b)(6) are subject to plenary review. Moore v. Tartler, 986 F.2d 682, 685 (3d Cir. 1993). We also exercise plenary review over the legal determination of whether the requirements for Younger abstention have been met, and, if so, we review for abuse of discretion the District Court's decision to abstain. Yang v. Tsui 416 F.3d 199, 201 (3d Cir. 2005).
Dutton does not contest the District Court's conclusion that the Family Court is not a "person" subject to liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. We note our agreement with the District Court on this issue. See Callahan v. City of Philadelphia, 207 F.3d 668, 673 (3d Cir. 2000).
Regarding the District Court's Eleventh Amendment analysis, we agree that suits against a state are barred by the Eleventh Amendment's grant of sovereign immunity. Dutton argues that the Eleventh Amendment only protects the state from suits involving state matters and does not apply to the alleged bankruptcy law violations by the Family Court. Dutton provides no authority for his position, and indeed, he is mistaken. Notably, we have held that the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which includes the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, was entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity as a state entity with respect to a federal claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Benn v. First Judicial Dist. of Pa., 426 F.3d 233, 235 n. 1, 240-41 (3d Cir. 2005). Such immunity functions as an absolute bar to suit. See id. at 241. We agree that the Family Court is immune from suit in this matter.
Lastly, Dutton disagrees with the District Court's application of the abstention doctrine of Younger in denying his motions to enjoin and terminate the enforcement of the Family Court bench warrant.
In view of our disposition of this matter on the basis of immunity, we need not discuss the applicability of the abstention doctrine.
Upon consideration of the arguments in Dutton's brief, and upon review of the District Court record, we will affirm the District Court's judgment.