Washburn (ID 82688) v. KAKE 12 News Team

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ENTERED: This matter is dismissed for failure to state a claim for relief. Signed by U.S. Senior District Judge Sam A. Crow on 07/26/17. Mailed to pro se party Allen Dean Washburn by regular mail. (smnd)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS

ALLEN DEAN WASHBURN,
Plaintiff,
v.

CASE NO. 17-3109-SAC-DJW

KAKE 12 NEWS TEAM,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is a civil rights action filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
by a prisoner in state custody. On July 21, 2017, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Waxse directed plaintiff to show cause why this matter should not be
dismissed, noting that the sole defendant is not a person acting under
color of state law, as required by Section 1983.
Plaintiff filed a timely response (Doc. #7). The Court has
considered plaintiff’s argument but concludes that the complaint does
not state a claim for relief under Section 1983 because plaintiff names
a private actor as the sole defendant.1 As explained in the order
entered by Magistrate Judge Waxse, a plaintiff proceeding under
Section 1983 must “show both the existence of a federally-protected
right and the deprivation of that right by a person acting under color
of state law.” Wittner v. Banner Health, 720 F.3d 770, 773 (10th Cir.
2013)(citing Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 924 (1982)).
The party charged with the deprivation must be “a person who may fairly
be said to be a state actor.” Lugar, 457 U.S. at 937. “[M]erely private
conduct, no matter how discriminatory or wrongful,” does not support

1

Plaintiff’s claim appears to state, at most, a tort claim actionable in state court.
The Court offers no opinion on the merits of such a claim.

a claim brought under Section 1983. Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v.
Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 50 (1999). Plaintiff’s claim against a media
news team alleges only private conduct and does not state a claim under
Section 1983.
IT IS, THEREFORE, BY THE COURT ORDERED this matter is dismissed
for failure to state a claim for relief.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED:

This 26th day of July, 2017, at Topeka, Kansas.

S/ Sam A. Crow
SAM A. CROW
U.S. Senior District Judge