Dowty v. State of South Dakota
Filing
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ORDER GRANTING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS, DENYING VARIOUS MOTIONS, AND DISMISSING CASE; granting in part and denying in part 3 ; denying 6 , 11 12 ; granting in part and denying in part 13 . Signed by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on 07/16/2012. (LH)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
EARL DAVID DOWTY,
Plaintiff,
vs.
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
Defendant.
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CIV 11-5101-RAL
ORDER GRANTING LEAVE
TO PROCEED IN FORMA
PAUPERIS, DENYING VARIOUS
MOTIONS, AND DISMISSING CASE
Plaintiff Earl D. Dowty filed his Complaint in this case on December 23, 2011. Dowty filed
a series of motions thereafter for various relief and monies.
This Court is familiar with Dowty based on his numerous prior federal cases. Dowty was
indicted on charges before this Court of being a felon in possession of firearm, possession of stolen
firearm, and aiding and abetting in United States v. Richards et ai, 11-cr-30008-RAL. Dowty also was
indicted before this Court on two counts offelon in possession of a firearm in United States v. Dowty.
II-cr-30026-RAL. In addition, Dowty was indicted before this Court on fraud in connection with
access device in United States v. Dowty, 11-cr-30027-RAL. As part ofa plea agreement, Dowty plead
guilty to one count of felon in possession ofa firearm in I I-cr-30026-RAL, with the other federal
charges being dismissed. This Court sentenced Dowty to a sentence of 120 months in the custody of
the Bureau ofPrisons, with supervised release ofthree years thereafter and responsibility for restitution
and a special assessment. United States v. Dowty, II-cr-30026-RAL, Doc. 38.
Dowty faced those federal charges following a spree of burglaries not within Indian country.
During one of the burglaries, a homeowner interrupted the burglary and observed two men, one of
whom fit Dowty's description, within his residence. The homeowner attempted to flee, but was shot
as he fled. Dowty is facing state court charges in Mellette County, South Dakota, arising out of the
burglaries and shooting of the homeowner, all of which occurred outside ofindian country. Dowty
presently is in state court custody awaiting trial on the state charges.
After receiving his federal court sentence and then being transferred to state court custody to
face the pending state charges, Dowty has filed a number of civil cases. This Court has screened and
allowed Dowty to proceed with two cases: I) a claim in II-civ-3025-RAL alleging that the person
responsible for his state custody-Sheriff Derris Waukazoo-has been deliberately indifferent to
Dowty's serious medical needs; and 2) a claim in 12-civ-4002-RAL alleging that certain law
enforcement officers violated Dowty's Fourth Amendment rights under Bivens v. Six Unknown
Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
This Court has screened and dismissed claims in a civil case that Dowty filed as 12-civ-3002RAL against the State ofSouth Dakota, prosecutor Michael Strain, Sheriff Derris Waukazoo, and state
court judge Mark Barnett. 12-civ-3002-RAL, Doc. 6. In 12-civ-3002-RAL, Dowty claimed that the
Eleventh and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, as well as the 1868 Treaty
of Fort Laramie deprived state officials of jurisdiction over him and the offenses that he allegedly
committed. This Court explained why Dowty's claims in 12-civ-3002-RAL did not survive initial
screening and why Dowty had no claim against the prosecuting attorney or the state court judge. 12civ-3002-RAL, Doc. 6. Dowty then appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth
Circuit, which recently summarily affirmed this Court's dismissal of Dowty's claims. 12-civ-3002RAL, Doc. 20.
This Court also screened and dismissed a civil case that Dowty brought against Sheriff Derris
Waukazoo, the Attorney General for the State of South Dakota, and Lori Kalenda, as 12-civ-3003RAL. Again, this Court explained why Dowty did not have viable claims. 12-civ-3003-RAL, Doc.
5. Again, Dowty appealed to the United States Court ofAppeals for the Eighth Circuit, which recently
summarily affirmed this Court's rulings and dismissal ofDowty 's claims in 12-civ-3003-RAL. 12-civ3003-RAL, Doc. 19.
In addition to this case and the other cases mentioned above, Dowty also has civil cases
pending under file numbers 12-civ-40 16-RAL and 12-civ-5039-RAL. This Court takes judicial notice
under Rule 2010fthe Federal Rules of Evidence of the filings in all of the above-mentioned cases.
This Court is required to "screen" complaints that seek redress from governmental entities or
employees. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. This Court is required to dismiss claims that are frivolous, malicious,
or fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. 28 U.S.c. § 1915A(b)(I). This Court, at this
stage ofthe case, assumes as true all well-pleaded facts in the Complaint. Cole v. Homier Distrib. Co.,
Inc., 599 F.3d 856, 861 (8th Cir. 20 I0). This Court construes pro se complaints liberally, but even a
pro se complaint must contain "specific facts supporting its conclusions." Allen v. Purkett, 5 F.3d
1151, 1153 (8th Cir. 1993). A complaint that is merely vague or conclusory in its allegations or
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contains unsupported generalizations is subject to dismissal. Beavers v. Lockhart, 755 F.2d 657, 663
(8th Cir. 1985). Of course, "[c]ivil rights pleadings should be construed liberally." Frey v. City of
Herculaneum, 44 F.3d 667, 671 (8th Cir. 1995).
In this case Dowty sues the State of South Dakota because he contests the jurisdiction of the
State to require him to pay court-ordered child support. Dowty, who is a Native American Indian,
asserts that the United States Constitution by giving Congress the power to regulate commerce with
Indian tribes deprives the state court of jurisdiction and that the 1851 and 1868 Treaties of Fort
Laramie place protection of the Tribe of which Dowty is a member with the federal government.
Dowty alleges that his daughter now is over 18 years of age and was born and has lived in Indian
country, so he ought to be relieved of responsibility to pay the approximately $17,000.00 he owes in
past-due child support. Doc. 1.
From his Complaint, Doc. I at I, 4, and through several motions, Doc. 6, Doc. I I, Doc. 12,
Doc. 13, Dowty requests to bypass this Court and have the matter decided by the United States Court
ofAppeals for the Eighth Circuit. Dowty also has filed a motion for a new judge, Doc. 3, and a motion
to amend his Complaint, Doc. 13, to add new defendants, namely a circuit court judge and the agency
of the State of South Dakota that collects child support.
The defendant that Dowty has named-the State of South Dakota-is a sovereign entity that
enjoys sovereign immunity, as does the state agency-the Department ofSocial Services-that Dowty
seeks to add. Edelman v. Jordan, 4 15 U.S. 651 (1974) (holding that the Eleventh Amendment bars
suit against a state by its own citizens); Florida Dept. of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Florida
Nursing Homes Assn., 450 U.S. 147 (1982) (holding an agency of the state is part of the state for
purposes of the Eleventh Amendment); Ford Motor Co. v. Department of Treasury, 323 U.S. 459
(1945) (same). Moreover, to contest the jurisdiction of the state court over Dowty or the amount of
child support, Dowty should have filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction in the state court
proceeding, appealed to the Supreme Court of South Dakota if he lost on his challenge to state
jurisdiction, and then petitioned for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States ifhe
were to have lost before the Supreme Court of South Dakota. Dowty cannot collaterally attack
jurisdiction in a state court matter, apparently years after the fact, by filing this federal court case now.
Congress has given full faith and credit to state child support orders under 28 U.S.C. § I738B.
Congress has not established federal court jurisdiction to collaterally attack state child support orders
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years after the fact for being based on an absence ofjurisdiction.
Dowty's claims against any state court judge likewise fail. South Dakota circuit courts are
courts of general jurisdiction. Article V, § 5 of the South Dakota Constitution provides, in part:
The circuit courts have original jurisdiction in all cases except as to any
limited original jurisdiction granted to other courts by the Legislature.
The circuit courts and judges thereof have the power to issue, hear and
determine all original and remedial writs. The circuit courts have such
appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law.
Thus, state court judges had subject matter jurisdiction over child support cases.
The doctrine of judicial immunity is well-established. "Few doctrines were more solidly
established at common law than the immunity ofjudges from liability for damages for acts committed
within their judicial jurisdiction [.J" Pierson v. Ray. 386 U.S. 547, 553-54 (1967). Judicial immunity
is an immunity from suit, not just from the ultimate assessment of damages. Mireles v. Waco, 502
U.S. 9, II (1991) (per curiam). "A judge is absolutely immune from liability if(l) the judge had
subject matter jurisdiction, and (2) the acts complained of were judicial acts." Childs v. Reynoldson,
777 F.2d 1305, 1306 (8th Cir. 1985) (internal citations omitted). Dowty'sComplaint sues Judge Fuller
in his capacity as a circuit court judge. The purported constitutional violations Dowty complains
Const.ofrelate to Dowty's state child support case which Judge Fuller has subject matter jurisdiction.
See S.D. Const., Art. V, § 5. Because Judge Fuller is acting within his subject matter jurisdiction, he
is entitled to absolute judicial immunity. See Coleman v. Watt, 40 F.3d 255, 259 (8th Cir. 1994)
(holding that because subject matter of state judge's action fell within the court's statutory grant of
jurisdiction, the judge was entitled to judicial immunity). Dowty's claims against Judge Fuller thus
fail to state a claim upon which reliefmay be granted and are dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.c. § 1915.
In his motion to amend the complaint Dowty seeks to add Jeff W. Davis in his capacity as a
circuit court judge. Doc. 13 at I. Any claims against Judge Davis are barred by judicial immunity for
the same reasons as claims against Judge Fuller. Dowty's claims against Judge Davis thus fail to state
a claim upon which relief may be granted and are dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
Nothing in the Indian Commerce Clause ofthe Constitution or the Fort Laramie Treaties gives
Dowty a cause of action. The Indian Commerce Clause is a grant of authority to Congress and not a
provision that deprives states ofall jurisdiction over Native Americans or child support cases involving
Native Americans. Dowty's claim ofa lack of state jurisdiction involves the Treaties of Fort Laramie.
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Dowty does not specify what treaty rights he believes Defendants violated or how, other than that the
State of South Dakota exercised jurisdiction over him. Cases alleging that the 1868 Treaty of Ft.
Laramie deprives states of jurisdiction typically rely upon the "bad men" clause. The "bad men"
clause provided that:
If bad men among the Indians shall commit a wrong or depredation
upon the person or property of anyone, white, black, or Indian, subject
to the authority ofthe United States, and at peace therewith, the Indians
herein named solemnly agree that they will, upon proof made to their
agent and notice by him, deliver up the wrong-doer to the United
States, to be tried and punished according to its laws ...
Art. I, paragraph 3,1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, 15. Stat. 635.
The 1868 Treaty ofFort Laramie was between the Sioux Nation and the United States. Dowty
apparently was a defendant in South Dakota state court proceeding that involved child support
obligations. The Defendants sued by Dowty and the Defendants which Dowty wishes to add are the
State of South Dakota state officials and employees. The State of South Dakota was not a party to the
treaty and did not yet exist when the treaty was signed. It is true that much of the State of South
Dakota once was part of the Great Sioux Reservation under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. For
historical reasons, American Indians have reason to criticize federal government polices and laws that
led to contraction oflndian country both before and following the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. For
legal reasons that control in this Court, the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie does not deprive state courts
ofjurisdiction in matters such as child support. See Rosebud Sioux Tribe v. Kneip, 430 U.S. 584,614
(1977) (holding that Congress intended to diminish the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian
Reservation and that a 1910 Act of Congress detached Mellette County from the Reservation); Major
Crimes Act, 18 U.S.c. § 1153 (abrogating "bad men" clause of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868).
Dowty has filed a series of motions in this case. The first such motion is for a new judge, but
contains a request to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. 3. The Prison Litigation Reform Act, 28 U.S.c.
§ 1915, requires prisoners to make an initial partial filing payment where possible. Determination of
the partial filing fee is calculated according to 28 U.S.c. § 1915(b)(l), which requires 20 percent of
the greater of: (a) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account; or (b) the average monthly
balance in the prisoner's account for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the
complaint or notice of appeal. Dowty's application represents that he has no funds whatsoever,
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including no funds in his inmate trust account.
Under Section 1915(b)(4), no prisoner shall be
prohibited from bringing a civil action by reason of the prisoner having no assets and no means to
make an initial partial filing fee. However, Dowty will have to pay the entire $350.00 filing fee over
the course of time, regardless of whether he obtains any relief from this action.
Dowty's motion to amend complaint, Doc. 13, is granted, but for the reasons contained in this
opinion, his amended complaint is subject to dismissal. Dowty's remaining motions seek to leave this
Court to appeal to the Eighth Circuit, which Dowty will be able to do once this Court entersjudgment.
For good cause, it is hereby
ORDERED that the portion of the pleading containing Dowty's Motion to Proceed In Forma
Pauperis, Doc. 3., is granted and that his motion to amend, Doc. 13, is granted. It is further
ORDERED that the institution having custody of Dowty is hereby directed that whenever the
amount in Dowty's trust account exceeds $10.00, monthly payments that equal 20 percent ofthe funds
credited to the account the preceding month be forwarded to the United States District Court Clerk,
225 South Pierre Street, Pierre, South Dakota, 57501, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2), until Dowty
has paid the $350.00 filing fee in full. It is further
ORDERED that the motions filed by Dowty as Doc. 6, I I, and 12, and the remaining requests
in Doc. 3 and Doc. 13 (those other than to proceed in forma pauperis and to amend the complaint) are
denied. It is further
ORDERED that Dowty's claims are dismissed under screening of28 U.S.c. § 1915A as nonmeritorious and frivolous.
Dated July 16, 2012.
BY THE COURT:
ROBERTO A. LANGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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