Opinion
No. 75-3053. Summary Calendar.
Rule 18, 5 Cir.; see Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York et al., 5 Cir., 1970, 431 F.2d 409, Part I.
March 10, 1976.
Charles Whitmore La Bar, Jr., pro se.
Ronald T. Knight, U.S. Atty., Macon, Ga., for Royer and Caas.
John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., Dept. of Justice, Criminal Div., Washington, D.C., for defendants-appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.
Before THORNBERRY, MORGAN and RONEY, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed. Although we agree that the plaintiff has no personal cause of action against the federal agent who, acting within the scope of his authority, received and holds property seized legally under a warrant, the district court adopted the brief of the Government which contains patent errors, repeated in the brief before us.
42 U.S.C.A. § 1983 action does not require class-based, discriminatory animus or intent. The statute does require state action. Norton v. McShane, 332 F.2d 855, 862 (5th Cir. 1964).
Plaintiff did not state a claim under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1985(3) because he did not assert racial or otherwise class-based, invidiously discriminatory animus as required by that provision. Griffin v. Breckenridge, 403 U.S. 88, 102, 91 S.Ct. 1790, 29 L.Ed.2d 338 (1971).
Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971) does not depend upon lack of alternative remedies, as asserted, but is based on an illegal, warrantless search.
Contrary to the Government's assertion, Rule 41(e) provides only a "person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure" with a remedy.
We need not consider whether plaintiff would have a cause of action against the United States under the Tort Claims Act, because the United States is not a party and no such claim has been asserted.
Affirmed.