Robinson v. United States ( 2017 )

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In the United States Court of Federal Claims
No. l7-745C
(Filed: July 13, 2017) F l LED
NoT FoR PUBchArroN JUL 1 3 2017
US.COURTOF
) FEDERAL CLA|MS
TAVEREN ROB INS ON, )
)
Plaintiff, ) Pro Se Cornplaint; w Sponte
) Disrnissal for Want of
V. ) Jurisdiction; RCFC 12(h)(3);
) Transfer Not Warranted;
THE UNITED STATES, ) 28 U.S.C. § 1631 (2012)
)
Defendant. )
)
ORDER
Before the court is the complaint of p_rg § plaintiff Taveren Robinson and his
application to proceed i_n forma pauperis, both filed on June 5, 2017.l S_ee Pl.’s Compl. 4,
ECF No. l. Because the court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiff’s claims, the court must
dismiss this case pursuant to Rule lZ(h)(3) of the Rules of the United States Court of
Federal Claims (RCFC). § RCFC lZ(h)(S) (“If the court determines at any time that it
lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.”). The court’s
jurisdictional analysis is set forth below.
I. Bacl312 U.S. 584, 588 (1941) (citations omitted).
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App’X A to Pl.’s Compl. 2, ECF No. 1-1. Plaintiff states his complaint “aris[es] out of
private injuries and violations of Invo[l]untary Servitude and Unlawful Restraint in
violation of the Thirteenth Arnendment of the United States Constitution’s prohibition
against Involuntary Servitude, Bad Faith/Breach of Contract by breach of contractual
agreement.” Pl.’s Compl. 2. In sum, plaintiffs suit implicates the actions of corrections
officials, gg, Robert Gilmore, of the State of Pennsylvania. l_c; in support of his breach
of contract claim, plaintiffs complaint contains four exhibits, titled: (l) Exhibit A:
Conditional Acceptance Request Proof of Facts; (2) EXhibit B: Notice of F ault and
Opportunity to Cure and Contest Acceptance; (3) Exhibit C: Affidavit of Certificate of
Non»Response and Failure to Contest Acceptance and Agreement; and (4) Exhibit D:
Affidavit of Default and Formal Acceptance Contract. E App’x A to Pl.’s Compl.
Monetary relief is sought in the amount of approximately 3324,500. Pl.’s Compl. 10.
II. Legal Standards
“A court may and should raise the question of its jurisdiction sua sponte at any
time it appears in doubt.” Arctic Corner, lnc. v. United States, 845 F.2d 999, 1000 (Fed.
Cir. 1988) (citation omitted). The practice of the Court of Federal Claims has been for a
judge to review a prc se complaint to ascertain if, beyond peradventure, it cannot support
jurisdiction Thus, the government is not taxed, in a case that unquestionably does not
belong in the Court of Federal Claims, With a Wasteful expenditure of its limited
resources to establish that jurisdiction is lacking In any case alleging a basis for
jurisdiction “‘so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely devoid of merit,”’ Kr_oll
v. Finnerty, 242 F.3d 1359, 1362 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (quoting Hagans v. Lavine, 415 U.S.
528, 536 (1974)), the court Would be remiss in allowing the action to proceed
In order to determine its jurisdiction over plaintiffs suit, this court must presume
all factual allegations in the complaint to be true and construe all reasonable inferences in
favor of the plaintiff Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974), abrogated on other
grounds by Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 814-15 (1982); Revnolds v. Army & Air
Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d 746, 747 (Fed. Cir. 1988). However, plaintiff bears the
burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction, Alder Terrace, Inc. v. United States,
161 F.3d 1372, 1377 (Fed, Cir. 1998) (citing McNutt v. Gen. l\/lotors Acceptance Corp.
of Ind., 298 U.S. 178, 189 (1936)), and must do so by a preponderance of the evidence,
Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 748 (citations omitted).
The Tucl28 U.S.C. § 1491 (2012).
That statute “confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Federal Claims over the specified
categories of actions brought against the United States.” Fisher v. United States, 402
F.3d 1167, 1172 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) (citations omitted). These include money
damage claims against the federal government founded upon the Constitution, an act of
Congress, a reguiation promulgated by an executive department, any express or implied
contract With the United States, or any claim for liquidated or unliquidated damages in
cases not sounding in tort. LCL (citing 28 U.S.C. § l491(a)(1)).
2
The Tucker Act concurrentiy “Waives the Government’s sovereign immunity for
those actions.” 151_. The statute does not, however, create a substantive cause of action or
right to recover money damages in the Court of Federal Claims. I_d_. “[T]o come Within
the jurisdictional reach and the Waiver of the Tucker Act, a plaintiff must identify a
separate source of substantive law that creates the right to money damages.” pludg
ln other Words, the source underlying the cause of action must be money-
mandating, in that it “‘can fairly be interpreted as mandating compensation by the Federal
Government . . . .”’ United States v. Testan, 424 U.S. 392, 400 (1976) (quoting Eastport
S.S. Corp. v. United States, 372 F.2d 1002, 1009 (Ct. Cl. 1967) and citing Mosca V.
United States, 417 F.2d 1382, 1386 (Ct. Cl. 1969)). 1f the provision relied upon is found
to be money-mandating, the plaintiff need not rely upon a Waiver of sovereign immunity
beyond the Tucker Act. Huston v. United States, 956 F.2d 259, 261 (Fed. Cir. 1992)
(citing United States v. Mitcheli, 463 U.S. 206, 218 (1983)). lf, on the other hand, no
money-mandating source supports the cause of action and jurisdiction is found to be
lacl28 U.S.C. § 1631 (2012).
IH. Analysis
A. Statutes Alleged to Provide Jurisdiction in This Court
Plaintiff`s complaint states that jurisdiction over his claims is provided by 28
U.S.C. §§ 3001, 3002 (2012). Pl.’s Compl. 1, ECF No. 1. Both ofthese statutes concern
federai debt collection procedures, not the jurisdiction of this specialized court.
Additionally, plaintiff asserts jurisdiction under 5 U.S.C. §§ 2104-2105 (2012), Which
provide definitions of federal officers and employees Li None of these statutes is a
money-mandating provision Which could support plaintiffs request for money damages
in this court.
B. Plaintiff`s Thirteenth Amendment Claim
Plaintiff` s complaint includes a claim under the Thirteenth Amendment of the
United States Constitution. Pl.’s Compl. 5, ECF No. 1. This court, however, does not
have subject matter jurisdiction over claims raised under that constitutional provision.
See Nwogu v. United States, 94 Fed. Cl. 637, 650 (2010) (holding that the Thirteenth
Amendment does not require the payment of money for its violation and thus provides no
basis for this court’s jurisdiction), rev’d in part on other grounds, 497 F. App’x 952 (Fed.
Cir. 2012); Johnson v. United States, 79 Fed. Cl. 769, 774 (2007) (“This court . . . cannot
entertain claims brought under the Thirteenth Amendment because it does not mandate
the payment of money damages for its violation.”).
C. Claims Against Parties Other Than the United States
lt is well established that the Court of Federal Claims does not have jurisdiction
over civil wrongs, or torts, committed by agents of the United States. Brams v. United
States, 105 F.3d 62l, 623 (Fed. Cir. 1997); Eastport S.S. Corp., 178 Ct. Cl. at 614. “The
Tucl105 F.3d 621,
624 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Indeed, allegations of “wrongful conduct by governmental officials
in their official capacity are tort claims over which the United States Court of Federal
Claims does not have jurisdiction.” Sindram v. United States, 67 Fed. Cl. 788, 792
(2005) (citing 28 U.S.C. § l346(b)). For that reason, l\/lr. Robinson’s claim against a
superintendent of a state correctional faciiity, Mr. Robert Gilmore, is outside of this
court’s subject matter jurisdiction
D. Breach of Contract Claim
Plaintiff’s complaint attaches four exhibits as supporting evidence that the United
States has entered into a binding contract with him: (1) Conditional Acceptance Request
Proof of Facts; (2) Notice of Fault and Opportunity to Cure and Contest Acceptance; (3)
Affidavit of Certificate of Non-Response and Failure to Contest Acceptance and
Agreement; and, (4) Affidavit of Default and Formal Acceptance Contract. The exhibits
are not signed by any officer or employee of the United States. Three of the exhibits are
signed only by Mr. Robinson. A fourth exhibit is signed by a “third party,” Neal C.
Parnell, Jr. The documents appear to be an attempt by Mr. Robinson to create a contract
and a debt owed by l\/lr. Gilmore, the prison superintendent, to Mr. Robinson.
Plaintiff’s complaint refers to these exhibits as proof that a contract exists between
Mr. Robinson and the United States. fn pertinent part, his complaint states as follows
[As to] all matters herefore agree[d] upon by Robert Gilmore pursuant to the
full agreement of particulars contained in the Conditionai Acceptance and
related exhibits attached hereto[,] . . . Robert Gilmore[] has by his silence
and acquiescence agreed to the Facts.
By Mr. Gilmore’s silence and acquiescence for the particular claims in the
Conditional Acceptance and upon his dishonor and admission to the injuries,
he [Robert Gilmore] herein binds the United States and the State of
Pennsylvania for financial compensation to compe[n]sate the Plaintiff for
injuries.
Pl.’s Compl. 3-4, ECF No. 1.
The allegations of a contract in the complaint are frivolous As this court has
explained,
A party does not place a matter within our [court’sj jurisdiction by simply
calling something a contract which does not meet the legal definition of one.
The Federal Circuit has established “that insubstantial allegations as to the
existence of a money~mandating contract will warrant dismissal for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction.”
Harris v. United States, No. 13~69C, 2013 WL 4017276, at *2 (Fed. Cl. July 31, 2013)
(citation omitted). ln order to establish that a valid contract exists with the United States,
whether express or iinplied-in-fact, a plaintiff must show: (1) mutuality of intent; (2)
consideration; (3) lack of ambiguity in the offer and acceptance; (4) actual authority to
bind the [federal] government in contract on the part of the government officer whose
conduct is relied upon. Karn-Almaz v. United States, 682 F.3d 1364, 1368 (Fed. Cir.
2012) (citing Hanlin v. United States, 316 F.3d 1325, 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2003)). Not one of
these contract formation elements is present here.
Plaintiff argues that Mr. Gilmore’s failure to acknowledge and respond to the
documents sent to him constitutes acceptance by silence. Even if this theory of acceptance
were valid, there is no non-frivolous allegation in the complaint that Mr. Gilmore, a state
official, has the authority to bind the United States iii contract. Even assuming all of the
facts in the complaint to be true, plaintiffs complaint does not plead the existence of a
contract with the United States.
E. Transfer to Another Court ls Not in the lnterest of Justice
As discussed §i_iprg, this court has no jurisdiction over plaintiffs claims. When
this court finds that it does not have jurisdiction over a case before it, the court may deem
it appropriate to transfer the case to another federal court. The transfer of cases from this
court to another federal court is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 1631 (2012), which states in
relevant pait that
[w]henever a civil action is filed in [this] court . . . and [this] court finds that
there is a want of jurisdiction, the court shall, if it is in the interest of justice,
transfer such action or appeal to any other such court in which the action or
appeal could have been brought at the time it was filed or noticed, and the
action or appeal shall proceed as if it had been filed in or noticed for the court
to which it is transferred on the date upon which it was actually filed in or
noticed for the court from which it is transferred
Ld “Transfer is appropriate when three elements are metz (1) The transferring court
lacks subject matter jurisdiction; (2) the case could have been filed in the court receiving
the transfer; and (3) the transfer is in the interests ofjustice.” Brown v, United States, 74
Fed. Cl. 546, 550 (2006) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1631). The first condition ofthe transfer
statute has been met, because this court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs claims
l. Procedural History
ln determining if transfer is appropriate, we must review the previous litigation
cited by plaintiff in his complaint which plaintiff specifically acknowledges that “in some
aspects are similar issues” currently before the court. Pl.’s Compl. 2, ECF No. l. i\/lore
specifically, he cites to “Case No. A.D. 3 of 2014, A.D. 718, 2016 and 2:16-cv-0l764.”
id Because plaintiffs complaint before this court does not include any further
information on these cited cases the court has turned to the Public Access to Court
Electronic Records (PACER) which revealed that plaintiff has been a plaintiff in six
cases, five in the United States District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania
(Pittsburgh) and the sixth case being the one before this court now. Robinson v. Folino
et al. tRobinson l), Dl28 U.S.C. § 1631. _”1:§§
Peanut Farmers v. United States, 409 F.3d 1370, 1374-75 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (stating that
the Court of Federal Clainis should consider whether transfer is appropriate once the
court has determined that it lacks jurisdiction). Section 1631 states in pertinent part:
Whenever a civil action is filed in a court as defined in section 610 of this
title . . . and that court finds that there is a want ofjurisdiction, the court shall,
if it is in the interest ofjustice, transfer such action . . . to any other such court
in which the action . . , could have been brought at the time it was filed or
noticed . . . .
28 U.S.C. § 1631; se_e 28 U.S.C. § 610 (2012) (defining courts as “courts of appeals and
district courts of the United States, the United States District Court for the District of the
Canal Zone, the District Court of Guam, the District Court of the Virgin lslands, the
United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Court of international Trade”).
The court does not believe, however, that it is in the interest of justice to transfer
Mr. Robinson’s claims. Plaintiff requests relief from this court for being unlawfully held
at the State Correctional institution at Greene in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Mr.
Robinson is already seeking this same relief from the United States District Court for the
Western District of Pennsylva.nia in this regard E Robinson V, W.D. Pa. Dk. No.
1:2016-cv~01764. lt is not in the interest of justice to transfer his claims to a court which
already has pending before it a similar suit. Any of the claims l\/lr. Robinson presents to
this court can be presented to the district court in the suit he has brought there. For this
reason, transfer is not warranted
Based on the foregoing, the court finds that transfer of plaintiffs remaining claims
would not be appropriate
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction over plaintiffs
claims, and it is not in the interest of justice to transfer plaintiffs complaint. Plaintiff s
application to proceed ip forma pauperis is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is directed
to DISMISS plaintiffs complaint for lack of jurisdiction, without prejudice E RCFC
12(h)(3). The Clerk of Court will enter judgment for defendant Additionally, the clerk’s
office is directed to return any future filings not in compliance with this court’s rules to
plaintiff, unfiled, without further order.
lT lS SO ORDERED.
4 “l’Yi r~/i (i gal/4 j i/)€_/f/l("i/Vl
PATRICIA E. CAl\/[PBE_ LL- SMILH;
Judge