Dodson v. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences et al

Filing 28

ORDER granting defendants' 10 12 Motions to Dismiss and dismissing plaintiff's complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Signed by Judge James M. Moody on 2/27/09. (bkp)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS WESTERN DIVISION PATRICIA DODSON v. NO. 4:08CV03925 JMM PLAINTIFF

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES, By and Through the University of Arkansas System, Board of Trustees, et. al. ORDER

DEFENDANTS

Pending are Defendants' motions to dismiss. (Docket #'s 10 and 12). For the reasons stated on the record in the hearing held on this date, Defendants' motions to dismiss are GRANTED. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine precludes this Court from exercising jurisdiction over Plaintiff's claims. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine states that district courts do not have subject matter jurisdiction over challenges to state court decisions in judicial proceedings. Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413 (1923); District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462 (1983). The Court has studied Plaintiff's claims and finds that they are inextricably intertwined with the state court proceedings. Plaintiff's claims could succeed only upon a finding that the state courts wrongly decided the issues. The Court finds that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars Plaintiff's claims. Plaintiff's complaint is hereby dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. IT IS SO ORDERED this 27th day of February, 2009.

________________________________________ James M. Moody United States District Judge