Robinson et al v. The State of Georgia et al

Filing 148

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS of the Magistrate Judge that the Court DISMISS all claims in this action against all remaining Defendants re 6 Amended Complaint filed by Scelia Robinson. I further recommend that the Court DENY Plaintiff leave to appea l in forma pauperis and DENY AS MOOT all pending motions in this case. Any party seeking to object to this Report and Recommendation is ORDERED to file specific written objections within fourteen (14) days of the date on which this Report and Recomme ndation is entered (Objections to R&R due by 12/24/2015). ORDER directing service the REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge, and the Clerk is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the docket sheet in this case as well. Signed by Magistrate Judge R. Stan Baker on 12/10/2015. (ca)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
BRUNSWICK DIVISION

SCELIA ROBINSON,
Plaintiff,
CIVIL ACTION NO.: 2:13-cv-66
v.
THE STATE OF GEORGIA; AMITY HOUSE;
JEFFREY ARNOLD; MISTY REANNA; P.A.;
GLYNN COUNTY JUVENILE COURT; TRICOUNTY PROTECTIVE SERVICE
DIRECTOR; INSPECTOR GENERAL OF
GEORGIA; SECRETARY OF STATE OF
GEORGIA; CARENET OF BRUNSWICK,
GEORGIA; SHERRY JENKINS TUCKER,
Consumer M.H. Network of Georgia; JACK
KINGSTON; JASON NUNEZ; GEORGIA
COALITION FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE; ANN
D. POPE, DHR/DHS; B.J. WALKER, Previous
DHS Commissioner; DEB FARRELL, DHS;
AYONNA JOHNSON, Women's Resource to
End Domestic Violence; LIBERTY COUNTY
CHILD SUPPORT; LIBERTY COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; JOHN
BASSETT, Housing Trust Fund for the
Homeless; DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS; NAMI, GEORGIA; SAMHSA,
GEORGIA; MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA
FOR GEORGIA; JEANNETTE BACON, Dept.
Of Community Health, Georgia; CHATHAM
COUNTY DFCS; LIBERTY COUNTY DFCS;
STATESBORO COUNTY DFCS; CAMDEN
COUNTY DFCS; SERENITY HOUSE
LIBERTY; PATRICIA HOLLOWAY;
ROOSEVELT FREEMAN; GEORGIA OFFICE
FOR STATE ADMINISTRATION HEARINGS;
FAMILY VIOLENCE UNIT, DHS; LEIGH
GUY, Gateway BHS; DR. BONETTI, Gateway
BHS; CANDY GRAHAM, Gateway BHS;
SHEILA FORD, Gateway BHS; CEPEDA
MOORE, Gateway BHS; DR. CHERYL
MCKENZIE; MARY KING; BARBARA

MEYERS; GATEWAY, Transitional Child Care
Staff; AMY LNUN, Counselor; JUDY LNUN,
Counselor; PAM LNUN; CHERELLE LNUN;
KELLI LNUN; LEIGH MELTON; GREG
GIHDAN, Glynn County Head Social Worker;
SLOANE MALLOY, Counselor, Glynn Middle
School; AUDREY CHAPMAN, Attorney, Glynn
County; JOHN PRICE, Attorney, Glynn County;
FRANCES DYAL, Attorney, Glynn County;
STATE OF GEORGIA ACCOUNTING
OFFICE; KIDSNET OF GLYNN COUNTY;
CAGLE, Lt. Governor; SUSAN GOODMAN;
CHERYL HUGHES; PAULA FOERSTEL;
MELINDA GRAHAM; IRENE MCCALL;
DAWN O'NEAL DELOACH; GREG
MCCONNELL; MRS. MASSEN; TORRENCE
SLAUGHTER; KATIE JO BALLARD; DAHLIA
BELL BROWN; BULLOCH COUNTY DFCS;
and YVONNE DAVENPORT,
Defendants.

ORDER and MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit pro se on May 6, 2013, asserting numerous allegations against
several individuals, organizations, and governmental entities. 1

Plaintiff’s allegations and

amendments thereto are far reaching and at times difficult to follow. However, at their heart,
Plaintiff’s claims call into question the Glynn County Juvenile Court’s removal of Plaintiff’s
children from her custody. As a remedy, Plaintiff requests, among other things, compensatory
and punitive damages as well as the return of her children to her care and custody. (Doc. 1,

1

The Complaint also named Zack Lyde as a Plaintiff. However, Lyde has since been dropped as a party
to the case. (Doc. 140, pp. 3-4.) In a recently filed pleading, Plaintiff stated that she is unaware of what
Defendants remain in the case. (Doc. 146, pp. 7–8.) This Report and Recommendation lays out those
Defendants that have been dismissed from this case by previous Orders of this Court. The above caption
of this Report and Recommendation lists the only remaining Defendants in this case. Plaintiff also
complains that she is unaware who represents certain Defendants. However, as explained below, Plaintiff
has not served any of the remaining Defendants with this lawsuit, and, therefore, they have no obligation
to enter appearances in this case. So that Plaintiff can be further apprised of the history and status of this
case, the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to forward Plaintiff a copy of the updated docket sheet.

2

p. 11.) From Plaintiff’s filings, it is readily apparent that she sincerely believes that her children
have been wrongfully and unlawfully removed from her custody.

However, it is equally

apparent that Plaintiff cannot obtain the relief she seeks in this Court. Her remedy, if any, must
be obtained in the state court system.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth more fully below, I RECOMMEND that the Court
DISMISS all claims asserted against all remaining Defendants in this case. Additionally, the
Court should DENY Plaintiff’s Motion to Appear Before the Court and be Granted a Jury Trial
as moot and DENY Plaintiff leave to appeal in forma pauperis. 2
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Scelia Robinson filed this pro se action against over one hundred (100)
individuals and entities on May 6, 2013. (Doc. 1.) Therein, she made general allegations that
individuals, organizations, and agencies, including the Glynn County Juvenile Court, have
committed violations of federal and state law. (Id. at pp. 8–9.) Plaintiff’s Complaint did not
detail the facts or procedural history of her family’s case before the Glynn County Juvenile
Court. However, as the Court previously explained, from a “generous reading” of Plaintiff’s
Complaint and Amended Complaint, “the Court can conclude that the Complaint seeks to redress
2

A “district court can only dismiss an action on its own motion as long as the procedure employed is fair.
. . . To employ fair procedure, a district court must generally provide the plaintiff with notice of its intent
to dismiss or an opportunity to respond.” Tazoe v. Airbus S.A.S., 631 F.3d 1321, 1336 (11th Cir. 2011)
(citations and internal quotations marks omitted). A Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation
(“R&R”) provides such notice and opportunity to respond. See Shivers v. Int’l Bhd. Of Elec. Workers
Local Union, 349, 262 F. App’x 121, 125, 127 (11th Cir. 2008) (indicating that a party has notice of a
district court’s intent to sua sponte grant summary judgment where a magistrate judge issues a report
recommending the sua sponte granting of summary judgment); Anderson v. Dunbar Armored, Inc., 678
F. Supp. 2d 1280, 1296 (N.D. Ga. 2009) (noting that R&R served as notice that claims would be sua
sponte dismissed). This Report and Recommendation constitutes fair notice to Plaintiff that her suit is
barred and due to be dismissed. As indicated below, Plaintiff will have the opportunity to present her
objections to this finding, and the District Court will review de novo properly submitted objections. See
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72; see also Glover v. Williams, No. 1:12-CV-3562-TWT-JFK,
2012 WL 5930633, at *1 (N.D. Ga. Oct. 18, 2012) (explaining that magistrate judge’s report and
recommendation constituted adequate notice and petitioner’s opportunity to file objections provided a
reasonable opportunity to respond).

3

the removal of Robinson’s children from her custody and alleged procedural deficiencies that
occurred during hearings leading to and occurring after the children’s removal. Rather than be
provided due process, Robinson believes that various defendants conspired to deprive her of her
parental rights, ‘no matter what.’” (Doc. 107, p. 6.) 3 After Magistrate Judge James E. Graham
denied Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed in Forma Pauperis, (doc. 5), Plaintiff paid the filing fee and
filed an Amended Complaint, (doc. 6). That Amendment listed additional Defendants and laid
out more allegations that the Glynn County Juvenile Court mishandled Plaintiff’s deprivation of
parental rights case. (Id.)
Plaintiff’s Complaint, as amended, is a “quintessential example of a shotgun pleading,
which the Eleventh Circuit has admonished for well over two decades.” (Doc. 140, p. 7) (citing
Magluta v. Samples, 256 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001)). The parties and the Court have
requested that Plaintiff provide a more definite statement of her claims on numerous occasions.
On August 20, 2013, the Court ordered Plaintiff to submit a filing stating: “1) which Defendants
are alleged to have violated the Plaintiffs’ rights; 2) specific allegations against each Defendant;
and 3) the rights each Defendant allegedly violated.” (Doc. 74, p. 5.) Rather than comply with
those directives, Plaintiff moved to recuse the Magistrate Judge then assigned to this case.
(Doc. 75.)
The Court has issued several Orders dismissing numerous Defendants from this action. 4
In its Order of February 18, 2014, the Court first granted the Motions to Dismiss of the following
Defendants: Cary Greenfield, (doc. 15); John P. Rivers, (doc. 20); Leslie Hartman, Jeannie
3

A full summary of the proceedings following Plaintiff’s Complaint and Amended Complaint (as well as
a more complete recitation of Plaintiff’s allegations) can be found in the Court’s Order of February 18,
2014. (Doc. 107, pp. 6–7.)

4

It is important to note that as to each of these Motions to Dismiss, the Court has issued an Order
notifying Plaintiff of the Motion and her obligation to respond and providing Plaintiff ample opportunity
to contest the Motion. (See, e.g., Doc. 31.)

4

Roberts, and Safe Harbor Children’s Center, (doc. 22); Joyce Campbell, (doc. 38); Liberty
County Children’s Home, Inc. d/b/a Gabriel’s House, James N. Osteen, Jr., Tammy Kersey, and
Janice Relaford, (doc. 39); Mary Hogan-Torres, (doc. 40); Camden County CASA, (doc. 71);
Joseph’s Home for Boys, (doc. 79); as well as Martin Rowe and the “United States Attorney’s
Office of Georgia.” (Doc. 107, pp. 7–14.) The Court primarily based its dismissal of all claims
against these Defendants on the Rooker-Feldman doctrine and Younger abstention. (Id.at pp. 7–
11.)

The Court explained that this lawsuit is “based on a state-court determination depriving

Robinson of custody over her children. The other claims, to the degree they could be treated
distinct from direct challenges to the proceeding and its outcome, appear all to arise from the
proceeding and be intimately connected thereto.” (Id. at p. 9.) The Court explained that, to the
extent a final judgment was entered in the juvenile court proceeding, the Rooker-Feldman
doctrine prevents this Court from disturbing that state court judgment.

(Id. at pp. 7–9.)

Additionally, the Court held that, to the extent the juvenile court case was still pending, Younger
abstention prevented this Court from interfering with that ongoing state proceeding. (Id. at pp.
10–11.)
The Court’s February 18, 2014, Order also dismissed all claims against Defendant Ernest
Gilbert for insufficient service of process. (Id. at pp. 14–16.) The Court explained that Plaintiff
failed to comply with Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as to Gilbert. Id.
The Court also granted summary judgment to Defendants Judge George Rountree, Donita
Taylor, Susan Ponsell, and Jill Caldwell in its February 18, 2014, Order. (Id. at pp. 16–20.) The
Court explained that Defendant Rountree, as a judicial officer, was entitled to judicial immunity
from Plaintiff’s claims and that Defendants Taylor, Ponsell, and Caldwell were protected from
Plaintiff’s claims by quasi-judicial immunity. Id.

5

On March 18, 2015, the Court granted Defendant Jim Chamberlin’s Motion to Dismiss
for failure to state a claim.

(Doc. 135.)

The Court reasoned that, “[b]eyond conclusory

assertions of legal violations, Plaintiffs proffer no averments showing a plausible claim for relief,
under any of their 40-plus theories of liability.” (Id. at 3.) Specifically, the Court held that the
Complaint did not give any indication of what, if anything, that Chamberlin allegedly did wrong.
Id. Accordingly, the Court dismissed all claims against Chamberlin.
The Court issued another dismissal Order on April 28, 2015. (Doc. 138.) Therein, the
Court granted two Motions to Dismiss: Document Number 112, filed by Defendants CASA
Glynn, Inc., and Lynda Tye; and Document Number 130, filed by Defendants Gil and Carrie
Murray Nellis. As to Defendants CASA Glynn and Lynda Tye, the Court ruled that Plaintiff had
failed to serve those Defendants as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 despite the fact
that the case had been pending for more than 700 days. (Doc. 138, pp. 8–9.) As to Defendants
Gil and Carrie Murray Nellis, the Court found that Plaintiff had failed to state a claim against
those Defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (Id. at p. 10–11.) The
Court explained that “the only specific allegations in the Complaint are against Glynn County
Juvenile Court, the State of Georgia, an unidentified DFCS worker, and Judge Rountree.” (Id. at
p. 10.) Plaintiff’s failure to allege what the Nellises had done wrong resulted in the dismissal of
all claims against them. (Id. at p. 11.)
On May 20, 2015, the Court issued another Order, (doc. 140), granting two Motions to
Dismiss: the first filed by Defendants Peggy Sorrells, Norris Smith, Frank Bonati, Clyde Reese,
Frank Berry, Chuck Pittman, Amanda Chapman, Vicki Riggins, LaSharn Hughes, Bobby Cagle,

6

Mary Skelton, Mike Beatty, and David Cook 5, (doc. 111); and the second filed by Defendant J.
Alexander Atwood, (doc. 136).
In granting the Sorrells Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, the Court recounted that
Magistrate Judge Graham’s August 20, 2013, Order “plainly told Plaintiff what she needed to do
to bring her Complaint into compliance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” (Doc. 140,
p. 6.) The Court went on to hold that Plaintiff had failed to comply with that directive, and,
therefore, Defendants were not able to respond to her Complaint. Id. Consequently, the Court
dismissed all claims against the Sorrells Defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 41(b) and this Court’s Local Rule 41.1. (Id.at p. 5–6.)
As to Defendant Atwood, the Court held that, “[e]ven under the liberal standard under
which pro se complaints are interpreted, the allegations in Plaintiff’s Complaint are conclusory,
speculative, unspecific, and fall short of the standard for alleging a plausible claim for relief.”
(Id. at p. 8.) Given the fact that these flaws existed even after the Court had ordered Plaintiff to
provide a more definite statement of her claims, the Court dismissed all claims against Defendant
Atwood. Id.
Citing this procedural history, on September 2, 2015, the Court issued an Order directing
Plaintiff to show cause why her claims against all remaining Defendants should not be
dismissed. (Doc. 144.) The Court noted that in the two years since the Court’s August 20, 2013,
Order, Plaintiff had entirely failed to comply with the Court’s directive to provide a more
definite statement of her claims. Id. Accordingly, the Court ordered Plaintiff to “specifically
explain in her response why she has not complied with the Court’s directives included in the
August 20, 2013[,] Order.” Id. at p. 5. Furthermore, the Court ordered that “Plaintiff must state
in her response: (1) which of the remaining Defendants violated Plaintiff’s rights; (2) specific
5

The Court will refer to these 13 Defendants as “the Sorrells Defendants.”

7

allegations against each remaining Defendant; and (3) the rights each remaining Defendant
allegedly violated.” Id.
Plaintiff filed a response to the show cause Order on September 16, 2015. (Doc. 145.)
However, rather than complying with the Magistrate Judge’s directives to clarify her claims for
relief, she only further muddied the waters. Plaintiff made unsupported claims that this Court
has mishandled her case, including claims that Magistrate Judge Graham should have been
recused from this action. (Id. at pp. 3-4.) Plaintiff argued, “I have already done this, I have
stated my claims.” (Id. at p. 6.) Additionally, she continued to make conclusory allegations
against Defendants without specifying which remaining Defendants violated which of her rights,
much less how those rights were allegedly violated. (See, e.g., id. at p. 15) (“It is no secret that
there are powerful forces in GA State government, in Brunswick, and all the cities and counties
that have participated in abusing and holding my children hostage all the while orchestrating the
cover-ups and retaliatory actions against my children and me.”)
DISCUSSION
Two years of pleadings by Plaintiff reveal that, though her beliefs are sincerely held, they
do not form the basis for relief in this Court. The numerous principles of law that the Court has
cited in it prior dismissal Orders apply with equal force to the remaining Defendants. Plaintiff’s
claims fall outside the limited jurisdiction of this Court. This Court cannot act as an appellate
court for the decisions of the Glynn County Juvenile Court. Indeed, principles of comity and
deference prevent this Court from inserting itself into state court proceedings. Accordingly,
Plaintiff’s remedy, if any, must lie in the state court system. Furthermore, despite the fact that
this lawsuit has been pending for over two years, Plaintiff has not served any of the remaining
Defendants. Moreover, the Court has given Plaintiff several opportunities to clarify which

8

Defendants she seeks to sue and to state plausible claims against those Defendants. However,
she has not complied with those Orders. While each of these principles independently warrants
the dismissal of the remaining claims, this Report and Recommendation discusses all of them in
the spirit of completeness and fair notice. 6
In its discussion, the Court will abide by the long-standing principle that the pleadings of
unrepresented parties are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by attorneys and,
therefore, must be liberally construed. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972); Boxer X v.
Harris, 437 F.3d 1107, 1110 (11th Cir. 2006) (“Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent
standard than pleadings drafted by attorneys.”) (emphasis omitted) (quoting Hughes v. Lott, 350
F.3d 1157, 1160 (11th Cir. 2003)). However, Plaintiff’s unrepresented status will not excuse
mistakes regarding procedural rules. McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) (“We
have never suggested that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation should be interpreted so as
to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel.”).
I.

Dismissal Pursuant to the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine and Younger Abstention.
This Court, like all district courts of the United States is a Court of “limited jurisdiction.”

Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Servs., Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 552 (2005) (quoting Kokkonen v.

6

Additionally, there are several legal principles that bar Plaintiff’s claims as to some Defendants. For
example, the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution bars Plaintiff’s claims against the
State of Georgia as well as her official capacity claims against state officials, employees, and agencies. A
lawsuit against a state agency in its official capacity is no different from a suit against a state itself; such a
defendant is immune. Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989). In enacting
Section 1983, Congress did not intend to abrogate “well-established immunities or defenses” under the
common law or the Eleventh Amendment. Id. at 67. Additionally, Plaintiff levies many allegations
against private actors. In order to establish a claim under Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege that an act
or omission depriving her “of some right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or laws of
the United States” was committed by “a person acting under color of state law.” Hale v. Tallapoosa Cty.,
50 F.3d 1579, 1582 (11th Cir. 1995). The state-actor requirement traditionally precludes suit against a
private party under this Section, and a private party may qualify as a state actor for Section 1983 purposes
only in “rare circumstances.” Harvey v. Harvey, 949 F.2d 1127, 1130 (11th Cir. 1992). However,
because ample alternative reasons exist for dismissal of Plaintiff’s claims against all remaining
Defendants, the Court need not delve into these issues that only apply to some Defendants.

9

Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994)).

It possesses only that power

authorized by the Constitution and by Congress. Id. Moreover, Plaintiff bears the burden of
establishing that her claims fall within this Courts’ subject matter jurisdiction. Kokkonen, 511
U.S. at 377 (because federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction “[i]t is to be presumed that a
cause lies outside this limited jurisdiction, and the burden of establishing the contrary rests upon
the party asserting jurisdiction[.]”).
A.

Rooker-Feldman

Pursuant to the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, the Court is without jurisdiction over claims
which essentially seek review of a state-court judgment. “The Rooker-Feldman doctrine derives
from Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Company, 263 U.S. 413 (1923), and District of Columbia Court of
Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462 (1983), and provides that, as a general matter, federal district
courts lack jurisdiction to review a final state court decision.” McCorvey v. Weaver, No. 1510470, 2015 WL 5751756, at *1 (11th Cir. Oct. 2, 2015). Nor, under the Rooker-Feldman
doctrine may a federal court “decide federal issues that are raised in state proceedings and
‘inextricably intertwined’ with the state court’s judgment.” Datz v. Kilgore, 51 F.3d 252, 253
(11th Cir. 1995) (quoting Staley v. Ledbetter, 837 F.2d 1016, 1018 (11th Cir. 1988)). A federal
claim is “inextricably intertwined” with a state-court judgment if the claim would “effectively
nullify” the state-court judgment or if the claim “succeeds only to the extent that the state court
wrongly decided the issues before it.” Goodman ex rel. Goodman v. Sipos, 259 F.3d 1327,
1332–33 (11th Cir. 2001) (quoting Siegel v. LePore, 234 F.3d 1163, 1172 (11th Cir. 2000)).
However, even if a claim is inextricably intertwined with the judgment in state court, “the
doctrine does not apply if the plaintiff had no ‘reasonable opportunity to raise his federal claim in
state proceedings.’”

Id. (quoting Powell v. Powell, 80 F.3d 464, 467 (11th Cir. 1996)).

10

“Rooker-Feldman applies because, among the federal courts, Congress authorized only the
Supreme Court to reverse or modify a state court decision.” Helton v. Ramsay, 566 F. App’x
876, 877 (11th Cir. 2014) (citing Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280,
284 (2005)). Put succinctly, this Court is not an appeals court to which a losing or disgruntled
state court party can appeal an unfavorable decision.
The Court explained in its February 18, 2013, Order that Plaintiff’s claims appear to
challenge the Glynn County Juvenile Court’s judgment depriving her of custody over her
children as well as issues inextricably intertwined with that proceeding. (Doc. 107, p. 9.) The
Court also noted that Plaintiff had the opportunity to raise the constitutional challenges she
asserts in this case in the juvenile court and on appeal. Id. Thus, the Court held that, to the
extent a judgment has been entered, Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the Rooker-Feldman
doctrine. (Id.at p. 10.)
The Court’s ruling in this regard is not unique to this case. This Court and other federal
courts frequently find that the Rooker-Feldman prevents federal courts from hearing claims
based on a state court’s custody determination or parental rights termination.

See, e.g.,

Goodman, 259 F.3d at 1334 (finding that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred jurisdiction over
the plaintiffs’ due process claims against state officials because the success of those claims
would require finding that the state court wrongly decided to terminate the plaintiffs’ parental
rights and wrongly denied their petition for return of custody); Taylor v. Randolph, 594 F. App’x
578 (11th Cir. 2014) (Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred mother’s claims against state court judges
and employees of sheriff’s office and child protection agency, alleging that defendants’ decisions
in child-custody proceedings and child well-being matters violated her and her child’s
fundamental rights); Plunkett v. Rountree, No. CV214-015, 2015 WL 1505970, at *12 (S.D. Ga.

11

Mar. 31, 2015) (dismissing claims based on juvenile court’s removal of plaintiff’s children, the
litigation in juvenile court, or the treatment of her children in foster care); Daw v. Cowan, No.
3:11CV96/RV/EMT, 2013 WL 5838683, at *5 (N.D. Fla. Oct. 30, 2013) (“[T]o the extent
Plaintiff seeks review of any final judgments issued by the state court, including those that
terminated her parental rights, this court lacks jurisdiction over the matter.”). Further, the
Eleventh Circuit has “also determined those officers and other government personnel acting
pursuant to, or in concert with, child-custody or child well-being proceedings fall within the
Rooker-Feldman doctrine because their acts are inextricably intertwined with state court
judgments.” Taylor, 594 F. App’x at 580 (citing Goodman, 259 F.3d at 1334.)
As this Court has previously determined, Plaintiff’s claims either directly challenge the
juvenile court proceeding and its outcome or arise from that proceeding and are intimately
connected thereto. (Doc. 107, p. 9.) Thus, Plaintiff essentially asks this Court to sit as an
appellate court overseeing the Glynn County Juvenile Court and its decisions. Pursuant to the
Rooker-Feldman doctrine, this Court cannot fill such a role, and Plaintiff’s remedy must lie in
the state court system.
B.

Younger Abstention

To the extent that the juvenile court proceeding has not yet resulted in a judgment, this
Court still lacks jurisdiction to hear Plaintiff’s claims. The Younger abstention doctrine reflects
“a strong federal policy against federal[ ] court interference with pending state judicial
proceedings absent extraordinary circumstances.” Middlesex Cty. Ethics Comm. v. Garden State
Bar Ass’n, 457 U.S. 423, 431 (1982). Where “vital state interests” are involved, a federal court
should abstain from hearing a case “unless state law clearly bars the interposition of the
constitutional claim.” Id. at 432 (quoting Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415, 426 (1979)). To

12

determine whether Younger requires abstention in a given case, a federal court must ask three
questions: “first, do the proceedings constitute an ongoing state judicial proceeding; second, do
the proceedings implicate important state interests; and third, is there an adequate opportunity in
the state proceedings to raise constitutional challenges.” 31 Foster Children v. Bush, 329 F.3d
1255, 1274 (11th Cir. 2003) (quoting Middlesex Cty., 457 U.S. at 432). If the answer to all three
questions is “yes,” then a federal court must abstain from hearing a case in order to avoid
interfering with the ongoing state-court proceedings.
Again, the Court’s February 18, 2013, Order is instructive. (Doc. 107, pp. 10–11.) As
the Court explained therein, to the extent that the juvenile court proceeding was ongoing at the
time Plaintiff filed this lawsuit, that proceeding qualifies for Younger abstention, and this Court
must abstain from interfering with the juvenile court. 7 Id. The Court’s ruling is once again not
unique to this case. This Court and other federal courts frequently find that Younger abstention
prevents a federal court from interfering with an ongoing state court custody or deprivation
proceeding. See, e.g., Plunkett, No. CV214-015, 2015 WL 1505970, at *12–14 (dismissing
claims for injunctive relief due to alleged due process and equal protection violations by juvenile
court in removal of plaintiff’s children); Daw, No. 3:11CV96/RV/EMT, 2013 WL 5838683,
at *5 (“To the extent the state court [custody] proceedings were indeed pending at the time
[plaintiff] filed the instant lawsuit, her cause of action is clearly subject to dismissal pursuant to
the Younger abstention doctrine.”) If Plaintiff’s family case was still pending before the Glynn
County Juvenile Court when she filed this action, Younger abstention prevents the Court from
exercising jurisdiction over her claims.

7

Since that Order, Plaintiff has not clarified whether a final judgment has been filed in the juvenile court.
Nonetheless, as the Court previously explained, to the extent a final judgment has been entered, the
Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars Plaintiff’s claims, and to the extent a judgment has not been entered,
Younger abstention bars the claims. (Doc. 107, p. 11 n.5.)

13

Because Plaintiff’s claims against all Defendants seek review of the Glynn County
Juvenile Court’s custody deprivation proceedings and related actions, this lawsuit falls outside of
this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Consequently, the Court should dismiss all of Plaintiff’s
remaining claims.
II.

Dismissal for Failure to Timely Serve Remaining Defendants
As noted above, this Court has already dismissed Plaintiff’s claims against Defendant

Ernest Gilbert for insufficient service of process, (doc. 107, pp. 14–16), and Defendants CASA
Glynn and Lynda Tye for failure to effect timely service, (doc. 138, pp. 8–9). As the Court
explained in those Orders, Plaintiff’s obligation to timely serve the Complaint is governed by
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), which provides:
If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the complaint is filed, the
court—on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff—must dismiss the
action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made
within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the
court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period.
Good cause for failure to timely serve “exists only when some outside factor, such as reliance on
faulty advice, rather than inadvertence or negligence, prevented service.” Lepone-Dempsey v.
Carroll Cty. Comm’rs, 476 F.3d 1277, 1281 (11th Cir. 2007) (alterations omitted) (quoting
Prisco v. Frank, 929 F.2d 603, 604 (11th Cir. 1991)). Further, “[t]he serving party bears the
burden of proof with regard to its validity or good cause for failure to effect timely service.”
Profit v. Americold Logistics, LLC, 248 F.R.D. 293, 296 (N.D. Ga. 2008) (citing Sys. Signs
Supplies v. United States Dep’t of Justice, 903 F.2d 1011, 1013 (5th Cir. 1990)).
This case has been pending for approximately 950 days. However, despite that lengthy
passage of time and the Court repeatedly apprising Plaintiff of her obligation to serve
Defendants, it appears that none of the remaining Defendants have been served. The only record

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that Plaintiff has attempted to serve any of the remaining Defendants are summonses that were
returned unexecuted as to Audrey Chapman, (doc. 63), Frances Dyal, (doc. 60), and Mrs.
Massen, (doc. 62). However, even these records reveal that these three Defendants were not
served with this suit. The fact that Plaintiff has not served the remaining Defendants provides
additional ground for dismissal of this case.
III.

Dismissal for Failure to State a Claim
The Court has dismissed Plaintiff’s prior claims against a number of Defendants for

failure to state a claim. (Doc. 107, pp. 11–14; Doc. 135, p. 3; Doc. 138, pp. 9–10.) As the Court
explained in its April 28, 2015, Order, “[a]lthough a complaint need not contain detailed factual
allegations, it must contain sufficient factual material ‘to raise a right to relief above the
speculative level.’” (Doc. 138, p. 9) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555
(2007)). “At a minimum, a complaint should “contain either direct or inferential allegations
respecting all the material elements necessary to sustain a recovery under some viable legal
theory.” Fin. Sec. Assurance, Inc. v. Stephens, Inc., 500 F.3d 1276, 1282–83 (11th Cir. 2007)
(per curiam) (quoting Roe v. Aware Woman Ctr. for Choice, Inc., 253 F.3d 678, 683 (11th Cir.
2001)). Put another way, the complaint must contain “sufficient factual matter, accepted as true,
to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). A plaintiff must assert “more than labels and
conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not” suffice.
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. When assessing whether a plaintiff has stated a claim, the Court
must construe a complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and accept all well-pleaded
facts alleged in the complaint as true. Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola Co., 578 F.3d 1252, 1260 (11th
Cir. 2009).

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The Court has repeatedly applied these standards to Plaintiff’s Complaint and found that
she has not stated a claim for relief. The Court has explained that “the only specific allegations
in the Complaint are against the Glynn County Juvenile Court, the State of Georgia, an
unidentified DFCS worker, and Judge Rountree.” (Doc. 138, p. 10.) Moreover, the Court has
found that “[b]eyond conclusory assertions of legal violations, Plaintiff[ ] proffer[s] no
averments showing a plausible claim for relief, under any of [her] 40-plus theories of liability.
Even for the liberal standard under which pro se complaints are interpreted, the allegations in
Plaintiff[’s] Complaint are conclusory, speculative, unspecific, and fall far short of the standard
for alleging a plausible claim for relief.” (Doc. 107, pp. 13–14.)
Even after the Court has given Plaintiff several opportunities to supplement and clarify
her Complaint, her claims still suffer from these fatal flaws. The Complaint does not provide
sufficient factual matter to explain what, if anything, the remaining Defendants have done
wrong. Consequently, Plaintiff’s Complaint is due to be dismissed for failure to state a plausible
claim for relief against the remaining Defendants.
IV.

Dismissal for Failure to Comply with this Court’s Orders and Failure to Prosecute.
The Court may dismiss a plaintiff’s claims sua sponte pursuant to either Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 41(b) (“Rule 41(b)”) or the Court’s inherent authority to manage its docket.
Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626 (1962); 8 Coleman v. St. Lucie Cty. Jail, 433 F. App’x
716, 718 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) and Betty K Agencies, Ltd. v. M/V
MONADA, 432 F.3d 1333, 1337 (11th Cir. 2005)). In particular, Rule 41(b) allows for the
involuntary dismissal of a plaintiff’s claims where she has failed to prosecute those claims,

8

In Wabash, the Court held that a trial court may dismiss an action for failure to prosecute “even without
affording notice of its intention to do so.” 370 U.S. at 633. Nonetheless, in the case at hand, the Court
advised Plaintiff on several occasions that her failure to abide by this Court’s Orders and her failure to
clarify her claims would result in dismissal of this action.

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comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or local rules, or follow a court order. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 41(b); see also Coleman, 433 F. App’x at 718; Sanders v. Barrett, No. 05-12660, 2005
WL 2640979, at *1 (11th Cir. Oct. 17, 2005) (citing Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 192 (11th Cir.
1993)); cf. Local R. 41.1(b) (“[T]he assigned Judge may, after notice to counsel of record, sua
sponte . . . dismiss any action for want of prosecution, with or without prejudice[,] . . . [based on]
willful disobedience or neglect of any order of the Court.”). Additionally, a district court’s
“power to dismiss is an inherent aspect of its authority to enforce its orders and ensure prompt
disposition of lawsuits.” Brown v. Tallahassee Police Dep’t, 205 F. App’x 802, 802 (11th Cir.
2006) (quoting Jones v. Graham, 709 F.2d 1457, 1458 (11th Cir. 1983)). The Eleventh Circuit
Court of Appeals has upheld Rule 41(b) dismissals where the plaintiff failed to comply with an
order to amend his complaint to comport with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8’s pleading
requirements. See Popham v. Cobb Cty., 392 F. App’x 677, 680–81 (11th Cir. 2010).
It is true that dismissal with prejudice for failure to prosecute is a “sanction . . . to be
utilized only in extreme situations” and requires that a court “(1) conclud[e] a clear record of
delay or willful contempt exists; and (2) mak[e] an implicit or explicit finding that lesser
sanctions would not suffice.” Thomas v. Montgomery Cty. Bd. of Educ., 170 F. App’x 623,
625–26 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Morewitz v. West of Eng. Ship Owners Mut. Prot. & Indem.
Ass’n (Lux.), 62 F.3d 1356, 1366 (11th Cir. 1995)); see also Taylor v. Spaziano, 251 F. App’x
616, 619 (11th Cir. 2007) (citing Morewitz, 62 F.3d at 1366). By contrast, dismissal without
prejudice for failure to prosecute is not an adjudication on the merits, and, therefore, courts are
afforded greater discretion in dismissing claims in this manner. Taylor, 251 F. App’x at 619;
see also Coleman, 433 F. App’x at 719; Brown, 205 F. App’x at 802–03.

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While the Court exercises its discretion to dismiss cases with caution, dismissal of this
action is warranted. See Taylor, 251 F. App’x at 620–21 (upholding dismissal without prejudice
for failure to prosecute because plaintiffs insisted on going forward with deficient amended
complaint rather than complying, or seeking an extension of time to comply, with court’s order
to file second amended complaint); Brown, 205 F. App’x at 802–03 (upholding dismissal
without prejudice for failure to prosecute where plaintiff failed to follow court order to file
amended complaint and court had informed plaintiff that noncompliance could lead to
dismissal).
This Court has been exceedingly patient with Plaintiff over the more than two years that
this case has been pending. At every turn, it has provided her with an opportunity to respond to
the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss as well as numerous chances to restate her claims. At this
stage, without a more definite statement of Plaintiff’s claims, this Court simply cannot move
forward with this case.

As the Court stated in its Order dismissing some Defendants on

May 20, 2015, “[b]eyond conclusory assertions of legal violations, Plaintiff proffers no
averments showing a plausible claim for relief, under any of her 40-plus theories of liability.”
(Doc. 140, p. 8.) Moreover, the Court has repeatedly given Plaintiff the opportunity to specify
which Defendants violated her rights, to set forth specific allegations against those Defendants,
and to state which rights those Defendants violated.

(Docs. 74, 144.)

Despite these

opportunities, Plaintiff has not made any effort to remedy the deficiencies in her Complaint.
Accordingly, Defendants cannot respond to her claims, and the Court cannot adjudicate them.
Furthermore, Plaintiff has repeatedly and willfully failed to adhere to this Court’s Orders.
For instance, rather than comply with the Court’s September 2, 2015, show cause Order, Plaintiff
argued that she had already stated her claim. She did nothing to remedy the deficiencies pointed

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out by the Court. Consequently, given Plaintiff’s refusal to follow the Orders of the Court and
the status of her claims, no sanction short of dismissal will remedy her noncompliance.
VI.

Dismissal of State Law Claims
Finally, to the extent Plaintiff seeks to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction based on

provisions of Georgia law, she cannot do so. This Court has jurisdiction over claims involving a
federal question or those claims involving parties who are citizens of different states. See 28
U.S.C. §§ 1331 & 1332. As state law claims would not satisfy either of these jurisdictional
prerequisites, Plaintiff’s state law claims should be DISMISSED. 9
V.

Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis
The Court should also deny Plaintiff leave to appeal in forma pauperis. Though Plaintiff

has, of course, not yet filed a notice of appeal, it is proper to address these issues in the Court’s
Order of dismissal. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3) (trial court may certify that appeal of party
proceeding in forma pauperis is not taken in good faith “before or after the notice of appeal is
filed”).
An appeal cannot be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies that the appeal is
not taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3). Good faith in this
context must be judged by an objective standard. Busch v. Cty. of Volusia, 189 F.R.D. 687, 691
(M.D. Fla. 1999). A party does not proceed in good faith when he seeks to advance a frivolous
claim or argument. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). A claim or

9

Even if the Court had jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s federal claims, to the extent Plaintiff asserts other tort
claims (such as legal malpractice) against the Defendants; those would predominate and should be
asserted in state court. 28 U.S.C. § 1367 codifies the doctrines formerly known as pendent and ancillary
jurisdiction. See Palmer v. Hosp. Auth. of Randolph Cty., 22 F.3d 1559, 1562 n.3 (11th Cir. 1994).
Section 1367(c) lists specific circumstances in which a district court may decline to exercise supplemental
jurisdiction over a state law claim joined with a claim over which the court has original jurisdiction. One
of those circumstances is when the state claim “substantially predominates over the claim or claims over
which the district court has original jurisdiction.” 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(2).

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argument is frivolous when it appears the factual allegations are clearly baseless or the legal
theories are indisputably meritless. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 (1989); Carroll v.
Gross, 984 F.2d 392, 393 (11th Cir. 1993). Or, stated another way, an in forma pauperis action
is frivolous and, thus, not brought in good faith, if it is “without arguable merit either in law or
fact.” Napier v. Preslicka, 314 F.3d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 2002); see also Brown v. United States,
Nos. 407CV085, 403CR001, 2009 WL 307872, at *1–2 (S.D. Ga. Feb. 9, 2009).
Based on the above analysis of Plaintiff’s action, there are no non-frivolous issues to
raise on appeal, and an appeal in this action would not be taken in good faith. Thus, Plaintiff
should be DENIED in forma pauperis status on appeal.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, I RECOMMEND that the Court DISMISS all claims in
this action against all remaining Defendants. I further recommend that the Court DENY Plaintiff
leave to appeal in forma pauperis and DENY AS MOOT all pending motions in this case.
Any party seeking to object to this Report and Recommendation is ORDERED to file
specific written objections within fourteen (14) days of the date on which this Report and
Recommendation is entered. Any objections asserting that the Magistrate Judge failed to address
any contention raised in the Complaint must also be included. Failure to do so will bar any later
challenge or review of the factual findings or legal conclusions of the Magistrate Judge. See 28
U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985). A copy of the objections must be
served upon all other parties to the action.
The filing of objections is not a proper vehicle through which to make new allegations or
present additional evidence.

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Upon receipt of Objections meeting the specificity requirement set out above, a United
States District Judge will make a de novo determination of those portions of the report, proposed
findings, or recommendation to which objection is made and may accept, reject, or modify in
whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the Magistrate Judge. Objections not
meeting the specificity requirement set out above will not be considered by a District Judge. A
party may not appeal a Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation directly to the United
States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Appeals may be made only from a final
judgment entered by or at the direction of a District Judge. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED
to serve a copy of the docket sheet in this case as well as a copy of this Report and
Recommendation upon the Plaintiff.
SO ORDERED and REPORTED and RECOMMENDED, this 10th day of December,
2015.

R. STAN BAKER
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

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