ABALE GNALEGA v. WASHINGTON DC VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER

Filing 40

ORDER. For the reasons stated in the attached Order, Defendant's 33 Motion to Dismiss is denied. Further, by June 27, 2019, Defendant shall notify the court whether it is prepared to waive formal service of process. If not, Plaintiff shall have until July 26, 2019, to complete proper service under Rule 4(i). See attached Order for additional details. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/20/2019. (lcapm2)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_________________________________________
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REUEL JACQUES ABALE GNALEGA,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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Case No. 18-cv-00514 (APM)
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1
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Defendant.
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_________________________________________ )
ORDER
I.
In his Second Amended Complaint, pro se Plaintiff Reuel Jacques Abale Gnalega alleges
that he suffered an injury as a result of a nerve conduction test performed on his ankle in January
2014 by Dr. Michael H. Pfeiffer, an employee of the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical
Center (“VA”). Sec. Am. Compl., ECF No. 31 [hereinafter Sec. Am. Compl.], ¶¶ 5–8. Plaintiff
asserts a claim of negligence under the Federal Tort Claims Act premised on two theories. 2
First, he maintains that Dr. Pfeiffer negligently performed the nerve conduction test that caused
his injury. See id. ¶¶ 6–7, 16. Second, he contends that the VA failed to disclose that Dr. Pfeiffer’s
credentials and qualifications “had been called into question at the VA.” See id. ¶¶ 7–8. Plaintiff’s
Amended Complaint emphasized the first theory of negligence, and the court dismissed it as barred
by the statute of limitations but granted Plaintiff leave to amend. See Mem. Op. and Order, ECF
No. 29.

1
Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint listed the Washington Veterans Medical Center and the United States of
America as Defendants. The United States of America is the only proper Defendant in this Federal Tort Claims Act
case. See Cureton v. U.S. Marshal Service, 322 F. Supp. 2d 23, 25 n.4 (D.D.C. 2004).
2
The court construes the complaint liberally because Plaintiff is proceeding pro se. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S.
89, 94 (2007).

Defendant once more moves to dismiss Plaintiff’s action as time barred. See Def.’s Mot.
to Dismiss, ECF No. 33 [hereinafter Def.’ Mot.], at 2–4. Plaintiff counters that Defendant
fraudulently concealed Dr. Pfeiffer’s lack of credentials, thereby tolling the statute of limitations.
See Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 9; see also Pl.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Mot., ECF No. 35, at 5 (asserting that the
“VA has incentive to cover up the injury caused by [Dr. Pfeiffer] because [he] doesn’t have the
proper credentials and the government knows this”). Defendant offers no response to this
argument. See generally Def.’s Mot.; see also Def.’s Reply, ECF No. 36.
II.
“[C]ourts should hesitate to dismiss a complaint on statute of limitations grounds based
solely on the face of the complaint.” Firestone v. Firestone, 76 F.3d 1205, 1209 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
“[B]ecause statute of limitations issues often depend on contested questions of fact, dismissal is
appropriate only if the complaint on its face is conclusively time-barred.” Id. Plaintiff’s allegation
that the VA fraudulently concealed Dr. Pfeiffer’s qualifications and credentials, if true, could toll
the statute of limitations and make this case timely, at least in part. See id. (“A failure to disclose
by one who has a duty to do so—such as someone standing in a fiduciary or confidential
relationship—also can establish fraudulent concealment.”). The negligence claim insofar as it is
premised on a failure-to-disclose theory is thus not “conclusively time-barred.”
Plaintiff’s alternative theory of negligence—that Dr. Pfeiffer improperly performed the
nerve conduction test—arguably is time barred for the reasons stated in the court’s prior
Memorandum Opinion and Order. See Mem. Op. and Order, ECF No. 29. Plaintiff has not alleged
that the injury he suffered was somehow fraudulently concealed. Nevertheless, because Plaintiff’s
two theories of negligence are closely intertwined, the court will deny the motion to dismiss in its
entirety. The statute of limitations defense remains available at the summary judgment stage.

2

III.
Defendant also seeks dismissal because Plaintiff improperly served the District of
Columbia Attorney General, and not the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, as
required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i). See Def.’s Mot. at 4–6. After Defendant filed
its Motion, Plaintiff submitted proof that he served the complaint by mail on counsel of record for
the United States. See ECF Nos. 37 and 39. This service is deficient in two respects. First,
Plaintiff served counsel of record, not the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. See
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A)(i). And, second, even if such service were adequate, Plaintiff himself
mailed the process, which he cannot do as a party to the case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2).
Defendant has indicated that it may be willing to waive perfected service. See Def.’s Mot.
at 6. Accordingly, by June 27, 2019, Defendant shall notify the court whether it is prepared to
waive formal service of process. If not, Plaintiff shall have until July 26, 2019, to complete proper
service under Rule 4(i).

Dated: June 20, 2019

Amit P. Mehta
United States District Court Judge

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