DOE-GC v. City of Waller et al

Filing 40

MEMORANDUM AND OPINION entered MOOTING #39 MOTION to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12 (b)(1) and 12 (b)(6). This case remains closed. (Signed by Chief Judge Lee H Rosenthal) Parties notified.(leddins, 4)

Case 4:22-cv-00118 Document 40 Filed on 05/10/22 in TXSD Page 1 of 1
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas

ENTERED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
GRACIE CATES,
Plaintiff,
v.
CITY OF WALLER, ET AL.,
Defendants.

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May 10, 2022
Nathan Ochsner, Clerk

CIVIL ACTION NO. H-22-118

MEMORANDUM & OPINION
Gracie Cates sued ten defendants in this civil action alleging federal claims under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 and §1985, and state law claims for assault and civil conspiracy. Two defendants, the City
of Waller and Waller County, moved to dismiss Cates’s federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
and §1985. On April 19, 2022, this court granted the motion. The court held that Cates not only
failed to plausibly allege the existence of a policy or custom necessary to hold the City and County
liable under §§ 1983 and 1985, but also failed to plead the existence of a constitutional injury from
any city or county actor. (Docket Entry No. 38, at 8–9). The court therefore dismissed Cates’s
federal claims with prejudice, and dismissed Cates’s state law claims without prejudice so that
Cates could refile any state law claims in state court.
Brian Dasher, one of the detectives who investigated Cates’s sexual assault allegations, has
now moved to dismiss this lawsuit under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (Docket Entry No. 39). The
motion is moot. This court dismissed Cates’s federal claims as to all defendants, because she did
not allege any plausible constitutional violations necessary to proceed on her § 1983 and § 1985
claims, and because further amendment would be futile. This case remains closed.
SIGNED on May 10, 2022, at Houston, Texas.
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Lee H. Rosenthal
Chief United States District Judge