Roman Tymiak v. Commissioner Social Security ( 2021 )

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 19-3496
_____________
ROMAN (RON) TYMIAK,
Appellant
v.
COMMISSIONER SOCIAL SECURITY
______________
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
(D.C. Civ. Action No. 2-18-cv-01559)
District Judge: Honorable Marilyn J. Horan
______________
Submitted Under Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
July 1, 2020
______________
Before: GREENAWAY, JR., SHWARTZ, and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.
(Opinion Filed: January 26, 2021)
______________
OPINION *
______________
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7
does not constitute binding precedent.
GREENAWAY, JR., Circuit Judge.
Roman Tymiak seeks review of the District Court’s order dismissing, pursuant to
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), his complaint in which he sought review of the calculation of his
Social Security retirement benefits. In addition, the District Court found that none of the
other claims he raised fell within its jurisdiction. Before us, he argues that his Social
Security Administration (“SSA”) Earnings Record (“ER”) is incorrect and that
jurisdiction exists over his other claims. For the reasons stated below, we will affirm the
order of the District Court. 1
I. BACKGROUND
A. Administrative Proceedings
Tymiak filed for retirement insurance benefits on April 21, 2015. Dissatisfied
with the award of benefits he received on April 27, 2015, he sought reconsideration on
June 24, 2015. The initial determination was upheld. He then sought review before an
Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”).
Before the ALJ, Tymiak argued that his ER did not accurately reflect his income
for the period of 1991 through 1995. He identified three sources of alleged earnings that
he argued should have been included in his ER: (1) royalties from a copyright; 2 (2) funds
1
While we are affirming the District Court, we do so on different bases than those
set forth by the District Court. “Generally, we may affirm on any ground supported by
the record[.]” Laurel Gardens, LLC v. McKenna, 948 F.3d 105, 116 (3d Cir. 2020).
2
In 1989, Tymiak registered a copyright for a computer program and database he
developed, titled “Credit Union Member Accounting Automated Database.” According
to Tymiak, several credit unions have used the database. He claimed that between 1986
and 1999 he received $180,000 from various credit unions for their use of his copyright.
2
from the settlement of Tymiak v. Public Service Plaza Federal Credit Union, No. 2:90-
cv-1202-AMW (D.N.J.); and (3) income from a trust established by his father. 3
Tymiak argued that, based on these three sources of income, he was an employee,
as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 410(j)(2) and (j)(3)(C). 4 In support of his claim, Tymiak
submitted tax returns from 1991 through 1995. 5 The ALJ noted that Tymiak held himself
out in these tax returns as “a consultant for computers and software and doing business as
North Hills Computer Associates.” (App. 62a.) Tymiak reported no wages or self-
employment income on these returns. Tymiak also submitted invoices sent by North
Hills Computer Associates to various credit unions, including the Ukrainian Selfreliance
of Western Pennsylvania Federal Credit Union (“Ukrainian Credit Union”).
The ALJ found that Tymiak provided no proof as to wages in the years he claims
3
Before the ALJ, Tymiak also attempted to argue that he was entitled to
widower’s benefits based on his alleged common law marriage to Lillian Wikman-Morse,
but the ALJ noted that this issue was not before her. Tymiak had previously notified the
SSA that “[h]e could not provide proff [sic] of common law marriage. He did not wish to
pursue this option.” (S. App. 284.)
4
Subsection (j)(2) defines an employee as “any individual who, under the usual
common law rules applicable in determining the employer-employee relationship, has the
status of an employee,” while subsection (j)(3)(C) defines an employee as “any
individual (other than an individual who is an employee under paragraph (1) or (2) of this
subsection) who performs services for remuneration for any person . . . as a home worker
performing work, according to specifications furnished by the person for whom the
services are performed, on materials or goods furnished by such person which are
required to be returned to such person or a person designated by him.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 410(j)(2), (j)(3)(C).
5
For 1992, Tymiak only submitted a Schedule C form. In addition, Tymiak
submitted tax returns for 1987, 1988, and 1996-1998 before the District Court.
3
he was an employee. In fact, according to the ALJ, the tax returns submitted by Tymiak
“show[ ] he held himself out as a self-employed consultant and that he had business
losses [for tax years 1991 through 1995] and reported no wages.” (App. 63a.) The ALJ
also found that Tymiak “submitted no proof that his earnings record is incorrect” and that
no exception to the statute of limitations applied. 6 Id. Based on these findings, the ALJ
concluded that Tymiak’s “monthly benefit payment has been correctly calculated” and
affirmed “the determination of the lower level.” (App. 63a.)
B. District Court Proceedings
Tymiak sought review before the District Court. In his complaint, Tymiak
presented five counts in a somewhat rambling and unclear manner. In addition, Tymiak’s
arguments are not well-formulated and change with every document he files. Thus, the
complaint poses significant challenges in discerning the substance and import of each of
the claims.
Count I alleges fraud on the court in Tymiak v. United States, 7 No. 2:98-cv-01633
6
Section 405(c)(4) of title 42 allows for correction of “any item of wages or self-
employment income” within the time limit established by 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(1)(B). That
time limit is “a period of three years, three months, and fifteen days.” 42 U.S.C.
§ 405(c)(1)(B).
7
The District Court and the government refer to this case as Tymiak v. Wiltshire.
However, the docket report and documents from that case filed as exhibits before the
District Court use Tymiak v. United States as the caption.
4
(W.D. Pa.) 8 and Tymiak’s disbarment proceedings in Minnesota, Order C6-82-900. 9
Count II is titled as a claim for a “Class-of-One Equal Protection of Fundamental
Rights.” (App. 38a.) According to Tymiak, the Director of the Minnesota Lawyers
Professional Responsibility Board (“MLPRB”), employees of the NCUA, Michael
Komichak, 10 and James Herb 11 acted in concert “to unlawfully cause the termination of
[Tymiak’s] employment and to stigmatize his membership in a local credit union[.]”
(App. 39a.) This count exemplifies the difficulties associated with attempting to decipher
Tymiak’s submissions. While the District Court interpreted this count as an equal
protection claim arising directly under the Fifth Amendment, we find that this count
attempts to articulate a claim pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 based on Tymiak’s allegation
8
In 1997, the Ukrainian Credit Union terminated its relationship with North Hills
Computer Associates. Apparently, in response to this termination, Tymiak sued the
United States, Diane L. Wiltshire, who was an employee of the National Credit Union
Administration (“NCUA”), and the NCUA Board in state court. This action was
removed to federal court. The District Court granted the government’s motion for
summary judgment in February 2000.
9
In 1982, Tymiak was suspended from the practice of law in Minnesota. In 1984,
Tymiak was disbarred there. In re Petition for Disciplinary Action Against Tymiak, 343
N.W.2d 291 (Minn. 1984). On January 24, 1983, Pennsylvania imposed reciprocal
discipline and suspended him. The record reflects no subsequent action in the
Pennsylvania disciplinary proceedings.
10
The complaint lists Mr. Komichak’s first name as Michael, but the letter written
by Mr. Komichak on December 12, 1997 to Tymiak regarding Tymiak’s consultant
services shows his name as Raymond M. Komichak. Mr. Komichak was the director of
the Ukrainian Credit Union.
11
Mr. Herb is apparently an attorney in Pittsburgh who, in 1998, provided an IRS
1099-MISC form to Tymiak showing a payment of $2,500 as non-employee
compensation. This income was not reported on Tymiak’s 1998 tax return.
5
that “state actors . . . acting under color of law” violated his Fifth Amendment rights.
(App. 38a.)
Count III claims that the failure to consider income Tymiak allegedly earned from
a family trust, as well as income allegedly earned as a home worker but paid after the
death of his employer, was a violation of his due process rights.
Count IV alleges the SSA miscalculated his earnings by failing to account for (1)
royalties allegedly earned by Tymiak from his copyright and (2) payment from a
settlement agreement entered into in May 1992 in the case of Tymiak v. Public Service
Plaza Federal Credit Union, which related to the copyright. 12 He also seeks a
declaration that his copyright is a work for hire.
Finally, Count V seeks to remove the Minnesota disbarment action to the District
Court.
Before the District Court, the Commissioner moved to dismiss, pursuant to Fed. R.
Civ. P. 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). In addition to his opposition to the motion to dismiss,
Tymiak filed two motions. The first sought to place interpleader funds in the District
Court’s registry and file a “supplemental complaint in the nature of interpleader.” 13 (S.
12
Tymiak states that he reported the $22,000 he received from the settlement on
his tax form 4797 in 1992, but that document was not included in the exhibits provided to
the District Court.
13
In his motion, Tymiak claimed he obtained $60,000 from a family trust and that
the Commissioner, the Director of the MLPRB, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, or the NCUA may be entitled to some or all of his funds. Tymiak
asserted that the $60,000 is the correct amount of taxes he should have paid regarding his
self-employed income, while the alleged claims of the two disciplinary boards arise from
6
App. 35.) The second motion sought remand, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The
District Court referred all three motions to a magistrate judge.
In a report and recommendation (“R&R”), the magistrate judge recommended that
the motion to dismiss be granted. Relying on Nichole Medical Equipment & Supply, Inc.
v. TriCenturion, Inc., 694 F.3d 340 (3d Cir. 2012), the magistrate judge concluded that
the District Court lacked jurisdiction over the claims in counts I, II, III, and V because
those claims had not been raised before the ALJ and, as a result, were not exhausted. As
to Count IV, the magistrate judge recommended granting the motion to dismiss because
Tymiak’s claims related to correcting his ER were barred by the statute of limitations.
The R&R also recommended denying Tymiak’s other motions.
Tymiak filed objections to the R&R, along with three additional motions. The
first motion sought disqualification of the Commissioner’s counsel. Tymiak’s second
motion sought to vacate the Pennsylvania and Minnesota disciplinary orders. Tymiak’s
third motion sought “a de novo determination of matters referred to magistrate judge, or,
in the alternative, to defer consideration of any dispositive matters” until the
disqualification motion was decided. (S. App. 245.)
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the District Court reviewed the R&R de novo.
After considering the R&R and reviewing Tymiak’s objections, the District Court
adopted the R&R as the opinion of the Court, as supplemented in the opinion and order.
The District Court dismissed Tymiak’s three additional motions as moot. Tymiak now
his disciplinary proceedings in the early 1980s. Tymiak provides no explanation as to the
alleged claim that the NCUA may have an interest in these funds.
7
appeals.
C. Appeal to This Court
On appeal, Tymiak emphasizes the point that with respect to the SSA it is the ER
that has “primacy,” “not the record of taxation of those earnings.” Appellant’s Br. 8.
According to Tymiak, “[t]he ALJ and the district court erred as a matter of law by basing
their decision[s] on an erroneous, prejudicial and discriminatory construction of
‘earnings’ and ‘contributions to the national economy.’” Id. at 8–9. He seeks
amendment of his ER to include earnings from his copyright and distributions from
various trusts. 14 Tymiak also argues that “[t]he ALJ failed to meet her duty to develop
the record by not even considering a ‘scintilla’ of [his] documentary evidence.” Id. at 15.
Tymiak raises a congeries of other arguments on appeal, most of which have no
bearing on the case before us. The arguments he raises with respect to the Court’s
jurisdiction and the ALJ’s review of the evidence will be discussed below. Any and all
other arguments are deemed to be waived, having never been raised before the District
Court. “We generally do not consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal . . . .”
Orie v. Dist. Att’y Allegheny Cnty., 946 F.3d 187, 195 (3d Cir. 2019) (quoting Gardner v.
Grandolsky, 585 F.3d 786, 793 (3d Cir. 2009)). Tymiak’s failure to provide specificity in
his pleadings makes the task of identifying his claims a fool’s errand.
II. JURISDICTION
We review de novo the District Court’s decision that it lacked jurisdiction over
14
Before the ALJ, Tymiak offered evidence related to only one trust that was
established by his family.
8
Counts I, II, III, and V. 15 Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Price, 501 F.3d 271, 275 (3d Cir. 2007).
In reaching the conclusion it lacked jurisdiction over these claims because Tymiak failed
to exhaust them, the District Court relied on Nichole Medical, 694 F.3d 340. By doing
so, the District Court erred.
Nichole Medical “originate[d] from relationships that were created under the
Medicare Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq.” 694 F.3d at 342. The Medicare Act
incorporates the judicial review provisions set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and (h), with
the caveat “that, in applying such provisions with respect to this subchapter, any
reference therein to the Commissioner of Social Security or the Social Security
Administration shall be considered a reference to the Secretary or the Department of
Health and Human Services, respectively.” 42 U.S.C. § 1395ii. Therefore, Nichole
Medical’s requirement that all claims be exhausted before the Secretary before being
raised in the courts means that claims made in proceedings pursuant to the Medicare Act
must be presented to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Nichole Medical, 694
F.3d at 349.
Unlike the exhaustion requirement set forth in Nichole Medical for Medicare
cases, claimants in Social Security cases are only required to present their claim for
benefits to the Commissioner. 16 See, e.g., Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 328
15
As discussed below, we agree with the District Court that there is no
jurisdictional bar to Count IV.
16
We recognize that the Social Security Act requires exhaustion of the
administrative process, but that process does not require issue exhaustion. 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.900(a) (setting forth five steps in the administrative review process); 20 C.F.R.
9
(1976) (“The nonwaivable element is the requirement that a claim for benefits shall have
been presented to the Secretary.”). Tymiak has clearly done so.
Further, neither we nor the Supreme Court have recognized an issue exhaustion
requirement in Social Security cases. Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 112 (2000)
(“Claimants who exhaust administrative remedies need not also exhaust issues in a
request for review by the Appeals Council in order to preserve judicial review of those
issues.”); Cirko ex rel. Cirko v. Comm’r Social Security, 948 F.3d 148, 153 & n.3 (3d Cir.
2020) (“[T]here is no statutory or regulatory [issue] exhaustion requirement that governs
SSA proceedings.”). Based on that lack of statutory or regulatory guidance, we have
observed that “whether we should impose an exhaustion requirement [in Social Security
cases] ‘is a matter of sound judicial discretion.’” Id. at 153 (quoting Cerro Metal Prods.
v. Marshall, 620 F.2d 964, 970 (3d Cir. 1980)).
Even if we were to exercise our discretion here and impose an issue exhaustion
requirement, we would find that Tymiak exhausted the issues raised in Counts I, II, and
V. In his Request for Reconsideration, Tymiak presented the issues raised in those
counts to the Commissioner. Nonetheless, as we explain below, the District Court lacked
jurisdiction over Counts I, II and V. With respect to Count III, to the extent Tymiak
§ 404.900(b) (noting that if a claimant “do[es] not take the next step within the stated
time period, [the claimant] will lose [his or her] right to further administrative review and
[his or her] right to judicial review, unless [the claimant] can show us that there was good
cause for [his or her] failure to make a timely request for review”); Sims v. Apfel, 530
U.S. 103, 106–07 (2000) (discussing exhaustion of administrative remedies). The
procedural history here makes clear that Tymiak properly exhausted his administrative
remedies.
10
argues the ALJ erred in rejecting and/or disregarding some of his evidence, we will
review that question on the merits.
In Count I, Tymiak alleges fraud on the court in Tymiak v. United States, which
was closed in 2000. In order to obtain relief based on fraud on the court, Tymiak should
have filed a motion pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(d)(3) to set aside the judgment in the
original case, rather than adding a count in a new complaint. We are therefore unable to
review this issue. 17
The § 1983 claim in Count II is clearly untimely. The action forming the basis of
this claim—the termination of North Hills Computer Associates’ services—occurred on
June 30, 1998. The statute of limitations period for this alleged § 1983 due process
violation is two years. See, e.g., Kach v. Hose, 589 F.3d 626, 634 (3d Cir. 2009) (“The
length of the statute of limitations for a § 1983 claim is governed by the personal injury
tort law of the state where the cause of action arose. The statute of limitations for a §
1983 claim arising in Pennsylvania is two years.” (internal citations omitted)). Therefore,
Tymiak’s cause of action, which accrued approximately twenty years ago, is barred by
17
Even if we were able to address this count, we would dismiss it pursuant to Fed.
R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for failing to state a claim. To demonstrate fraud on the court, “there
must be: (1) an intentional fraud; (2) by an officer of the court; (3) which is directed at
the court itself; and (4) in fact deceives the court.” Herring v. United States, 424 F.3d
384, 386 (3d Cir. 2005) (announcing the legal test for such actions for the first time,
because “[a]ctions for fraud upon the court are so rare that this Court has not previously
had the occasion to articulate a legal definition of the concept”). In making this claim,
Tymiak points only to the inclusion of the Minnesota disbarment order as an exhibit in
the court of record in Tymiak v. United States. He offers no explanation as to how
inclusion of a valid order from Minnesota constitutes intentional fraud that somehow
deceived the court.
11
the statute of limitations.
Count V seeks to remove Tymiak’s Minnesota disbarment action to the District
Court. Under the clear language of the statute, only pending cases can be removed. 28
U.S.C. § 1441(a) (“[A]ny civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts
of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant or the
defendants, to the district court of the United States for the district and division
embracing the place where such action is pending.”). Since the Pennsylvania suspension
became final in 1983 and the Minnesota disbarment proceedings terminated in 1984,
there are no pending actions that can be removed to the District Court.
Tymiak propounds numerous additional theories to establish some jurisdictional
foothold, none of which succeed. Specifically, he cites to mandamus, the Rules of
Decision Act, the collateral order doctrine, the All Writs Act, the Erie doctrine, and
federal question jurisdiction. In rapid succession, Tymiak makes conclusory statements
that do nothing more than recite the existence of these legal theories. Tymiak provides
no analysis to demonstrate the relevance or application of any one of these doctrines to
his claims; he merely names the doctrines, provides short definitions of each, and
proceeds to the next section of his brief.
An appellant’s brief is required to contain argument, which must include
“appellant’s contentions and the reasons for them, with citations to the authorities and
parts of the record on which the appellant relies.” Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(8)(A); see also
3d Cir. L.A.R. 28. Cursory treatment of an issue is insufficient to preserve the issue on
appeal and issues treated in only a perfunctory manner are considered forfeited. See
12
Lifewatch Servs. Inc. v. Highmark Inc., 902 F.3d 323, 338 (3d Cir. 2018) (noting that
plaintiff “forfeited . . . theories by not fully briefing them on appeal”); Barna v. Bd. of
Sch. Dirs. of Panther Valley Sch. Dist., 877 F.3d 136, 145 (3d Cir. 2017) (“[W]e have
consistently refused to consider ill-developed arguments or those not properly raised and
discussed in the appellate briefing.”); Doeblers’ Pa. Hybrids, Inc. v. Doebler, 442 F.3d
812, 821 n.10 (3d Cir. 2006) (noting that “passing and conclusory statements do not
preserve an issue for appeal”).
None of Tymiak’s references to the myriad jurisdictional theories satisfy this
requirement. Tymiak engages in no analytical reasoning and provides no explanation for
his positions.
With respect to Counts III and IV, the District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291. Rutherford v. Barnhart, 399 F.3d 546, 552 (3d Cir. 2005).
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review de novo the District Court’s order granting the motion to dismiss.
Jones v. ABN Amro Mortg. Grp., Inc., 606 F.3d 119, 123 (3d Cir. 2010). “[W]e must
uphold a final agency determination unless we find that it is not supported by substantial
evidence in the record.” Rutherford, 399 F.3d at 552. “Substantial evidence is ‘such
relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a
conclusion.’” Id. (quoting Reefer v. Barnhart, 326 F.3d 376, 379 (3d Cir. 2003)). “It is
‘more than a mere scintilla but may be somewhat less than a preponderance of the
evidence.’” Id. (quoting Ginsburg v. Richardson, 436 F.2d 1146, 1148 (3d Cir. 1971)).
13
IV. DISCUSSION
A. Substantial Evidence
Turning to the merits of Tymiak’s arguments on appeal, the substance of those
arguments appears to be a claim that the ALJ did not consider evidence of income from a
trust, his work as a home worker, and royalties from his copyright. Tymiak also argues
before us that the ALJ failed to “scrupulously and conscientiously probe into, inquire of,
and explore for all the relevant facts.” Appellant’s Br. 25 (quoting Hankerson v. Harris,
636 F.2d 893, 895 (2d Cir. 1980)).
Contrary to Tymiak’s arguments, the ALJ considered the evidence he presented.
Unfortunately for Tymiak, none of the many pages of documentary evidence he provided
to the ALJ showed he had any income as a home worker or from royalties from his
computer program. The tax returns from 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
1997, and 1998 he submitted as evidence had no entries on the lines for wages and
royalties. 18 Tymiak provided no other evidence showing that he had received any income
from either of these sources.
To the extent he claims Ms. Morse’s will evidences intent to compensate him after
her death, it does not. The will makes no mention of Tymiak. To the extent Ms. Morse
notarized Tymiak’s application for bar admission, that is not evidence of income.
Tymiak’s argument as to the ALJ’s rejection of his evidence of the family trust
being established to compensate him as a home worker also fails. “The ALJ must
18
For 1992, Tymiak only submitted a Schedule C, and not a purportedly complete
tax return.
14
consider all the evidence and give some reason for discounting the evidence she rejects.”
Plummer v. Apfel, 186 F.3d 422, 429 (3d Cir. 1999). The ALJ did just that. With respect
to the family trust, the ALJ observed that “there is nothing in [the] record to support”
Tymiak’s assertion “that payments out of a trust fund should be considered wages, since
he believed his father, who was president of one of the credit unions, meant this to
compensate him for the loss of income from his copyright.” (App. 62a.) Further, “since
the creator of the trust was a relative, it is equally likely that the monies in the fund were
from his father’s assets and meant to support [him] after the death of his parent.” Id.We, like the ALJ, cannot find any evidence to support Tymiak’s argument that the
proceeds of the family trust were meant to be compensation for Tymiak’s service as a
home worker. Not only that, but the trust documents submitted by Tymiak indicate the
trust was established in 2009, well after the years 1991 through 1995, which was the time
period for which Tymiak sought review before the ALJ.
We conclude that the ALJ carefully and thoroughly explored all of the relevant
facts and correctly concluded that Tymiak’s monthly benefit payment has been correctly
calculated. Further, since Tymiak provided no evidence of any wages, royalties, or self-
employment income, we need not address his arguments as to the exceptions to the
statute of limitations for correction of an ER set forth in 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(5)(C) and
(c)(5)(E).
B. Motion to Disqualify Counsel
Tymiak argues that the District Court erred by dismissing as moot his motion to
disqualify the entire United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Western District of
15
Pennsylvania as the Commissioner’s counsel. Tymiak sought disqualification of the
USAO for “Conflict of Interest, Self-Interest, the Advocate Witness Rule and Imputed
Structural Ethical Breaches.” (Appellant’s Br. at 39.) Specifically, Tymiak alleged
violations of (i) the witness-advocate rule, Pa. R.P.C. 3.7(b); (ii) attorneys knowingly
making false statements, Pa. R.P.C. 4.1; (iii) conflicts of interests to current clients, Pa.
R.P.C. 1.7; and (iv) imputation of conflicts of interests to a lawyer’s firm, Pa. R.P.C.
1.10. As we explain below, we will affirm the District Court.
We review the District Court’s denial of a motion to disqualify counsel for abuse
of discretion. Lazy Oil Co. v. Witco Corp., 166 F.3d 581, 588 (3d Cir. 1999); cf. United
States v. Bellille, 962 F.3d 731, 738 (3d Cir. 2020) (“Questions regarding attorney
appointment and withdrawal are committed to the District Court’s sound discretion, and
its determination is guided by the professional rules of conduct.”). “However, to the
extent that the questions underlying the disqualification motion are purely legal . . . our
review is plenary.” Lazy Oil, 166 F.3d at 588.
Tymiak’s motion to disqualify cited several bases for the disqualification,
including an alleged conflict of interest. His “claim of . . . [a] conflict of interest calls
into question the integrity of the process in which the allegedly conflicted counsel
participates.” Grimes v. District of Columbia, 794 F.3d 83, 86 (D.C. Cir. 2015). Because
of that, the court must resolve the motion to disqualify “before it turns to the merits of
any dispositive motion.” Id. Here, however, the District Court found it lacked
jurisdiction over four of the claims in the complaint and that the fifth claim was barred by
the statute of limitations. Therefore, the District Court could not, and did not, reach the
16
merits of the case. Once the District Court concluded it lacked the ability to review the
merits of the case, dismissing as moot the remaining motions, including the motion to
disqualify counsel, was correct. We will therefore affirm.
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, we will affirm the District Court’s order.
17