Owens v. Dallas County Community College District

Filing 24

Order Accepting Findings and Recommendations re: 4 Motion to Dismiss filed by Dallas County Community College District. The court grants 4 Defendan'ts Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's TCHRA, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, defamation, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, supervision, training, and retention claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; and dismisses with prejudice these claims. The court denies 4 Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Title VII and ADA claims; and directs Plaintiff to file an amended pleading by August 9, 2017. (Ordered by Judge Sam A Lindsay on 7/26/2017) (svc) Modified on 7/26/2017 (gr).

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
LARRY OWENS,
Plaintiff,
v.
DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE DISTRICT,
Defendant.

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Civil Action No. 3:16-CV-3162-L

ORDER
Before the court is Defendant Dallas County Community College District’s Motion to
Dismiss Plaintiff’s Original Petition (Doc. 4), filed November 17, 2016. On May 16, 2017,
Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney entered the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation of
the United States Magistrate Judge (“Report”), recommending that Defendant’s motion to dismiss
be granted in part and denied in part. Specifically, the Report recommends granting the motion
with respect to Plaintiff’s TCHRA claim and dismissing it as barred by the two-year statute of
limitations. The Report also recommends granting the motion with respect to Plaintiff’s 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983, defamation, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring,
supervision, training, and retention claims, and dismissing them as barred by “sovereign
immunity.” 1 Further, the Report recommends denying the motion with respect to Plaintiff’s Title

1

Courts and practitioners often use the terms “sovereign immunity” and “governmental immunity” synonymously.
The terms, however, are not the same. “Sovereign immunity” pertains to the State of Texas’s immunity from suit and
liability. On the other hand, “governmental immunity” shields cities, counties, school districts and other political
subdivisions of the State from suit and liability. Wichita Falls State Hosp. v. Taylor, 106 S.W.3d 692, 694 n.3 (Tex.
2003) (citations omitted). This action involves Dallas County Community College District, which is a governmental
entity created pursuant to the Texas Education Code. See Tex. Educ. Code §§ 130.005, 130.176. Accordingly, the
court uses the term “governmental immunity” instead of “sovereign immunity.”

Order – Page 1

VII and ADA claims and providing Plaintiff an opportunity to amend his pleadings to cure the
deficiencies set forth in the Report. No objections were filed to the Report.
Having reviewed the motion, record, Report, and applicable law, the court determines that
the findings and conclusions of the magistrate judge are correct, and accepts them as those of the
court. As Plaintiff and Defendant agree that Plaintiff’s state law claims and 42 U.S.C. § 1983
claim are barred by governmental immunity, the court will dismiss with prejudice those claims.
Additionally, the court will not rule on the admissibility of Plaintiff’s evidence that supports these
claims, as an evidentiary ruling at this stage in the proceedings would be premature. Accordingly,
the court grants Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s TCHRA, 42 U.S.C. § 1983,
defamation, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, supervision,
training, and retention claims for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; and
dismisses with prejudice these claims.

The court denies Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss

Plaintiff’s Title VII and ADA claims; and directs Plaintiff to file an amended pleading by August
9, 2017. Failure to plead in accordance with the standard set forth in the Report 2 may result in
dismissal for failure to prosecute or comply with a court order pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or dismissal with prejudice pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Defendants may file a
second motion to dismiss if it has adequate grounds that the pleadings are deficient.
It is so ordered this 26th day of July, 2017.

_________________________________
Sam A. Lindsay
United States District Judge

2

See also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009); Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 555, 570
(2007).

Order – Page 2