Opinion
No. 4:02CV46
July 31, 2002.
John M. King, Newport News, VA, for Plaintiff pro se.
Robyn H. Hansen, Jones, Blechman, Woltz Kelly, Newport News, VA, for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND DISMISSAL ORDER
This matter is before the court on a motion to dismiss, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), by defendants Riverside Regional Medical Center, M. Caroline Martin, Larry Boyles, William Downey, and Deborah Sullivan-Yates. The motion was filed on June 11, 2002. Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, was advised in accord with Local Rule 7(J) and Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (1975), that he is entitled to file a response to defendants' dispositive motion and that the court could dismiss the action on the basis of defendants' motion. However, plaintiff has not filed a response. Such response was due on July 1, 2002. Accordingly, the matter is now ripe for review.
Factual and Procedural History
On April 24, 2002, plaintiff filed a complaint, motion for a temporary restraining order, and motion for injunctive relief against defendants. He attempted to invoke federal jurisdiction pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. On May 8, 2002, this court entered an Order requiring plaintiff to provide a basis for federal court jurisdiction before the court would proceed with the case. On May 29, 2002, plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint, motion for a temporary restraining order, and motion for injunctive relief. In the First Amended Complaint, plaintiff invokes federal subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a), the remedial provision under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq. (the "HCDA"), and he invokes supplemental jurisdiction under the Virginia Human Rights Act, Va. Code § 2.2-3900 et seq. On June 11, 2002, defendants filed a motion to dismiss, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), with a supporting affidavit. Plaintiff has not responded.
Plaintiff alleges that he applied and was accepted into the Riverside School of Professional Nursing, a division of the Riverside Regional Medical Center. Plaintiff further alleges that before classes began, he was dropped from the program due to his religious affiliation with the World Church of the Creator.
Analysis
A motion under Rule 12(b)(1) may attack subject matter jurisdiction in two different ways. Defendants may contend either that the complaint fails to allege facts upon which subject matter jurisdiction can be based, or that the jurisdictional facts alleged in the complaint are untrue. Adams v. Bain, 697 F.2d 1213, 1219 (4th Cir. 1982). In both situations, the burden is on plaintiff, as the party asserting jurisdiction, to prove that federal jurisdiction is proper. McNutt v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 189, 56 S.Ct. 780, 80 L.Ed. 1135 (1936); Adams, 697 F.2d at 1219.
In the first type of 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss, the defendant attacks the complaint on its face, asserting simply that the complaint "fails to allege facts upon which subject matter jurisdiction can be based." Id. If this type of attack is made, "the facts alleged in the complaint are assumed to be true and the plaintiff, in effect, is afforded the same procedural protection as he would receive under a Rule 12(b)(6) consideration." Id. The court construes all facts in favor of the plaintiff, and it relies solely on the pleadings, disregarding affidavits or other materials. Id. The defendants should prevail only if entitled to do so as a matter of law. Richmond, Fredericksburg Potomac R.R. Co. v. United States, 945 F.2d 765, 768 (4th Cir. 1991).
Alternatively, the second way to attack subject matter jurisdiction is to argue that the jurisdictional facts in the complaint are simply not true. This type of Rule 12(b)(1) motion attacks "the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact, quite apart from any pleadings." White v. CMA Const. Co., Inc., 947 F. Supp. 231, 233 (E.D.Va. 1996) (quoting Mortensen v. First Fed. Sav. and Loan Ass'n, 549 F.2d 884, 891 (3d Cir. 1977)). When presented with this type of argument, no presumption of truthfulness attaches to the allegations in the complaint, and the trial court must weigh the evidence presented and evaluate for itself the merits of the jurisdictional claims. Arthur Young Co. v. City of Richmond, 895 F.2d 967, 971 n. 4 (4th Cir. 1990); White, 947 F. Supp. at 233.
Defendants' move to dismiss plaintiffs First Amended Complaint based on the first type of argument discussed above. Defendants argue that the allegations in the pleadings are insufficient to invoke federal court jurisdiction because (1) the First Amended Complaint does not allege any of the defendants receive federal funds under the statute plaintiff attempts to use to invoke jurisdiction, 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a), and (2) there is no private right of action that would allow the court to hear a claim brought by a private citizen to enforce 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a).
Defendants further argue that the reason plaintiff did not allege defendants receive funding under 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a) is because they do not, and they submitted an affidavit from John T. McDonough, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Riverside Healthcare Association, d/b/a Riverside Health System, indicating that neither the Riverside School of Professional Nursing nor Riverside Regional Medical Center receive funding under 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a). However, given the posture of defendants' 12(b)(1) argument — that the First Amended Complaint lacks facts necessary to support federal court jurisdiction — this court does not consider or rely on the affidavit in its ruling. See Adams v. Bain, 697 F.2d 1213, 1219 (4th Cir. 1982).
Plaintiff has alleged the court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a), the remedial provision of the HCDA. Section 5309(a) states:
(a) No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination un der any program or activity funded in vwhole or in part with funds made avail able under this chapter. Any prohibition against discrimination on the basis of age under the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 [ 42 U.S.C.A. § 6101 et seq.] or with respect to an otherwise qualified handicapped individual as provided in section 794 of Title 29 shall also apply to any such program or activity.42 U.S.C. § 5309(a) (emphasis added). Section 5309 is the nondiscrimination requirement for community development funds allocated under Chapter 69 of the United States Code. The goal of community development funding provided in the chapter is "the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income." 42 U.S.C. § 5301(c).
Even viewing plaintiffs pleadings in the light most favorable to him, and even granting him appropriate consideration as a pro se litigant, plaintiff does not allege sufficient facts to provide this court with subject matter jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a). Plaintiff does not allege that any of the defendants receive any funding under the HCDA, and the court only has jurisdiction over plaintiffs allegations under the remedial provision of the HCDA if the defendants receive HCDA funding.
Because plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the court reviews his pleadings with appropriate consideration. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972) (holding pro se complaints to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers); Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978).
Plaintiff alleges that "[d]efendant Riverside Regional Heath System [ sic] receives Federal funding for its Nursing School. Riverside School of Professional Nursing participates in the following Federal educational programs: Pell Grant and Stafford Guaranteed Student Loan Program." (First Amended Complaint, at 3 ¶ 9.) Neither Federal Pell Grants nor Stafford Loans are funding under the HCDA. Federal Pell Grants are authorized and distributed under 20 U.S.C. § 1070a et seq., and Federal Stafford Loans are established under 20 U.S.C. § 1071 et seq. Thus, even assuming plaintiff is correct that Riverside School of Professional Nursing participates in the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Stafford Loan programs, such participation does not bring any of defendants within the HCDA nondiscrimination statute, 42 U.S.C. § 5309(a).
Because plaintiff did not allege sufficient facts to support federal jurisdiction, the court DISMISSES Count I of plaintiffs First Amended Complaint. Defendants also argue that the court does not have subject matter jurisdiction because no provision of 42 U.S.C. § 5309 confers a private right of action. Given this court's ruling on the insufficiency of the allegations in plaintiffs pleadings, the court does not need to rule on the merits of this argument. However, the court notes that the First Circuit has addressed this exact issue and ruled that there is no private right of action under 42 U.S.C. § 5309. See Latinos Unidos De Chelsea v. Secretary of Housing, 799 F.2d 774, 793-95 (1st Cir. 1986).
Plaintiffs First Amended Complaint includes a second count, violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act, that he brings invoking supplemental jurisdiction. As a state law claim, plaintiffs Count II is not within the original jurisdiction of this court; rather, the court has the discretion to exercise supplemental jurisdiction. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), "[t]he district courts may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim . . . if . . . (3) the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction." Defendants' motion to dismiss has been granted on Count I, the only count over which plaintiff alleged this court had original jurisdiction. Therefore, the court finds it prudent to decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claim in Count II. See, e.g., Johnson v. Quinones, 145 F.3d 164, 170 n. 4 (4th Cir. 1998) (finding a district court does not abuse its discretion in declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims after it dismissed the federal claim).
Because the court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction, the court DISMISSES plaintiffs Count II, without prejudice to plaintiffs right to pursue this claim in state court.
Conclusion
For the reasons set forth above, the court GRANTS defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiffs First Amended Complaint in its entirety. The Clerk is DIRECTED to send a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Dismissal Order to plaintiff and counsel for defendants.
Plaintiff is advised that he may appeal from this Memorandum Opinion and Dismissal Order by forwarding a written notice of appeal to the Clerk of the United States District Court, United States Courthouse, 600 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. The written notice must be received by the Clerk within thirty (30) days from entry of judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.