Neville v. Luangphasy

Filing 17

ORDER by Judge Benjamin H. Settle granting 14 Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. This case is terminated. **3 PAGE(S), PRINT ALL**(David Neville, Prisoner ID: 897785)(TG)

1
2
3
4
5
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT TACOMA

6
7
8

DAVID NEVILLE,

CASE NO. C17-5119 BHS
Plaintiff,

9
10

v.

ORDER GRANTING
DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR
JUDGMENT ON PLEADINGS

ALLY LUANGPHASY,

11

Defendant.

12
13

This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Ally Luangphasy’s

14

(“Defendant”) motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. 14). The Court has considered

15

the pleadings filed in support of the motion and the remainder of the file and hereby

16

grants/denies the motion for the reasons stated herein.

17
18

I.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On Janaury 10, 2017, Plaintiff David Neville (“Neville”) filed a complaint against

19

Defendant in the Clark County Superior Court for the State of Washington. Dkt. 1-2.

20

Neville alleges that Defendant’s faulty investigation as a caseworker for the state’s child

21

services department led to an inaccurate and harmful placement decision regarding his

22

child. Id. After Neville was convicted and incarcerated for several crimes, Defendant

ORDER - 1

1

conducted an investigation resulting in Neville’s son being removed from his biological

2

mother’s care and placed in another home. Id. Neville contends that Defendant should

3

have placed his son with Neville’s sister and her husband. Id. Neville asserts a claim for

4

negligent investigation under state law, a claim for violation of his constitutional right to

5

family unity, and a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Id.

6

On February 14, 2017, Defendant removed the matter to this Court. Dkt. 1.

7

On March 31, 2017, Defendant filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings and

8

issued a Rand notice informing Neville of the need to respond to the dispositive motion.

9

Dkts. 14, 15. Neville, who is registered to receive electronic notice of documents filed in

10

the case, did not respond to Defendant’s motion.

11
12

II.

DISCUSSION

“After the pleadings are closed – but early enough not to delay trial – a party may

13

move for judgment on the pleadings.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). The pleadings are closed

14

for purposes of Rule 12(c) once a complaint and answer have been filed. Doe v. United

15

States, 419 F.3d 1058 (9th Cir. 2005). “Analysis under Rule 12(c) is ‘substantially

16

identical’ to analysis under Rule 12(b)(6) because, under both rules, a court must

17

determine whether the facts alleged in the complaint, taken as true, entitle the plaintiff to

18

a legal remedy.” Pit River Tribe v. Bureau of Land Mgmt., 793 F.3d 1147, 1155 (9th Cir.

19

2015) (quoting Chavez v. United States, 683 F.3d 1102, 1108 (9th Cir. 2012)).

20

In this case, Neville is not entitled to a legal remedy under the facts alleged in the

21

complaint. Regarding his federal claim, Neville fails to show a cause of action based on

22

the allegations of a “negligent investigation.” See Petcu v. State, 121 Wn. App. 36, 62–

ORDER - 2

1

67 (2004) (concluding no clearly established law for a “flawed investigation”).

2

Therefore, the Court grants Defendant’s motion on Neville’s federal claim.

3

Regarding Neville’s state law claims, he has failed to show that he exhausted his

4

administrative remedies. Washington statutes “preclude tort claims against the state

5

unless the plaintiff first files a tort claim with the state’s risk management office at least

6

60 days before commencing the action . . . .” Hyde v. Univ. of Washington Med. Ctr.,

7

186 Wn. App. 926, 929 (2015), review denied, 184 Wn.2d 1005 (2015). “Dismissal is

8

the proper remedy for failure to comply with these tort claim filing requirements.” Id.

9

Neville failed to file an administrative claim, so dismissal is the proper remedy.

10

III.

ORDER

11

Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant’s motion for judgment on the

12

pleadings (Dkt. 14) is GRANTED. The Clerk shall enter JUDGMENT against Neville

13

and close this case.

14

Dated this 25th day of May, 2017.

A

15
16

BENJAMIN H. SETTLE
United States District Judge

17
18
19
20
21
22

ORDER - 3