King, Christopher v. State of Wisconsin et al
Filing
79
ORDER that all pending motions to dismiss (dkts. 2 - 5 , 22 , 30 ) are GRANTED. The Litchfield defendants' motions to strike (dkts. 46 , 59 ) are DENIED as moot. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 4/27/2020. (rks),(ps)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
CHRISTOPHER KING,
Plaintiff,
OPINION AND ORDER
v.
19-cv-63-wmc
STATE OF WISCONSIN, et al.,
Defendants.
In this lawsuit, plaintiff Christopher King alleges broadly that the state Office of
Lawyer Regulation (“OLR”) and others conspired with mortgage lenders or servicers to
fabricate documents for the purpose of foreclosing on homeowners. King further claims
that defendants violated his state and federal constitutional rights when he attempted to
investigate and document this conspiracy. The issues before the court are (1) whether the
case was properly removed (dkt. #19) and (2) whether King’s claims should be dismissed
(dkts. #2-5, 22, 30). Ultimately, the court concludes that removal was proper and that
King’s suit against all defendants is barred by various jurisdictional and procedural
doctrines and must be dismissed.1
BACKGROUND AND ALLEGATIONS OF FACT2
This suit is one of a trio of cases originally brought as a single lawsuit in state court
Also pending before the court are two motions to strike filed by the Litchfield defendants. (Dkts.
#46, 59.) Because the court is dismissing this case in its entirety, these motions will be denied as
moot.
1
The allegations of fact proffered in plaintiff’s complaint are taken as true for the purpose of
deciding defendants’ various motions to dismiss, with all plausible inferences drawn in plaintiff’s
favor. See Cincinnati Life Ins. Co. v. Beyrer, 722 F.3d 939, 946 (7th Cir. 2013).
2
by three plaintiffs: Christopher King (the plaintiff in the instant case), Wendy Alison
Nora, and Roger Rinaldi. The case was removed to federal court and was initially assigned
to me. In an abundance of caution over asserted conflicts, the court subsequently severed
each of the three plaintiffs’ claims into separate cases, and assigned Nora’s and Rinaldi’s
cases (Nos. 19-cv-62 & 19-cv-3) to Judge James Peterson. On August 13, 2019, Judge
Peterson dismissed Rinaldi’s case on the basis that he did not bring any plausible claims
for relief. And on November 12, 2019, Nora’s case was remanded by stipulation back to
state court for resolution. As a result, only King’s portion of the claims is still before me,
although the first amended complaint remains the “operative pleading”3 and names fifteen
defendants, who are broken up into the following groups:
•
Mark Rattan, Stephanie Dykeman, and Litchfield Cavo, LLP (“the Litchfield
defendants”);
•
The OLR, the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Chief Justice
Patience Roggensack, Attorney General Brad Schimel, Keith Sellen, Travis
Stieren, Robert Kasieta, Theron Edward Parsons IV, Edward Hannan, and
James Winiarski (“the State defendants”); and
•
Wells Fargo Bank, NA (“Wells Fargo”).
(See First Amended Complaint (hereinafter “FAC”) (dkt. #2-2) 11-15.)
In a nutshell, the complaint alleges Nora and Rinaldi provided the OLR with
evidence that members of the Wisconsin bar were engaged in a conspiracy to fabricate false
documents, which were then used to foreclose on homes in Wisconsin, including Rinaldi’s
On February 19, 2019, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. (Dkt.
#49.) The court granted in part and denied in part plaintiff’s motion, explaining: “Plaintiff need
not file an additional amended complaint because the first amended complaint -- the operative
pleading -- shall be deemed to seek declaratory and prospective relief. The motion is denied in all
other respects for the same reason set forth in the court's previous order (dkt. #18).” (Dkt. #50.)
3
2
own home. At the time, Nora was still a licensed, practicing attorney and had represented
Rinaldi and others in foreclosure proceedings.
Rather than investigating this alleged
wrongdoing by other attorneys, however, King claims that the OLR initiated disciplinary
proceedings against Nora. In particular, the OLR conducted a disciplinary hearing against
Nora on March 23, 2017.
The complaint explains that plaintiff “King, a journalist and videographer,”
attended the disciplinary hearing “for the purpose of making a visual record.” (Id. ¶ 114.)
Nevertheless, at the hearing, attorney Mark Rattan allegedly “physically assaulted” King
to prevent him from recording the proceedings. (Id. ¶ 116.) According to King, James
Winiarski -- the referee over the hearing -- did “not even admonish Rattan” for the assault,
but “instead expressed his own discomfort with the presence of King, in the capacity of
what he himself characterized as ‘the press.’” (Id. ¶ 118.) Worse, the next day, after
“express[ing] his intention to lodge a complaint for violation of his rights,” King was further
removed by Referee Winiarski from even being present at the ongoing proceedings. (Id. ¶
119.) King also complains that Keith Sellen, the Director of OLR, abused his discretion
in responding to King’s grievance against attorney Rattan by only requiring that Rattan
complete a diversion program, the outcome of which “was likely to be no more severe than
a private reprimand.” (Id. ¶¶ 158-60.)
Based on these allegations, King claims that the Wisconsin Lawyer Regulation
System (“LRS”) is unconstitutional on its face and “as applied.” He also claims that
defendants’ conduct during and related to Nora’s disciplinary hearing violated a variety of
his state and federal constitutional rights. To remedy these violations, King seeks damages,
3
injunctive relief, and declaratory relief.4
OPINION
I. Removal
The initial complaint was filed in state court on April 9, 2018. Then, on October
9, 2018, a first amended complaint was filed, which added for the first time the Litchfield
defendants. Service of process on the Litchfield defendants was at least attempted, if not
accomplished, on December 9 and 10, 2018. Subsequently, the Litchfield defendants filed
a notice of removal to federal court on January 2, 2019, in which all other defendants
joined.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(2)(B), a defendant has 30 days from receipt or service
of an “initial pleading or summons” to file a notice of removal.
Here, the Lichfield
defendants were not named in the initial complaint, and service as to those defendants was
not accomplished until December 9, and 10, 2018. So the January 2, 2019, notice of
removal was timely served as to the then only recently named Litchfield defendants, but
untimely as to the defendants originally named in and served with the initial complaint.
In its January 18, 2019, conference with the parties, the court requested briefing as
to whether the thirty-day deadline for removal runs from the last defendant receiving or
being served with the complaint. (Dkt. #18.) Having now reviewed that briefing (see dkts.
#19, 38), the court is satisfied that removal was proper and timely. See Knudsen v. Liberty
Although the complaint refers frequently to an alleged “RICO/WOCCA enterprise,” the plaintiffs
expressly sought to “reserve their pleading of [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(“RICO”)]/[Wisconsin Organized Crime Control Act (“WOCCA”)] damages claims.” (Id. ¶ 36.)
4
4
Mut. Ins. Co., 411 F.3d 805, 807 (7th Cir. 2005) (“[A]n amendment to the pleadings that
. . . adds a new defendant, opens a new window of removal.”). This holding mirrors Judge
Peterson’s decision as to the same issue in the related Rinaldi case. See Rinaldi v. State of
Wisconsin, No. 19-cv-3, *3-4 (W.D. Wis. Aug. 13, 2019).
II. Motions to Dismiss
Also before the court are three motions to dismiss by the defendants in this case.
The Litchfield defendants argue that (1) the second amended summons was fundamentally
defective and, therefore, fatal to jurisdiction; and (2) defendant Dykeman was not properly
served and should be dismissed from the case. (Litchfield Defs.’ Br. (dkt. #2-5) 1.) Wells
Fargo also argues that the second amended summons was fundamentally defective, and it
further contends that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
(Wells Fargo Br. (dkt. #23) 1.)
Finally, the State defendants advance a number of
arguments, including lack of personal jurisdiction, various immunity defenses, failure to
serve a written notice of claims, and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted. (State Defs.’ Br. (dkt. #31) 4.) The court will first consider the arguments made
by the Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo, and will then turn to the arguments
advanced by the State defendants.
A. Litchfield Defendants and Wells Fargo
1. Defective Summons
Both the Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo argue that this court lacks
jurisdiction over them because the only summons served on them -- the second amended
5
summons -- was fundamentally defective. (Litchfield Defs.’ Br. (dkt. #2-5); Wells Fargo
Br. (dkt. #23).)5
“Before a federal court may exercise personal jurisdiction over a
defendant, the procedural requirement of service of summons must be satisfied.” Omni
Capital Int'l, Ltd. v. Rudolf Wolff & Co., 484 U.S. 97, 104 (1987). “This right is not waived
by filing a petition for removal to federal court.” Silva v. City of Madison, 69 F.3d 1368,
1376 (7th Cir. 1995). Where, as here, a party challenges service that was attempted before
removal, “federal courts in removed cases look to the law of the forum state . . . to
determine whether service of process was perfected prior to removal.” Wallace v. Microsoft
Corp., 596 F.3d 703, 706 (10th Cir. 2010); see also Freight Terminals, Inc. v. Ryder Sys., Inc.,
461 F.2d 1046, 1052 (5th Cir. 1972) (“[T]he district court must look to state law to
ascertain whether service was properly made prior to removal.”).
Accordingly, the
Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo argue that the second amended summons was
defective under Wisconsin law because it did not adequately specify the time frame within
which they were required to file a responsive pleading. (Litchfield Defs.’ Br. (dkt. #2-5);
Wells Fargo Br. (dkt. #23).)
In determining whether service of summons was properly satisfied, Wisconsin
courts distinguish between “fundamental” and “technical” defects. Am. Family Mut. Ins.
Co. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Am., 167 Wis. 2d 524, 533, 481 N.W.2d 629 (1992). “[W]here the
The summons served to the State defendants also appears to contain the same alleged defect;
however, they do not raise this argument in their brief and accordingly waive the challenge. See
O'Brien v. R.J. O'Brien & Assocs., Inc., 998 F.2d 1394, 1399 (7th Cir. 1993) (“Pursuant to Rule
12(h)(1), a party must include a defense of insufficiency of process in its first Rule 12 motion or
the defense is waived.”). Moreover, there is some authority indicating that the court may not raise
this issue on its own initiative. See Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. v. Johannesburg Consol. Invs., 553 F.3d
1351 (11th Cir. 2008); Chute v. Walker, 281 F.3d 314, 315-16 (1st Cir. 2002).
5
6
defect is technical, the court has personal jurisdiction only if the complainant can show the
defendant was not prejudiced,” but “where the defect is fundamental, no personal
jurisdiction attaches regardless of prejudice or lack thereof.”
Id.
Regardless, the
“complainant has the burden to prove that there was no defect in the summons, or if there
was a defect, that it was technical and not fundamental, and did not prejudice the
defendant.” Burnett v. Hill, 207 Wis. 2d 110, 118, 557 N.W.2d 800, 803 (1997).
“Substantial compliance” with service requirements alone does not determine
whether a defect is technical or fundamental. Am. Family, 167 Wis. 2d at 533. However,
if a pleading or summons contains a defect, but “nevertheless comports with the purpose
and nature of a statute, the defect is generally technical.” Schaefer v. Riegelman, 2002 WI
18, ¶ 29, 250 Wis. 2d 494, 639 N.W.2d 715. For example, a mistyped file number on a
complaint amounts to no more than a technical defect, because the primary purpose of
service is to give notice to the defendant that an action has been commenced. See, e.g.,
Schlumpf v. Yellick, 94 Wis.2d 504, 288 N.W.2d 834 (1980). In contrast, where the
defendant is served in Wisconsin by a non-resident of Wisconsin, that defect is
fundamental, because the statute expressly requires that the summons be served by an
adult resident of the state where service is made. See, e.g., Bendimez v. Neidermire, 222
Wis.2d 356, 588 N.W.2d 55 (Ct. App. 1998).
Similarly, where the summons and
complaint are signed by an attorney not licensed to practice in Wisconsin, on behalf of a
Wisconsin-barred lawyer, such a defect is fundamental, because it does not comport with
the purpose of the subscription requirement, which is that the lawyer guarantees the
validity of the claims. Schaefer, 2002 WI ¶ 30.
7
Here, the applicable portion of the Wisconsin statute specifies that:
The summons shall contain:
...
(2) A direction to the defendant . . . to serve the answer or demand for a
copy of the complaint within the following periods:
(a)
1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., within 20 days, exclusive
of the day of service, after the summons has been served
personally upon the defendant or served by substitution
personally upon another authorized to accept service of the
summons for the defendant.
2. If the defendant is the state or an officer, agent, employee, or
agency of the state, as to that defendant, within 45 days,
exclusive of the day of service, after the summons has been
served personally upon the defendant or served by substitution
personally upon another authorized to accept service of the
summons for the defendant.
3. Within 45 days, exclusive of the day of service, after the
summons has been served personally upon the defendant or
served by substitution personally upon another authorized to
accept service of the summons for the defendant, if any of the
following applies:
a. A defendant in the action is an insurance company.
b. Any cause of action raised in the complaint is founded in
tort.
(b) Within 40 days after a date stated in the summons, exclusive of such
date, if no such personal or substituted personal service has been
made, and service is made by publication. The date so stated in the
summons shall be the date of the first required publication.
Wis. Stat. § 801.09(2).
The second amended summons served on the Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo
provides:
Within twenty (20) days of receiving this or forty-five (45)
days of the date of receipt of the Summons if you are a
Defendant in a tort claim for fraud or personal injury, you must
respond with a written answer, as that term is used in chapter
802 of the Wisconsin Statutes, to the Complaint. . . .
If you do not provide a proper answer within twenty (20) or
forty-five (45) days, as applicable, the court may grant
8
judgment against you . . . .
(Sec. Am. Summons (dkt. #2-2) 7.) Accordingly, defendants argue that the summons was
defective (1) because it did not specify whether the response period was 20 days or 45
days, requiring them to “figure out for themselves” which period was applicable; and (2)
because it did not accurately summarize the law as to the response deadline.
While the court does not necessarily agree that plaintiff was required to specify
which of the two response periods was applicable to them, it need not reach this question
because plaintiff King did not accurately summarize the law as to the response periods and
that defect was fundamental.
King wrote that the 45 day period was applicable to
defendants “in a tort claim for fraud or personal injury.” But the 45 day period would
have also been applicable to defendants in a property tort claim, if the defendant was an
insurance company, or under various other conditions specified in the statute. See Wis.
Stat. § 801.09(2). This defect was fundamental as it does not comport with the “purpose
and nature” of the requirement set forth in Wis. Stat. § 801.09(2) -- to provide the
defendant with “a direction” as to when it must respond to the complaint consistent with
the times specified by statute.
In response, King does not dispute that this defect was fundamental under the
statute, but rather that defendants were not prejudiced by the summons. (Pl.’s Opp’n (dkt.
#33) 1-3.) As previously noted, however, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has “stressed that
the complainant cannot prove a defect was not fundamental by showing the defendant was
not prejudiced by complainant's error.” Am. Family, 167 Wis. 2d at 534. Having found
the defect fundamental, therefore, prejudice is entirely beside the point under Wisconsin
9
law, and the court still lacks personal jurisdiction over the Litchfield defendants and
defendant Wells Fargo.
Nevertheless, this holding does not by itself compel the court to dismiss the case
against the Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(a)(2) (“The court
may permit a summons to be amended.”); Cardenas v. City of Chicago, 646 F.3d 1001, 1005
(7th Cir. 2011) (court has discretion to give plaintiff an extension to perfect service).
Given that these defendants have neither claimed nor appeared to have suffered an
apparent prejudice as a result of the service defect -- having discerned the appropriate
response period and responded in a timely fashion -- there would appear little reason to
allow plaintiff an opportunity to perfect service with a proper summons.
At most,
defendants complain that they had to “figure out for themselves” when a response was
required, but this minimal legal research into a straightforward question does not amount
to any meaningful prejudice. Also, plaintiff King has apparently made some effort to cure
the defect, as he presented an amended summons to the clerk for signature and seal (see
dkts. # 63-72), although there is no indication in the record that the new summons were
actually served on defendants. Under these circumstances, the court might ordinarily be
inclined to give King another opportunity to perfect service, but this brings the court to
defendants’ other argument:
plaintiff has clearly failed to state a claim against the
Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo, making leave to perfect service futile. See Gutch v.
Fed. Republic of Germany, 444 F. Supp. 2d 1, 4 (D.D.C. 2006), aff'd, 255 F. App'x 524 (D.C.
Cir. 2007) (“[B]ecause granting the plaintiff leave to perfect service would be futile, the
court denies the plaintiff's motion to perfect service of process.”); see also Rowe v. Shake, 196
10
F.3d 778, 783 (7th Cir. 1999) (“[D]istrict courts have the power to screen complaints filed
by all litigants, prisoners and non-prisoners alike, regardless of fee status.”).
In this case, the only claims made by plaintiff King concern alleged violations of his
constitutional rights, but the state and federal constitutions generally protect only against
state action, not against the conduct of private parties like the Litchfield defendants and
defendant Wells Fargo. See Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., 500 U.S. 614, 620 (1991)
(“[T]he conduct of private parties lies beyond the Constitution's scope in most instances.”);
Jacobs v. Major, 139 Wis. 2d 492, 513, 407 N.W.2d 832, 841 (1987) (“[T]here is a
presumption that a specific provision in the Declaration [of Rights of the Wisconsin
Constitution] is intended to protect persons only from state action.”). King does not
dispute that the Litchfield defendants and Wells Fargo are private actors, nor does he allege
their acts amount to state action. To the contrary, King’s only claims concern his dubious,
general challenge to the legality LRS, and arguably more meritorious challenge to his
alleged assault at and then exclusion from an OLR proceeding, but none of these actions
involved the Litchfield defendants and defendant Wells Fargo. Accordingly, the court will
dismiss all claims against those defendants.
B. State Defendants
1. Improper Service
This leaves the arguments by the remaining defendants in the case -- the State
defendants. They first argue that the court lacks personal jurisdiction over the state of
Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roggensack, and Attorney
General Brad Schimel. (State Defs.’ Br. (dkt. #31) 8-9.) Specifically, they contend that
11
these four defendants were not properly served under either Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
4(e)(1) or Wis. Stat. § 801.11(1).
Again, the burden rests on the defendant to show that that service was invalid, Bally
Export Corp. v. Balicar, Ltd., 804 F.2d 398, 404 (7th Cir. 1986), a burden which the State
defendants here have failed to carry. Indeed, other than stating perfunctorily in their brief
that service was invalid, the State defendants (1) do not explain what service if any was
attempted, (2) do not point to deficiencies in any affidavits of service that may have been
submitted, and (3) fail to file any affidavits offering facts to support their argument.
Moreover, the service rules cited do not even govern service on two of the allegedly
improperly served defendants. Instead, service on States and subdivisions of the State are
governed by Rule 4(j)(2) and Wis. Stat. § 801.11(3), (4), not Rule 4(e)(1) or Wis. Stat.
§ 801.11(1) as defendants seem to argue. Accordingly, the State defendants’ argument
regarding inadequate service is denied.
2. Eleventh Amendment
The State defendants next invoke the Eleventh Amendment. (State Defs.’ Br. (dkt.
#31) 10-11.) In general, the Eleventh Amendment immunizes unconsenting states from
suit by private citizens in federal court. Seminole Tribe v. Fla., 517 U.S. 44, 54 (1996). This
immunity also extends to “arms of the state,” Lake Country Estates, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional
Planning Agency, 440 U.S. 391, 400-01 (1979), and the Seventh Circuit has indicated that
state courts and their attorney disciplinary commissions are immune from suit in federal
court.
See Crenshaw v. Supreme Court of Indiana, 170 F.3d 725, 729 (7th Cir. 1999)
(dismissing action against the Supreme Court of Indiana and the Disciplinary Commission
12
of the Supreme Court of Indiana because they were barred from suit by the Eleventh
Amendment); Johnson v. Supreme Court of Illinois, 165 F.3d 1140, 1141 (7th Cir. 1999)
(dismissing action against the Supreme Court of Illinois and the Attorney Registration and
Disciplinary Commission because they were barred from suit by the Eleventh
Amendment). Additionally, state officials sued for damages in their official capacities are
barred from suit.
See Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71 (1989).
Accordingly, the State of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the OLR, and the
remaining state defendants sued for damages in their official capacity are immune from
suit by the Eleventh Amendment, and those claims will be dismissed from this case.
3. Standing
Although not argued by the State defendants, the court on its own motion raises a
further issue regarding plaintiff King’s standing to pursue his general challenges as to the
constitutionality of the LRS. See Metallgesellschaft AG v. Sumitomo Corp. of Am., 325 F.3d
836, 842 (7th Cir. 2003) (“[A] district court may dismiss a case sua sponte for lack of Article
III standing if it finds that the plaintiff has not suffered injury-in-fact.”).
It is a
fundamental principle of standing that a plaintiff must suffer a concrete, injury-in-fact that
is traceable to the challenged action in order to bring suit in federal court. See Lujan v.
Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992).
Here, the only concrete injuries asserted by King are the alleged violations of his
rights related to Nora’s disciplinary hearing. However, he does not allege that those events
were the result of the LRS’s enforcement. A plaintiff challenging a law “must be able to
show, not only that the statute is invalid, but that he has sustained or is immediately in
13
danger of sustaining some direct injury as the result of its enforcement, and not merely
that he suffers in some indefinite way in common with people generally.” Frothingham v.
Mellon, 262 U.S. 447, 488-89 (1923). Because he has alleged no concrete injury traceable
to the enforcement of the LRS, his challenge to that law as a whole is dismissed for lack of
standing. Relatedly, because Attorney General Brad Schimel only appears to have been
named for the purpose of challenging the constitutionality of the LRS, (see FAC (dkt. #22) ¶¶ 87-88, 173), he will be dismissed from this suit.
4. Official Immunity
While state officials sued in their official capacity for damages are barred from suit
by the Eleventh Amendment, see Will, 491 U.S. at 71, that Amendment does not immunize
state officials sued in their official capacity for injunctive relief. Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S.
123, 159-60 (1908), Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 167 n.14 (1985). Nor does it
immunize state officials sued in their individual capacity for damages. Hafer v. Melo, 502
U.S. 21, 23 (1991).
Unfortunately for King, however, any official capacity suit is
unavailable because he does not have a viable claim for injunctive relief, and the state
officials sued in their individual capacity for damages are all protected by official immunity
doctrines. Injunctive relief under Ex Parte Young is unavailable where there is “no claimed
continuing violation of federal law” because there is “no occasion to issue an injunction.”
Green v. Mansour, 474 U.S. 64, 73 (1985).
In this case, plaintiff asserts in his complaint that he is seeking “declaratory and/or
injunctive relief for determinations of the constitutionality of [the LRS] and for injunctive
relief to prevent continuing and future injuries.” (FAC (dkt. #2-2) 49.) However, as
14
discussed above, plaintiff has no standing to challenge the constitutionality of the LRS
system as a whole, and the complaint as a whole does not allege any other ongoing law
violation against King. As such, he may not sue the remaining individual State defendants
under Ex Parte Young.
Finally, officials sued in their individual capacities may -- as the State defendants
do here -- assert an official immunity defense. See Ziglar v. Abbasi, 127 S. Ct. 1843, 1866
(2017). First, there is no question that Chief Justice Roggensack may not be sued for
judicial acts under the doctrine of absolute judicial immunity. Stump v. Sparkman, 435 U.S.
349, 359 (1978) (“A judge is absolutely immune from liability for his judicial acts even if
his exercise of authority is flawed by the commission of grave procedural errors.”).
Similarly, the remaining individual State defendants -- namely, Sellen, Stieren, Kasieta,
Parsons, Hannan, and Winiarski -- are entitled to quasi-judicial immunity for the judicial
duties they performed as members of the OLR. See Kissell v. Breskow, 579 F.2d 425, 430
(7th Cir. 1978) (granting quasi-judicial immunity to state officials charged with
disciplining attorneys); Clark v. State of Washington, 366 F.2d 678 (9th Cir. 1966)
(members of admission or disciplinary committee of Bar Association granted absolute
quasi-judicial immunity).
In sum, plaintiff King is left with no remaining, viable claims based on a failure to
allege a state action or immunity, and the remainder of his suit will be dismissed.
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ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that:
1) All pending motions to dismiss (dkts. #2-5, 22, 30) are GRANTED.
2) The Litchfield defendants’ motions to strike (dkts. #46, 59) are DENIED as
moot.
Entered this 27th day of April, 2020.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
__________________________________
WILLIAM M. CONLEY
District Judge
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