Goodwin v. New Orleans City et al

Filing 192

ORDER AND REASONS granting 175 MOTION to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction. Claims against Tony Hebert, Daniel Rodriguez, Fred Tombar, Debra Alexander, and the United States of America are hereby DISMISSED. FURTHER ORDER denying 177 MOTION to Vacate 135 Order referencing of HUD employees being named as one defendant USA. FURTHER ORDER that claims against Kelly B. Dorfman be and hereby are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Susie Morgan on 2/4/14. (tsf)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
REV. DENINAH GOODWIN
Plaintiff

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

No. 11-1397

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF
NEW ORLEANS, et al.,
Defendants

SECTION “E”

ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss filed by defendants Tony Hebert, Fred
Tombar, Daniel Rodriguez, Deborah Alexander (the "HUD Defendants") and the United
States of America.1 Pro se plaintiff Deninah Goodwin ("Rev. Goodwin") opposes the Federal
Defendants' motion.2 The Court also will consider whether claims against defendant Kelly
Dorfman should be dismissed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m).
BACKGROUND
Rev. Goodwin sued a number of federal and state government agencies, as well as
various officials within the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
("HUD").3 On July 25, 2013, the Court found the HUD Defendants had not been properly
served under Rule 4 in either their individual or official capacities (the "July 25 Order").4

1

R. Doc. 175

2

R. Doc. 182.

3

With respect to the HUD Defendants, Tony Hebert, Fred Tombar, and Daniel Rodriguez were all
sued in both their official capacity and their individual capacity. Deborah Alexander was sued in her
official capacity only.
4

R. Doc. 135. The Court found service was improper after the HUD Defendants moved to dismiss
Rev. Claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) and Rule 4(m).

1

The Court allowed Rev. Goodwin "one final chance" to perfect service on the HUD
Defendants no later than August 15, 2013.5 The Court ordered Rev. Goodwin to file into the
record proof of service no later than August 22, 2013.6 If Rev. Goodwin failed to perfect
service by the August 15, 2013 deadline, the Court granted the HUD Defendants the
opportunity to re-urge their 12(b)(5) motion, to be filed no later than August 30, 2013.7 The
Court also found defendant Kelly Dorfman had not been served properly, and ordered Rev.
Goodwin to show good cause, in writing, why her claims against Ms. Dorfman should not
be dismissed, pursuant to Rule 4(m), for failure to timely serve a copy of her second
amended complaint on Ms. Dorfman.8
On August 9, 2013, the United States of America was substituted for the HUD
Defendants in their official capacity with respect to Rev. Goodwin's tort claims against
them.9 Rev. Goodwin then filed a Motion to Vacate the order substituting the United States
as defendant in place of the HUD Defendants.10
On August 27, 2013, the HUD Defendants, along with the United States, moved to
dismiss Rev. Goodwin's claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), (5) and (6)
for lack of jurisdiction, failure to state a claim, and for failure to properly effect service of

5

R. Doc. 135, p. 29. The Court found the HUD defendants had not been properly served in their
individual or official capacity.
6

Id.

7

Id., p. 30.

8

R. Doc. 135, p. 4.

9

R. Doc. 155. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, suits against the United States are the exclusive
remedy for persons with claims for damages resulting from the tortious actions of federal employees taken
within the scope of their office or employment. 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1). Accordingly, the United States of
America is substituted as the sole defendant with respect to those claims.
10

R. Doc. 177.

2

process.
ANALYSIS
The record reflects Rev. Goodwin has not complied with the Court's July 25 Order
to serve the HUD Defendants no later than August 15, 2013. On the August 15, 2013
deadline, Rev. Goodwin filed a Motion for an Extension, seeking additional time to serve
defendants and to make certain appeals.11 The Court denied Rev. Goodwin's request for an
extension.12 Since then, Rev. Goodwin has not served, or attempted to serve, any of the
HUD Defendants or the United States with her second amended complaint. The
substitution of the United States for the HUD Defendants in their official capacity did not
change Rev. Goodwin's obligation to properly effect service and comply with the Court's
July 25 Order.13
Having found Rev. Goodwin failed to effect service of process by the August 15, 2013
deadline, IT IS ORDERED that the Motion to Dismiss be and hereby is GRANTED.14
The Court also finds the substitution of the United States for the HUD Defendants
in their official capacity was proper.15 Accordingly, IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Rev.

11

R. Doc. 160.

12

R. Doc. 176.

13

As the July 25 Order explained, service on the United States or an employee sued in an official
capacity is achieved by sending a copy of the summons and the complaint by registered or certified mail to
the agency, corporation, officer, or employee. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(2). Thus, the method of service did
not change after the United States substituted the HUD Defendants.
14

Because Rev. Goodwin has not properly effected service of process on the HUD Defendants or
the United States, the Court need not discuss the merits of the parties' Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6)
arguments.
15

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1), suits against the United States are the sole remedy for persons
with claims for damages resulting from tortious actions of federal employees taken within the scope of
their employment.

3

Goodwin's Motion to Vacate is DENIED.
Rev. Goodwin filed a response on August 15, 2013 to the Court's July 25 Order to
show cause why her claims against Ms. Dorfman should not be dismissed for failure to
timely serve the second amended complaint.16 Rev. Goodwin's response does not show she
has properly served Ms. Dorfman or any other compelling reasons why her claims against
Ms. Dorfman should not be dismissed. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Rev. Goodwin's
claims against Ms. Dorfman be and hereby are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

4th
New Orleans, Louisiana, this ____ day of February, 2014.
_____________________________
SUSIE MORGAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

16

R. Doc. 161.

4