Austin et al v. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development
Filing
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's Motion for Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction (#15) is GRANTED for the reasons stated herein on this day, May 1, 2013, at 4:30 p.m.; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant is enjoined from selling "All of Lots 23 and 24, Lingo Ranchette No. 2, as shown by plat on file in the office of Recorder of Deeds of Ripley County, Missouri," which is currently set for Trustee's Sale on May 6, 2013, b etween 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., until such time as a hearing on a preliminary injunction may be heard on this matter by the Court of Federal Claims or this Court. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's Motion to Expedite Hearing (#16) is GRANTE D; IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the event the Court of Federal Claims does not assume jurisdiction over this case, a hearing on preliminary injunction will be set at a later date by this Court.IT IS FINALLY ORDERED plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint(#17) is held in abeyance pending transfer of this matter to the Court of Federal Claims. Signed by District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr on 5/1/2013. (JMC)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
PHYLLIS AUSTIN and
PENELOPE BURRIS,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
U.S.D.A., RURAL HOUSING SERVICE,
Defendant.
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Case No. 1:12-cv-137 SNLJ
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Plaintiffs Phyllis Austin and Penelope Burris brought this action against defendant Rural
Housing Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, in the Circuit Court
of Ripley County, Missouri. Defendant removed this case to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§
1446(a) & 1442(a)(1) on August 6, 2012 (#1). Subsequently, plaintiffs’ attorney, Paul Kidwell,
advised plaintiffs and this Court that he would not represent them in federal court, so plaintiffs
are proceeding pro se. On November 6, 2012, defendant filed a motion to dismiss for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction (#6), arguing that the Tucker Act and Little Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. §
1491(a) & § 1346(a)(2), respectively, apply to vest exclusive subject matter jurisdiction over this
claim with the Court of Federal Claims. On December 13, 2012, plaintiffs filed a “Motion to
Change Venue” and requested that this Court transfer the case to the Court of Federal Claims
(#12). This Court denied defendant’s motion and granted plaintiff’s motion on March 15, 2013
(#13), and the Clerk transferred the case the same day (#14).
On April 30, 2013, plaintiffs filed a Motion for Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order
and Preliminary Injunction (#15), as well as a Motion to Expedite Hearing (#16), and Motion for
Leave to File Amended Complaint (#17).
At the outset, the Court notes that this case was closed after the Clerk transferred the case
to the Court of Federal Claims. However, the Court of Federal Claims has not yet opened the
case, presumably in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1292, which states as follows:
When a motion to transfer an action to the Court of Federal Claims is filed in a
district court, no further proceedings shall be taken in the district court until 60
days after the court has ruled upon the motion. If an appeal is taken from the
district court’s grant or denial of the motion, proceedings shall be further stayed
until the appeal has been decided by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The stay of proceedings in the district court shall not bar the granting of
preliminary or injunctive relief, where appropriate and where expedition is
reasonably necessary. However, during the period in which proceedings are
stayed as provided in this subparagraph, no transfer to the Court of Federal Claims
pursuant to the motion shall be carried out.
28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(4)(B) (emphasis added). Thus, this Court has jurisdiction to hear plaintiffs’
motion now.
Plaintiffs’ claim is based on defendant’s construction loan made to them for construction
of their home in Doniphan, Missouri. Plaintiffs contracted with BARCO Construction to build
the new home, but BARCO did not perform as promised and ultimately abandoned the job.
Plaintiffs allege that defendant exacerbated the damages already done to them by BARCO in a
number of ways. Plaintiffs thus claim breach of contract against defendant and claim damages in
excess of $25,000. Plaintiffs are currently living in the home, but plaintiff Austin avers that the
home has been foreclosed on.
Plaintiffs filed the instant motion for a temporary restraining order because they were
recently advised that the defendant intends to sell their home at a Trustee’s Sale on Monday, May
6, 2013. Both plaintiffs, a mother and daughter, are disabled and suffer from serious medical
problems. They contend they will be irreparably injured if defendant sells their home and renders
them homeless.
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Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 governs preliminary injunctions and temporary
restraining orders. Temporary restraining orders may be issued without notice to the adverse
party only under certain circumstances. Although the government has been provided with notice
of plaintiffs’ motion, the government has not responded.
“Whether a preliminary injunction should issue involves consideration of (1) the threat of
irreparable harm to the movant; (2) the state of the balance between this harm and the injury that
granting the injunction will inflict on other parties litigant; (3) the probability that movant will
succeed on the merits; and (4) the public interest.” Dataphase Sys., Inc. v. C L Sys., Inc., 640
F.2d 109, 113 (8th Cir. 1981).
Plaintiffs have amply demonstrated that they will be irreparably harmed if the defendant
sells their home on May 6. Plaintiffs live in the home, which was built for them in order to help
them live with their disabilities. Plaintiffs’ disabilities will allegedly make homelessness
particularly devastating on their health and well-being. Moreover, the property itself is evidence
in this case and in a case pending in state court, and selling the home will almost certainly result
in changes to the home.
The harm to the defendant is likely very small. Delaying the sale of the home — which
the defendant knew to be the subject of active litigation — is not likely to harm the government
except perhaps monetarily. However, as indicated, the government knew that this property was
in active litigation and may have mitigated any harm by considering that fact before planning to
sell the property.
The public interest would be served by preserving the status quo. Depriving the plaintiffs
of their home and allowing destruction of evidence for this case and their state-court action is not
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in the public interest. Although taxpayer money is presumably at issue on the part of the
defendant, the amount at stake vis a vis selling the home now verus later is likely negligible.
Finally, as to the plaintiffs’ likelihood of success, the Court observes that “where the
movant has raised a substantial question and the equities are otherwise strongly in his favor, the
showing of success on the merits can be less.” Dataphase Sys., Inc., 640 F.2d at 113. Plaintiffs’
breach of contract claim against defendant appears fact-intensive, but the facts they allege, if
proven, may support their claim. As summarized in defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (#7), the
facts alleged are as follows:
Defendant, an Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, made a
loan to Plaintiffs for construction of a home in Doniphan, Missouri. Plaintiffs, in
turn, contracted with BARCO Construction to build the new home. BARCO
Construction did not perform as promised, resulting in defects in work and
omissions from plans. BARCO Construction failed to respond to Plaintiffs'
requests, and ultimately abandoned the job. Plaintiffs sought assistance from
Defendant, both in regards to remedying BARCO Construction's performance,
and in obtaining substitute performance after BARCO Construction abandoned
the job. Defendant failed to assist Plaintiffs, and in fact, took actions which
exacerbated the damages, including:
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Failing to properly inspect the premises;
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Paying BARCO amounts in excess of that required by Defendant’s
regulations;
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Withholding loan funds under the premise that BARCO Construction may
be entitled to the funds;
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Discouraging other contractors from finishing the job;
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Failing to provide basic information about the loan;
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Converting the construction loan into a permanent loan despite the home
not being completed; and
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Charging a higher rate of interest for the permanent loan than agreed.
Plaintiffs allege that such actions constitute breach of contract. They have supplied detailed
affidavits and exhibits in support of their claims. Thus, in light of the equities at stake, the Court
finds that the plaintiffs have adequately shown that a “substantial question” is raised, and an
injunction is warranted.
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The defendant has received notice of plaintiff’s motion, and counsel for defendant was
contacted by the Court for purposes of setting the matter for hearing. Counsel for defendant
agreed not to oppose the grant of the Temporary Restraining Order pending the Court of Federal
Claims’s assumption of jurisdiction over this case.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion for Ex Parte Temporary Restraining
Order and Preliminary Injunction (#15) is GRANTED for the reasons stated herein on this day,
May 1, 2013, at 4:30 p.m.;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant is enjoined from selling “All of Lots 23
and 24, Lingo Ranchette No. 2, as shown by plat on file in the office of Recorder of Deeds of
Ripley County, Missouri,” which is currently set for Trustee’s Sale on May 6, 2013, between
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., until such time as a hearing on a preliminary injunction may be heard
on this matter by the Court of Federal Claims or this Court.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s Motion to Expedite Hearing (#16) is
GRANTED;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the event the Court of Federal Claims does not
assume jurisdiction over this case, a hearing on preliminary injunction will be set at a later date
by this Court.
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint
(#17) is held in abeyance pending transfer of this matter to the Court of Federal Claims.
Dated this 1st day of May, 2013.
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STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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