STRONG v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Filing 18

ENTRY ON MOTION TO DISMISS - 13 Motion to Dismiss is granted without prejudice. Strong shall have through September 29, 2017, to file an amended complaint or to otherwise show cause why judgment consistent with this Entry should not issue. See entry for details. Signed by Judge Tanya Walton Pratt on 7/25/2017. (Copy mailed to Sherry Strong) (MEJ) Modified on 7/26/2017 to include distribution (MEJ).

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
SHERRY STRONG, on behalf of deceased
husband, Dan Strong, Jr.,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.

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) Case No. 1:17-cv-00866-TWP-DML
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ENTRY ON MOTION TO DISMISS
This matter is before the Court on Defendant the United States of America’s (“United
States”) Motion to Dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(1). (Filing No. 13.) The dispute in this matter surrounds pro se Plaintiff, Sherry
Strong’s (“Strong”) claim of negligence under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”). (Filing No.
1.) Strong is proceeding in forma pauperis. Strong filed a claim for negligence, alleging that her
husband, Dan Strong Jr., (“Dan Strong”) was at the Veterans Administration (“VA”) Hospital for
an appointment, when he fell and was injured and later died. Upon screening the Complaint under
28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b), the Court dismissed the claim brought on behalf of Dan Strong, and allowed
Strong’s complaint to proceed as a wrongful death action. (Filing No. 3.) The United States
contends the matter must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Strong did not
respond to the motion. For the reasons stated below, the United States’ Motion to Dismiss is
GRANTED.
I. LEGAL STANDARD
The United States argues that subject matter jurisdiction is absent. Subject matter
jurisdiction “defines the court’s authority to hear a given type of case,” United States v. Morton,

467 U.S. 822, 828 (1984), and is the first question in every case. Sherman v. Community Consol.
Sch. Dist. 21 of Wheeling Twp., 980 F.2d 437, 440 (7th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 114 S. Ct. 2109
(1994). “Jurisdiction over any suit against the Government requires a clear statement from the
United States waiving sovereign immunity, together with a claim falling within the terms of the
waiver.” United States v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 537 U.S. 465, 472 (2003) (internal
citations omitted).
The procedural vehicle used by the United States in challenging the Court’s jurisdiction is
its motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A court
ruling on a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations
and draw reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff. Capitol Leasing Co. v. F.D.I.C., 999 F.2d
188, 191 (7th Cir. 1993). However, where a party raises a factual question concerning jurisdiction,
“the district court is not bound to accept as true the allegations of the complaint which tend to
establish jurisdiction.” Grafon Corp. v. Hauserman, 602 F.2d 781, 783 (7th Cir. 1979). In such
circumstances, the district court may properly look beyond the jurisdictional allegations of the
complaint and view whatever evidence has been submitted to determine whether subject matter
jurisdiction exists. Id. The burden of proof to demonstrate subject matter jurisdiction is on the
party asserting jurisdiction. United Phosphorus, Ltd. v. Angus Chem. Co., 322 F.3d 942, 946 (7th
Cir. 2003).
II. DISCUSSION
On March 20, 2017, Strong filed a Complaint under the FTCA, 28 U.S.C. § 2671, et seq.
(Filing No. 1), seeking $30,000.00 in damages for the wrongful death of her husband. Specifically,
she alleges the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“DVA”) negligently treated her
husband following an injury sustained on March 3, 2015, when he fell leaving a doctor’s office at

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Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tragically, her husband died
at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center on March 17, 2015. Id.
Lawsuits against the United States for monetary damages are barred by the doctrine of
sovereign immunity, except in specific circumstances when the government consents to be sued.
See Lehman v. Nakisan, 453 U.S. 156, 160 (1981); United States v. Testan, 424 U.S. 392, 399
(1976); United States v. Sherwood, 312 U.S. 584, 586 (1941). The exclusive waiver of sovereign
immunity for actions sounding in tort against the United States, its agencies, and its employees
acting within the scope of their employment is the FTCA. In addition, the FTCA is the sole remedy
for any tort claim resulting from the negligent or wrongful act of a government employee acting
within the scope of his employment, Couch v. United States, 694 F.3d 852, 856 (7th Cir. 2013).
The language of the FTCA is clear that a claimant must seek administrative review prior to filing
an action in federal court under the FTCA, and must allow that process to be exhausted.
The United States argues that Strong has not exhausted her administrative remedies and
thus, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. In support of their argument, the United States
has presented an affidavit from Dennis M. McGuire, (“McGuire”) chief counsel of the Midwest
District East, DVA.

The DVA is authorized pursuant to 38 C.F. R. §14.600 to consider,

compromise or settle administrative tort claims regarding negligent acts or a DVA employee.
(Filing No. 14-1 at ¶2.) McGuire affirms that the DVA received a notice of tort claim from Strong
on March 23, 2017, and has not issued a decision as to the claim. See Id. at ¶¶ 10, 12. The claim
response deadline is September 19, 2017. Id. at ¶ 12.
Strong’s Complaint makes no allegations regarding whether she timely filed a Federal Tort
Claim Notice with the DVA, or whether she fully exhausted her administrative remedies before
filing suit. Because this prerequisite must be met for any tort suit against the government may

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proceed, this Court lacks jurisdiction over this Complaint under the FTCA, and therefore must
dismiss the Complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
IV. CONCLUSION
The FTCA is clear that no legal action shall be initiated until the claim process is properly
exhausted. Strong’s action is premature because she has not yet exhausted her administrative
remedies. For the reasons stated above, this action must be dismissed for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Filing No.
13), without prejudice.
A dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is not on the merits. Bunker Ramo Corp.
v. United Business Forms, Inc., 713 F.2d 1272, 1277 (7th Cir.1983); Frederiksen v. City of
Lockport, 384 F.3d 437, 438 (7th Cir.2004); Johnson v. Wattenbarger, 361 F.3d 991, 993 (7th
Cir.2004). A court that lacks subject matter jurisdiction cannot dismiss a case with prejudice. Id.
Strong is also proceeding pro se, and in forma pauperis. Strong shall have through September
29, 2017, to file an amended complaint or to otherwise show cause why judgment consistent with
this Entry should not issue. See Luevano v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 722 F.3d 1014, 1022 (7th Cir.
2013) (“Without at least an opportunity to amend or to respond to an order to show cause, an IFP
applicant’s case could be tossed out of court without giving the applicant any timely notice or
opportunity to be heard to clarify, contest, or simply request leave to amend.”). The Court has
intentionally given Strong until after the claim response deadline. If nothing is filed by the
deadline, the Court will convert the dismissal to one with prejudice and a final appealable judgment
will be promptly entered.
SO ORDERED.
Date: 7/25/2017

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DISTRIBUTION:
Sherry Strong
7831 Oakshot Lane
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
Kelly Rota
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
[e-mail]

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