Darby v. DOT NHTSA

Filing 9

ORDER granting defendant's 6 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim signed by Judge Ricardo S Martinez.(RS) cc plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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Case No. C17-731RSM

IRIS DARBY,

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Plaintiff,

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO DISMISS

v.

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DOT NHTSA,

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Defendant.

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This matter came before the Court on Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.

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Dkt. #6.

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Defendant United States of America1 moves to dismiss this case pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) for

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failure to state a claim. Plaintiff Iris Darby has failed to file a timely Response or communicate

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with the Court in any fashion. The failure to file a response “may be considered by the court as
an admission that the motion has merit.” Local Civil Rule 7(b)(2).

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Plaintiff filed a Complaint in King County Superior Court on or about April 5, 2016,

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claiming that she “encountered excessive toll charges – both in dollar amounts and frequency of

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encounters” while driving across the country, and at each location, claims she was “badgered,

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Federal agencies, such as the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) and its component, the
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), cannot be sued in their own names for claims
cognizable under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”). In such suits, the United States of America is the real
party in interest. See 28, U.S.C. §§ 1346(b), 2679, et seq.

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS - 1

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harassed, ticketed or scolded at each encounter for not providing immediate funds.” Dkt. #1-1
at 4. On May 10, 2017, the United States removed to this Court. Dkt. #1.

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The Court agrees that the United States is the proper defendant in this matter, that

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Plaintiff’s suit fails to plead applicable statutory requirements under the Federal Tort Claims

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Act, and that Plaintiff has failed to meet the standard of pleading under Rule 8(a)(2) by
asserting how the NHTSA is responsible for her being “badgered, harassed, ticketed, or

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scolded” at various toll booths. See Dkt. #6 at 3-4. The Court therefore finds that Plaintiff’s

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Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and that dismissal is

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warranted.

Given the fundamental disparity between Plaintiff’s pled facts and the facts

necessary to bring a claim against Defendant, and given Plaintiff’s failure to respond to the
instant Motion, the Court sees no basis for granting leave to amend.

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Having reviewed the instant Motion, all evidence submitted in support of the motion,

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and the remainder of the record, the Court hereby finds and ORDERS that Defendant’s Motion

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to Dismiss (Dkt. #6) is GRANTED and all of plaintiff’s claims are DISMISSED. This case is

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CLOSED.

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DATED this 19 day of June, 2017.

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A

RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS - 2