Canuto v. Carter ( 2018 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TERESITA A. CANUTO, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Civil Action No. 16-2282 (EGS)
)
JAMES MATTIS, Secretary of )
Defense, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Teresita Canuto, proceeding pro se, filed a second amended
complaint against two United States Army officers and various
senior federal officials (collectively “federal defendants”) and
private entities Woodman-Sylvan Properties, Inc. (“Woodman-
Sylvan”), Cirrus Asset Management, Inc. (“Cirrus”), and Bank of
America, N.A. (“Bank of America”). The allegations within Ms.
Canuto’s ninety-page second amended complaint are identical to
those in her first amended complaint:1 that members of the United
1
The Court dismissed several of Ms. Canuto’s claims in Canuto v.
Mattis, 273 F. Supp. 3d 127 (D.D.C. 2017). Ms. Canuto has also
filed a series of lawsuits based on nearly identical factual
allegations in the United States Court of Federal Claims. Each of
those complaints were dismissed. See Canuto v. United States, No.
15-410C, 2015 WL 1926375 (Fed. Cl. Apr. 27, 2015); Canuto v.
United States, No. 15-821C, 2015 WL 8481577 (Fed. Cl. Dec. 9,
2015); Canuto v. United States, No. 16-414C, 2016 WL 8710473
(Fed. Cl. May 4, 2016). The United States Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit affirmed each of those dismissals. See Canuto
v. United States, 615 F. App’x 951 (Fed. Cir. 2015); Canuto v.
United States, 651 F. App’x 996 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (per
1
States armed forces sexually assaulted her on a number of
occasions after infiltrating her home and using sleeping gas to
render her unconscious. She asserts various constitutional,
federal statutory, and common law claims.
Pending before the Court are (1) Cirrus’ motion to dismiss,
see ECF No. 43; (2) Bank of America’s motion to dismiss, see ECF
No. 44; (3) Woodman-Sylvan’s motion to dismiss, see ECF No. 49;
and (4) the federal defendants’ motion to dismiss, see ECF No.
66. Upon consideration of these motions, the responses and
replies thereto, the relevant law, and the entire record, the
Court GRANTS Cirrus’ motion, GRANTS IN PART Bank of America’s
motion, GRANTS Woodman-Sylvan’s motion, and GRANTS the federal
defendants’ motion.2 Ms. Canuto’s second amended complaint is
DISMISSED.
I. Background
A. Factual Background
The allegations in Ms. Canuto’s second amended complaint
are undisputedly identical to those in her first amended
complaint. Compare First Am. Compl., ECF No. 10 with Second Am.
curiam); Canuto v. United States, 673 F. App’x 982 (Fed.
Cir. 2016) (per curiam).
2
Ms. Canuto filed several unopposed motions for leave to file
supplemental responses. Because Ms. Canuto is pro se, the Court
considered every document she filed. Thus, the Court GRANTS (1)
motion for leave to file supplemental evidence, ECF No. 47; and
(2) motion for leave to file supplemental response, ECF No. 54.
2
Compl., ECF No. 42; see also Pl.’s Suppl. to Second Am. Compl.,
ECF No. 60 at 1-23 (explaining that the “only difference” between
the complaints is “the name of public officials sued in their
official capacity who ceased to hold office [who have been]
substituted with their successors”).4 Because the complaints
allege the same facts, the Court herein incorporates the facts
articulated in Canuto v. Mattis, 273 F. Supp. 3d 127 (D.D.C.
2017). See Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 3-5.
To briefly summarize, Ms. Canuto alleges that members of
the United States armed forces, assisted by “illegal foreigners”
and other civilians acting under the direction of senior
military officers and federal officials, sexually assaulted her
on numerous occasions beginning in October 2014. See id. at 3.
She alleges that the assaults were first perpetrated in her
Panorama City, California apartment, which was managed by
Woodman-Sylvan. See id. In July 2016, Ms. Canuto moved to a
Northridge, California apartment building managed by Cirrus,
where she alleges that the assaults continued to occur. See id.
at 3-4. Finally, Ms. Canuto contends that important documents
3
When citing electronic filings throughout this opinion, the
Court cites to the ECF page number, not the page number of the
filed document.
4
In addition to changing the names of the federal defendants,
Ms. Canuto sued Woodman-Sylvan, as the Court granted her leave
to do. See Order, ECF No. 37; Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 5-9
(finding that Ms. Canuto was clearly attempting to sue Woodman-
Sylvan despite naming a different company as defendant).
3
and records were stolen from her Bank of America safe deposit
box located in Panorama City, California in 2009. See id. at 4.
Based on these factual allegations, Ms. Canuto alleges that
the defendants have violated her due process and equal
protection rights. She also asserts various state common law
claims. See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at 6, 16-18.
B. Procedural Background
Because Ms. Canuto brings identical claims in her second
amended complaint, it is worth discussing the Court’s August 10,
2017 decision dismissing most of Ms. Canuto’s first amended
complaint. See Order, ECF No. 37; Mem. Op., ECF No. 38.
In her first amended complaint, Ms. Canuto sued DePauw HK
Property Management (“DePauw”) instead of Woodman-Sylvan. See
First Am. Compl., ECF No. 10. DePauw argued that it was not
capable of being sued and, in any event, it had received
improper service. The Court found that Ms. Canuto had clearly
intended to sue Woodman-Sylvan, not Depauw, and allowed Ms.
Canuto to amend her complaint to replace DePauw with Woodman-
Sylvan. Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 5-9, 16; see also Order, ECF No.
37. Ms. Canuto named Woodman-Sylvan as defendant in her second
amended complaint. See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42.
Cirrus also filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the
Court lacked personal jurisdiction over it. The Court agreed and
4
granted Cirrus’ motion, dismissing Ms. Canuto’s claims without
prejudice. See Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 17-23; Order, ECF No. 37.
Bank of America filed a motion to dismiss as well, arguing
that the claims against it were barred by the applicable
statutes of limitations. The Court granted the motion and
dismissed the claims against Bank of America with prejudice. See
Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 23-33; Order, ECF No. 37.
Although Ms. Canuto had also sued the federal defendants
in her first amended complaint, see First Am. Compl., ECF No.
10, she had not served them, see Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 2
n.3. The Court dismissed the claims against the federal
defendants without prejudice, see Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 2
n.3, and directed Ms. Canuto to file proof of service by a
date certain, see Service Order, ECF No. 39.
Ms. Canuto filed her second amended complaint on August
22, 2017. See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42.
II. Analysis
When, as here, a plaintiff is proceeding pro se, her
complaint must be “liberally construed” and held to “less
stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.”
Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976)(citations omitted).
Construing Ms. Canuto’s second amended complaint liberally, the
Court concludes that it must be dismissed.
5
A. Cirrus’ Motion to Dismiss
Cirrus argues that Ms. Canuto’s claims against it should be
dismissed because the second amended complaint does not contain
any facts that alter the Court’s previous ruling that it lacked
personal jurisdiction over the company. See Cirrus’ Mot., ECF
No. 43. The Court agrees.
The Court dismissed Ms. Canuto’s original claims against
Cirrus without prejudice.5 See Mem. Op., ECF. No. 38 at 17-23. Ms.
Canuto does not allege any new facts in her second amended
complaint such that the Court could find that it has “either
general or specific [personal] jurisdiction under the relevant
District of Columbia statutes.” Bradley v. DeWine, 55 F. Supp. 3d
31, 39 (D.D.C. 2014). Because the facts alleged against Cirrus in
the second amendment complaint are, as Ms. Canuto herself
explains, the “same” as those already considered, see Pl.’s
Suppl. to Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 60, the Court herein
incorporates its extensive personal jurisdiction analysis in the
2017 Memorandum Opinion. See Mem. Op., ECF. No. 38 at 17-23.
Ms. Canuto argues that the Court has personal jurisdiction
over Cirrus because it “exercises sufficient control over its
subsidiaries.” Pl.’s Opp’n (Cirrus), ECF No. 52 at 10. However,
5
See Havens v. Mabus, 759 F.3d 91, 98 (D.C. Cir. 2014)
(concluding that a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction is not an
adjudication on the merits) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)).
6
Ms. Canuto does not proffer any facts about Cirrus’ alleged
“subsidiaries.” See id. As such, the Court has no basis to find
that it has personal jurisdiction over these unknown entities.
Indeed, it is not accurate that Cirrus’ contacts “bear no
relation to [Ms. Canuto’s] suit.” Id. The Court cannot hear a
claim against a particular defendant unless that defendant has
sufficient “minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance
of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and
substantial justice.” International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326
U.S. 310, 316 (1945). Ms. Canuto has not met her burden to
establish a factual basis for personal jurisdiction. Mem. Op.,
ECF No. 38 at 17 (citing Okolie v. Future Servs. Gen. Trading &
Contracting Co., W.L.L., 102 F. Supp. 3d 172, 175 (D.D.C.
2015)). Thus, the Court GRANTS Cirrus’ motion to dismiss.
B. Bank of America’s Motion to Dismiss
Similarly, Bank of America argues that Ms. Canuto’s claims
against it should be dismissed because the second amended
complaint “contains the same factual allegations and claims
against Bank of America” that were dismissed with prejudice in
August 2017. Bank of America’s Mot., ECF No. 44 at 2. Again, the
Court agrees.
Because the facts alleged against Bank of America in the
second amendment complaint are, as Ms. Canuto explains, the
“same” as those already considered, see Pl.’s Suppl. to Second
7
Am. Compl., ECF No. 60, the Court herein incorporates its
extensive statutes of limitations analysis in the 2017 Memorandum
Opinion. See Mem. Op., ECF. No. 38 at 23-33; see also Canuto v.
Dep’t of Defense, Civ No. 17-cv-979, 2017 WL 6886186 at *1-2
(D.D.C. Oct. 13, 2017), aff’d 723 Fed. Appx. 6 (D.C. Cir. April
27, 2018)(finding that Ms. Canuto’s similar claims against Bank
of America were barred by res judicata in light of the Court’s
August 2017 Canuto v. Mattis Memorandum Opinion).
Ms. Canuto does not respond to Bank of America’s arguments.
Pl.’s Opp’ns (Bank of America), ECF Nos. 50, 51; see also Pl.’s
Suppl. Opp’ns, ECF Nos. 55, 62. Instead, her twelve-page
opposition memorandum discusses Section 5 of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (“the Act”), which “prohibits entities from
engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in interstate
commerce.” Pl.’s Opp’n (Bank of America), ECF No. 50 at 1. The
Act is irrelevant to whether Ms. Canuto’s claims are time-barred.
See Mem. Op., ECF No. 38. Because the Court already dismissed Ms.
Canuto’s identical claims against Bank of America, the Court
GRANTS IN PART Bank of America’s motion to dismiss.
Bank of America also asks the Court to find that Ms. Canuto
is a “vexatious litigant,” who should be enjoined from filing new
claims without leave of court. Bank of America’s Mot., ECF No. 44
at 2-4. Bank of America points to the fact that, within two weeks
of the Court’s August 2017 Memorandum Opinion, Ms. Canuto filed
8
the same claims against Bank of America in Canuto v. Department
of Defense, Civ. Case No. 17-979. Id. In response, Ms. Canuto
argues that she has a “constitutional right to sue.” Pl.’s Suppl.
Opp’n, ECF No. 55 at 8.
Ms. Canuto may not bombard the courts with frivolous and
vexatious litigation. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 states
that “an attorney or unrepresented party” must perform a
reasonable inquiry into the legal viability and factual accuracy
of a pleading or written motion before filing it with the
court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b). The rule authorizes a court to
sanction “an attorney, law firm, or party” who violates the
rule, making clear that “[a] sanction imposed under this rule
must be limited to what suffices to deter repetition of the
conduct.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(c); see also Crawford–El v.
Britton, 523 U.S. 574, 600 (1998) (“Rule 11 ... authorizes
sanctions for the filing of papers that are frivolous, lacking
in factual support, or presented for any improper purpose, such
as to harass.”) (quotations omitted)).
There is “no question” that a Court can impose sanctions or
a pre-filing injunction, as Bank of America requests, in order to
“protect the integrity of the courts and the orderly and
expeditious administration of justice.” Stankevich v. Kaplan, 156
F. Supp. 3d 86, 98 (D.D.C. 2016)(quoting Kaempfer v. Brown, 872
F.2d 496, 496 (D.C. Cir. 1989)). However, such action
9
“‘should remain very much the exception to the general rule,’”
and “‘the use of such measures against’ pro se plaintiffs
‘should be approached with particular caution.’” Smith v.
Scalia, 44 F. Supp. 3d 28, 46 (D.D.C. 2014) (quoting In re
Powell, 851 F.2d 427, 431 (D.C. Cir. 1988)).
The Court declines to sanction Ms. Canuto by issuing a
prefiling injunction because she “is a pro se litigant . . .
[who has] yet to receive a formal declaration that [her] claims
are frivolous.” Stankevich, 156 F. Supp. 3d at 98. However, Ms.
Canuto is emphatically reminded that she had a full and fair
opportunity to litigate her claims against Bank of America. She
is admonished that she is not entitled to a second bite at the
apple. Indeed, a court may choose to impose sanctions for her
conduct in the future.
C. Woodman-Sylvan’s Motion to Dismiss
Woodman-Sylvan moves to dismiss the claims against it for
lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(2) and for failure to state a claim pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6). See Woodman-Sylvan Mot., ECF No. 49. The Court
concludes—as it did with Cirrus, another California-based
property management company with no ties to the District—that it
lacks personal jurisdiction over Woodman-Sylvan. Because the
Court lacks jurisdiction, it need not resolve Woodman-Sylvan’s
Rule 12(b)(6) arguments.
10
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), the
plaintiff bears the burden of establishing a factual basis for
personal jurisdiction. Okolie, 102 F. Supp. 3d at 175 (citing
Crane v. N.Y. Zoological Soc’y, 894 F.2d 454, 456 (D.C. Cir.
1990)). To meet that burden, the plaintiff “‘must allege specific
acts connecting [the] defendant with the forum.’” Id. (quoting
Second Amendment Found. v. U.S. Conference of Mayors, 274 F.3d
521, 524 (D.C. Cir. 2001)). When making a personal jurisdiction
determination, a court need not treat all of the plaintiff’s
allegations as true. Bricklayers & Trowel Trades Int’l Pension
Fund v. Valley Concrete, Inc., Civ. No. 16-1684, 2017 WL 2455028,
at *2 (D.D.C. June 6, 2017). Instead, the court may “receive and
weigh affidavits and any other relevant matter to assist it in
determining the jurisdictional facts.” Jin v. Ministry of State
Sec., 335 F. Supp. 2d 72, 77 (D.D.C. 2004).
Assessing whether a court may exercise personal jurisdiction
over a defendant “typically implicates a state’s jurisdictional
statute or rule.” Alkanani v. Aegis Def. Servs., LLC, 976 F.
Supp. 2d 13, 21 (D.D.C. 2014) (internal quotations and
alterations omitted). Therefore, this Court has personal
jurisdiction over Woodman-Sylvan only if a District of Columbia
court could exercise personal jurisdiction over it. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 4(k)(1)(A); see also Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117,
11
125 (2014)(“Federal courts ordinarily follow state law in
determining the bounds of their jurisdiction over persons.”).6
“Two requirements must be met for a District of Columbia
court to exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant.”
Bradley v. DeWine, 55 F. Supp. 3d 31, 39 (D.D.C. 2014). “First,
the defendant must qualify for either general or specific
jurisdiction under the relevant District of Columbia statutes.”
Id. “Second, the exercise of jurisdiction over the defendant
must comply with the Due Process Clause . . . .” Id. at 39-40.
1. General Jurisdiction
There are two District of Columbia statutes that confer
general jurisdiction. King v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 210 F.
Supp. 3d 130, 136 (D.D.C. 2016). One, D.C. Code § 13-422, states
that a “District of Columbia court may exercise personal
jurisdiction over a person domiciled in, organized under the
6
To the extent that Ms. Canuto means to assert federal statutory
claims against Woodman-Sylvan, see Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42
at 6, 14, 21, none of the statutes that she cites contemplate
nationwide service of process. See Locke v. FedEx Freight, Inc.,
No. 12-708, 2012 WL 7783085, at *4 (D. Colo. Aug. 31, 2012)
(explaining that 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 do not
confer nationwide service of process); cf. McCray v. Holder, 391
F. App’x 887, 888 (D.C. Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (explaining that
there is no private right of action under 18 U.S.C. § 242).
Accordingly, this Court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction is
not “authorized by a federal statute,” see Fed. R. Civ. P.
4(k)(1)(C), and instead is limited to the exercise of personal
jurisdiction of a court of general jurisdiction in the District
of Columbia, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(k)(1)(A).
12
laws of, or maintaining his or its principal place of business
in, the District of Columbia as to any claim of relief.”
Ms. Canuto has not alleged any facts that could satisfy any
of these criteria. See generally Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42;
Pl.’s Opp.’n (Woodman-Sylvan), ECF No. 53. Indeed, Ms. Canuto
states that Woodman-Sylvan is located in Studio City, California.
See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at 14. Accordingly, the Court
is unable to exercise general jurisdiction over Woodman-Sylvan
pursuant to § 13-422.
The other general jurisdiction statute, D.C. Code § 13-334,
permits the exercise of personal jurisdiction over “a foreign
corporation doing business in the District.” The reach of this
“doing business” provision is co-extensive with the reach of
general jurisdiction under the due process clause. Day v. Cornèr
Bank (Overseas) Ltd., 789 F. Supp. 2d 150, 156 (D.D.C. 2011).
Thus, this Court can exercise “doing business” general
jurisdiction over Woodman-Sylvan only if its contacts with the
District of Columbia “are so ‘continuous and systematic’ as to
render [it] essentially at home” in the District. Goodyear Dunlop
Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 564 U.S. 915, 919 (2011). The
Court cannot exercise “doing business” general jurisdiction over
Woodman-Sylvan because Ms. Canuto has not alleged that it has
had any contacts with the District of Columbia, let alone
continuous and systematic contacts. See generally Second Am.
13
Compl., ECF No. 42; Pl.’s Opp.’n (Woodman-Sylvan), ECF No. 53.
Accordingly, the Court is unable to exercise general
jurisdiction over Woodman-Sylvan pursuant to D.C. Code § 13-
334.
Ms. Canuto argues that the Court has personal jurisdiction
because Woodman-Sylvan “exercises sufficient control over its
subsidiaries.” Pl.’s Opp.’n (Woodman-Sylvan), ECF No. 53 at 10.
However, Ms. Canuto does not proffer any facts about Woodman-
Sylvan’s alleged “subsidiaries” such that the Court could find
that it has personal jurisdiction over these unknown entities.
See id. Therefore, Ms. Canuto has not met her burden to allege
facts connecting Woodman-Sylvan to the forum.
2. Specific Jurisdiction
D.C. Code § 13-423 authorizes the exercise of specific
jurisdiction under certain enumerated circumstances, including
when an entity transacts any business in the District; contracts
to supply services in the District; causes tortious injury in the
District; or has an interest in, uses, or possesses real property
in the District. D.C. Code § 13-423(a)(1)-(5). As explained
above, Ms. Canuto has not alleged that Woodman-Sylvan has had any
contacts with the District of Columbia. See generally Second Am.
Compl., ECF No. 42; Pl.’s Opp’n (Woodman-Sylvan), ECF No. 53. She
has also not alleged that her injuries occurred here; the alleged
attacks and property damage all occurred in California. See
14
Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at 14. Therefore, Ms. Canuto “has
not shown that [her] claims ‘aris[e] from acts enumerated in’ the
District’s long-arm statute or that the exercise of jurisdiction
would satisfy due process.” Capital Bank Int’l Ltd. v. Citigroup,
Inc., 276 F. Supp. 2d 72, 77 (D.D.C. 2003) (citing D.C. Code §
13-423(b)); Gorman v. Ameritrade Corp., 293 F.3d 506, 509-10
(D.C. Cir. 2002)).
Ms. Canuto argues that the Court has jurisdiction over
Woodman-Sylvan because it committed fraud in the District. See
Pl.’s Suppl. Opp’n, ECF No. 55 at ¶ 15. She alleges that Ms.
Emmelene Pabelo lied to the Court in her declaration on behalf of
DePauw. See id. (referring to Pabelo Decl., ECF No. 5-2). While
the Court ultimately disagreed with Ms. Pabelo’s assertions
regarding DePauw’s ability to be sued, it did not find that Ms.
Pabelo deliberately mislead or defrauded the Court. See Mem.
Opin., ECF No. 38 at 5-9. Indeed, Ms. Canuto does not plead any
facts regarding Ms. Pabelo’s allegedly false representation
beyond summarily reciting the elements of fraud and concluding
that fraud was committed. See Pl.’s Suppl. Opp’n, ECF No. 55 at ¶
15; Tefera v. Onewest Bank, FSB, 19 F. Supp. 3d 215, 223 (D.D.C.
2014) (“[The plaintiff’s] single conclusory reference to fraud
misses the mark for notice pleading under [Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure] Rule 8, let alone the heightened pleading standard
required for fraud claims under Rule 9(b).”). Moreover, such
15
allegations are missing from her complaint. See generally Second
Am. Compl., ECF No. 42. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Woodman-
Sylvan’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
D. Federal Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
The federal defendants move to dismiss Ms. Canuto’s claims
on several grounds: (1) Ms. Canuto’s allegations are
“fundamentally unrealistic,” such that they should be dismissed
for lack of jurisdiction; (2) Ms. Canuto failed to
administratively exhaust her tort claims; (3) Ms. Canuto’s
complaint names improper federal defendants; (4) the Court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction over certain federal claims and/or
Ms. Canuto failed to state certain federal claims; and (5) Ms.
Canuto brought her claims in an improper venue. See Fed. Defs.’
Mot., ECF No. 66. Because the Court agrees that Ms. Canuto
failed to administratively exhaust her state law claims, that it
lacks jurisdiction over certain federal claims, and that Ms.
Canuto failed to state certain federal claims, the Court need
not assess whether Ms. Canuto’s claims are “fundamentally
unrealistic,” whether she named the proper defendant, or whether
this District is the correct venue.
1. State Law Claims
Ms. Canuto sues the federal defendants in their “official
capacit[ies].” Pl.’s Suppl. to Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 60 at
16
1. She alleges that the federal defendants repeatedly sexually
assaulted her, injured her, stole her property, “tagged” her
vehicle, and stalked her. See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at
7-12. She sues them for assault, battery, and infliction of
emotional distress, among other possible common law claims. See
id. at 16; see also Mem. Op., ECF No. 38 at 28. The federal
defendants argue that these tort claims are subject to the
Federal Torts Claims Act (“FTCA”) and must be dismissed because
Ms. Canuto failed to exhaust her administrative remedies. Fed.
Defs.’ Mot., ECF No. 66 at 10-11. The Court agrees.
Ms. Canuto seeks money damages from the federal defendants.
See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at 16-18 (seeking twenty
million dollars for each injury and each alleged rape, seeking
eight-hundred million in putative damages). “Because plaintiff
demands money damages from a federal government agency, [s]he
must proceed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), which
operates as a waiver of the government's sovereign immunity for
certain tort claims.” Edwards v. U.S. Park Police, 251 F. Supp.
3d 109, 111 (D.D.C. 2017) (citing Richards v. United States, 369
U.S. 1, 6 (1962)).
“The FTCA provides that an action shall not be instituted
upon a claim against the United States for money damages unless
the claimant has first exhausted her administrative remedies.”
McNeil v. United States, 508 US. 106, 107 (1993). Indeed, “[a]
17
tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred
unless ... action is begun within six months after the date of
mailing ... of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency
to which it was presented.” 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b); see also
Mittleman v. United States, 104 F.3d 410, 413 (D.C. Cir. 1997)(“A
claim not so presented and filed is forever barred.”). The record
establishes that Ms. Canuto did not file an administrative FTCA
claim. See Wells Decl., ECF No. 66-1 (U.S. Air Force has no
record of FTCA claim); McConahy Decl., ECF No. 66-2 (U.S. Army
has no record of FTCA claim); Russell Decl., ECF No. 66-3 (U.S.
Navy has no record of FTCA claim); Sessa Decl., ECF No. 66-4
(Department of Homeland Security has no record of FTCA claim).
Therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction over Ms. Canuto’s state
law claims. See Simpkins v. District of Columbia, 108 F.3d 366,
371 (D.C. Cir. 1997)(finding that the district court “lacked
subject matter jurisdiction, or if not jurisdiction, the
functional equivalent of it,” because the plaintiff had not
exhausted his administrative remedies).
Ms. Canuto does not address this argument, instead
contending that the federal defendants lacked “acceptable
identification” in the United States. See Pl.’s Opp’n (federal
defendants), ECF No. 67 at 2-3; see also Pl.’s Surreply, ECF NO.
69. Her argument is non-responsive and irrelevant.
18
2. Federal Law Claims
Ms. Canuto also sues the federal defendants for violations
of various federal laws including: (1) 42 U.S.C. § 1981, (2) 42
U.S.C. § 1983, (3) 18 U.S.C. § 242, and (4) the due process
clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Second Am. Compl., ECF No.
42 at 6. The federal defendants argue that these claims must be
dismissed as the statutes do not provide a cause of action and
because sovereign immunity bars Ms. Canuto’s due process claim.
Fed. Defs.’ Mot., ECF No. 66 at 11-13. The Court agrees.
“To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain
sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim
to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Starting with 42 U.S.C. § 1981, Ms.
Canuto does not state a plausible claim. Under Section 1981,
“[a]ll persons within the jurisdiction of the United States
shall have the same right . . . to sue, be parties, give
evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and
proceedings for the security of persons and property as is
enjoyed by white citizens.” 42 U.S.C. § 1981(a). “The rights
protected by this section are protected against impairment by
nongovernmental discrimination and impairment under color of
State law.” 42 U.S.C. § 1981(c)(emphasis added). Therefore,
Section 1981 does not apply to actions taken under the color of
federal law. Davis v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 204 F.3d 723, 726
19
(7th Cir. 2000)(“[T]he alleged [42 U.S.C.] § 1981 violations for
which [plaintiff] seeks redress all took place under color of
federal law and are not actionable under [Section] 1981.”). Ms.
Canuto has sued federal officials in their official capacities for
actions taken under the color of federal law. See Second Am.
Compl., ECF No. 42. Her Section 1981 claim must therefore be
dismissed.
This result is also required for Ms. Canuto’s 42 U.S.C. §
1983 claim. “Section 1983 provides a private cause of action
against any person who, under the color of state law, deprives
another of a constitutional or statutory right.” Cohen v. Univ.
of District of Columbia, -- F.Supp.3d --, 2018 WL 1935627 at *9
(D.D.C. April 24, 2018)(emphasis added); see also 42 U.S.C. §
1983. Like Section 1981, Section 1983 does not “authorize suits
challenging actions taken under color of federal law,” or “waive
the United States’ sovereign immunity.” Dye v. United States, 516
F. Supp. 2d 61, 71 (D.D.C. 2007)(emphasis added)(citations
omitted). “Because section 1983 does not create a cause of action
against a federal actor,” courts must dismiss a plaintiff’s
Section 1983 claims against a federal agency. Miango v. Dem. Rep.
Congo, 243 F. Supp. 3d 113, 134 (D.D.C. 2017). Indeed, Ms. Canuto
has sued federal officials in their official capacities for
actions taken under color of federal law. Her Section 1983 claim
must be dismissed.
20
Third, Ms. Canuto lacks a cause of action under 18 U.S.C. §
242. This is a criminal statute, criminalizing certain activity
that deprives another of any Constitutional or federal right. 18
U.S.C. § 242. It does not confer a private right of action in a
civil case. See Al-Hakim v. Obama, 650 F. App’x 29 (D.C. Cir.
2016) (per curiam) (“[T]here is no private right of action under
[18 U.S.C.] § 242.”). Her claim must be dismissed.
Finally, sovereign immunity bars Ms. Canuto’s due process
claim.7 Ms. Canuto sues the federal defendants in their
“official capacit[ies].” Pl.’s Suppl. to Second Am. Compl., ECF
No. 60 at 1. “Absent a specific waiver by the government,
sovereign immunity bars lawsuits for damages against the United
States, its agencies and government employees acting in their
official capacity.” Schwaner v. USCG Headquarters, 588 F. Supp.
2d 49, 50-51 (D.D.C. 2008) (citing FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471,
475 (1994)); Clark v. Library of Congress, 750 F.2d 89, 102– 03
(D.C. Cir. 1984)). The FTCA waives the United States' sovereign
immunity, but only as to certain common law torts. See id. at 51
(citing 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b)(1), 2679(b)). “[T]he United States
simply has not rendered itself liable under §1346(b) for
7
Ms. Canuto brings her due process claim pursuant to the
Fourteenth Amendment. See Second Am. Compl., ECF No. 42 at 6.
Because the Fourteenth Amendment applies only to states and
not to the federal government, the Court will construe her
claim as a violation of the Fifth Amendment. See Bolling v.
Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497, 499–500 (1954).
21
constitutional tort claims.” FDIC, 510 U.S. at 478. The Court
therefore must dismiss Ms. Canuto’s due process claims against
the federal defendants in their official capacities.8
Ms. Canuto does not adequately respond to the federal
defendants’ arguments, instead she argues that she has “an
absolute rights [sic] to bring tort claims . . . against federal
defendants.” Pl.’s Opp’n (federal defendants), ECF No. 67 at 4.
As the Court has just explained, this is not the case.
Therefore, the Court GRANTS the federal defendants’ motion
to dismiss.
III. Conclusion and Order
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that: (1)
Cirrus’ motion to dismiss, ECF No. 43, is GRANTED; (2) Bank of
8
Ms. Canuto clearly states that she is suing the defendants in
their official capacities. See Pl.’s Suppl. to Second Am.
Compl., ECF No. 60 at 1. However, even if Ms. Canuto had
attempted to sue the federal defendants in their individual
capacities, she fails to state a Bivens claim. See Bivens v. Six
Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388
(1971). Not only has Ms. Canuto not served the individual
defendants in their individual capacities, but she also has not
alleged that each individual defendant was “personally involved”
in the alleged Constitutional injury. Simpkins, 108 F.3d at 369.
Indeed, Ms. Canuto has not alleged a due process injury at all.
Her second amended complaint merely concludes that the federal
defendants “violated . . . the due process clause and equal
protection clause of the Constitution,” without alleging any
facts to support this claim. See, e.g., Second Am. Compl., ECF
No. 42 at 9. While the Court liberally construes Ms. Canuto’s
complaint, “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of
action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.”
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
22
America’s motion to dismiss, ECF No. 44, is GRANTED IN PART—in
that Ms. Canuto’s claims against Bank of America are dismissed
with prejudice—and DENIED IN PART—in that the Court declines to
issue a prefiling injunction; (3) Woodman-Sylvan’s motion to
dismiss, ECF No. 49, is GRANTED; and (4) the federal defendants’
motion to dismiss, ECF No. 66, is GRANTED. Because Ms. Canuto’s
second amended complaint is dismissed in full, the Court DENIES
her motion to seek damages, ECF No. 45. This is a final,
appealable Order.
SO ORDERED.
Signed: Emmet G. Sullivan
United States District Judge
June 30, 2018
23