McDade v. Peterson & Ibold et al
Filing
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Memorandum Opinion and Order granting 2 plaintiff's Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissing complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. The Court further certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith. Judge Dan A. Polster (C,KA)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
SHANA McDADE,
Plaintiff,
v.
PETERSON & IBOLD, et al.,
Defendants.
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CASE NO. 1:15 CV 433
JUDGE
DAN
AARON
POLSTER
MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
AND ORDER
Plaintiff Shana McDade has filed this pro se action against an attorney who represented her
in a state lawsuit, and her attorney’s law firm. She has also filed application to proceed in forma
pauperis. (Doc. No. 2.)
The plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis is granted; but, for the reasons
stated below, the Court dismisses her complaint.
The plaintiff alleges she hired defendants to represent her “for representation in state court,
and was dissatisfied with the results.”1 She contends she has alleged “the necessary components
to make out a prima facie claim for legal malpractice.” She alleges the defendants undertook her
state case “without due diligence, due process, and protection of civil liberties” and refused her
1
Public records show the defendants represented the plaintiff in a case in the Ohio Court of
Claims, in which the plaintiff sought money damages from Cleveland State University after being
terminated from its accelerated baccalaureate nursing program for misconduct. The Ohio Court
of Claims granted the State summary judgment in the case, a decision the Ohio Court of Appeals
affirmed. See McDade v. Cleveland State University, Case No. 14AP-275 (Ohio App. 10th Dist.
Sept. 16, 2014).
request “to file and follow the case throughout federal court.” She seeks $10 million dollars in
damages, the “return of all legal fees paid to the Defendant,” and an “order declaring that the acts
[and] omissions and practices of Defendant constitute[] a pattern or practice that deprives [her] of
rights, privileges or immunities secured or protected by the constitution or laws of the United
States.”
Although pro se pleadings are “liberally construed” and held to “less stringent standards
than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers,” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007), 28 U.S.C.
§1915(e)(2) requires district courts to screen and dismiss any in forma pauperis that is frivolous,
fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who
is immune from such relief. Even when a plaintiff is not proceeding in forma pauperis, a district
court has an independent obligation to determine whether it has subject-matter jurisdiction over
an action before it. Kusens v. Pascal Co., Inc., 448 F.3d 349, 359 (6th Cir. 2006). The Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure provide: “If the court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter
jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
Federal courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over two basic categories of cases. The
court has federal question jurisdiction, which is jurisdiction over cases that “aris[e] under the
Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. §1331. Federal question jurisdiction
exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff’s well-pleaded
complaint. Mich. South. R.R. Co. v. St. Joseph Counties Rail Users Ass’n, Inc., 287 F.3d 568, 573
(6th Cir. 2002). In addition, the court has “diversity” jurisdiction, which is jurisdiction over cases
“where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000 . . . and is between . . .
citizens of different states.” 28 U.S.C. §1332. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that
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a complaint contain a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s jurisdiction. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 8(a)(1).
The plaintiff’s complaint does not contain a short and plain statement of the grounds for
federal subject-matter jurisdiction, and it is evident from the face of the complaint that such
jurisdiction does not exist. The only discernible cause of action alleged on the face of the plaintiff’s
complaint is a cause of action for legal malpractice, which arises under state – and not federal – law.
A federal question is not presented on the face of the plaintiff’s well-pleaded complaint, despite her
mere reference to the Constitution in her prayer for a declaratory judgment.2 In addition, there is
clearly no basis for this Court to exercise diversity jurisdiction, as the plaintiff’s filings indicate
she and the defendants are all citizens of Ohio. Therefore, diversity does not exist.
In sum, the facts alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint do not establish a basis for this Court
to exercise subject-matter jurisdiction in this case. Accordingly, this action is dismissed for lack
of subject-matter jurisdiction. The Court further certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that
an appeal from this decision could not be taken in good faith.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/Dan Aaron Polster 3/30/15
DAN AARON POLSTER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
2
The plaintiff also indicated on the civil cover sheet accompanying her complaint that her action
is a federal civil rights action, but even to the extent the plaintiff purports to bring a civil rights
cause of action her complaint fails to state a claim. The plaintiff sues only a retained private
attorney and his law firm in this case, and it is well-settled that private attorneys are not persons
acting under color of law who are subject to suit for constitutional violations. See James v. Mann,
234 F.3d 1268 (6th Cir.2000) (holding that retained attorney is not a person acting under color of
state law and is not subject to suit for constitutional violations under 42 U.S.C. §1983).
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