Christopher A. Briggs v. Kathryn A. Briggs

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
AUGUST 27, 2007
No. 06-14564 and No. 06-14819 THOMAS K. KAHN
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 05-01325-CV-T-EAJ
CHRISTOPHER A. BRIGGS,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
KATHRYN A. BRIGGS,
Defendant-Appellee.
_______________________
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Florida
_________________________
(August 27, 2007)
Before ANDERSON, BLACK and MARCUS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Christopher Briggs (“Christopher”), proceeding pro se, appeals the
magistrate’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim and supplemental state law
claims against his sister, Kathryn Briggs (“Kathryn”), and the award of attorney’s
fees to Kathryn under Fed.R.Civ.P. 11.1
As an initial matter, Christopher moves to strike portions of Kathryn’s brief.
Because Kathryn’s brief is substantially compliant with this Court’s rules, the
motion is DENIED.
Christopher argues on appeal that the magistrate erred by dismissing his
complaint. He asserts that the facts from his complaint provide a sufficient basis
for a finding of a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 violation.
We review de novo a district court’s ruling on summary judgment, applying
the same legal standards as the court below. Skrtich v. Thornton, 280 F.3d 1295,
1299 (11th Cir. 2002). “Summary judgment is appropriate only when the evidence
before the court demonstrates that ‘there is no genuine issue of material fact and
that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.’” Id. (citation
omitted). On a summary judgment motion, the record, and all reasonable
inferences that can be drawn from it, must be viewed in the light most favorable to
the non-moving party. Whatley v. CNA Ins. Cos., 189 F.3d 1310, 1313 (11th Cir.
1999). Nevertheless, conclusory allegations based on subjective beliefs are
insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact. Leigh v. Warner Bros., Inc.,
212 F.3d 1210, 1217 (11th Cir. 2000).
1
The parties consented to the magistrate judge conducting all proceedings in the district
court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).
2
To succeed on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, a party must establish that the
offending conduct was committed by a person acting under color of state law and
that the conduct deprived him of rights secured by the Constitution or laws of the
United States. Fullman v. Graddick, 739 F.2d 553, 561 (11th Cir. 1984). A
plaintiff claiming a conspiracy under § 1983 must make particularized allegations
that a conspiracy exists. See GJR Investments, Inc. v. County of Escambia, 132
F.3d 1359, 1370 (11th Cir. 1998).
A private party can be viewed as a “state actor” for §1983 purposes “[o]nly
in rare circumstances.” Harvey v. Harvey, 949 F.2d 1127, 1130 (11th Cir. 1992).
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, liability attaches only to those wrongdoers “who carry a
badge of authority of a State and represent it in some capacity, whether they act in
accordance with their authority or misuse it.” Nat’l Collegiate Ath. Ass’n. v.
Tarkanian, 488 U.S. 179, 191, 109 S.Ct. 454, 461-62, 102 L.Ed.2d 469 (1988)
(citations omitted). “Misuse of power, possessed by virtue of state law and made
possible only because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law, is
action taken ‘under color of state law.’” Id. (citations omitted).
A state actor may not be held vicariously liable for its § 1983 claims arising
from employee conduct, but may be held liable if the violation of the plaintiff’s
rights is attributable to the entity’s policy or custom. Monell v. Dep't. of Social
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Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-91, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 2035-36, 56 L. Ed. 2d 611 (1978);
see also Harvey, 949 F.2d at 1129-30 (extending Monell prohibition of vicarious
liability to private actors acting under color of state law).
Because Christopher failed to assert any facts or make “particularized
allegations” supporting the essential elements of a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, the
magistrate did not err in dismissing the claim.
Christopher next argues that the magistrate erred in determining that the
amount in controversy was less than $75,000. He asserts that the allegedly stolen
items had a value of $81,400, and that the district court had diversity jurisdiction to
adjudicate his state law claims.
We review de novo the district court’s dismissal of a complaint for lack of
subject-matter jurisdiction. Samco Global Arms, Inc. v. Arita, 395 F.3d 1212,
1214 n.4 (11 th Cir. 2005). The magistrate’s finding of lack of subject-matter
jurisdiction was embodied in an order granting the defendant’s motion for
summary judgment. Subject-matter jurisdiction is appropriately dealt with by
means of a motion to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1), and we will treat the
district court’s summary judgment ruling as if it were a ruling on a Rule 12(b)(1)
motion. See Troiano v. Supervisor of Elections, 382 F.3d 1276, 1278 n.2 (2004).
Diversity jurisdiction exists if “the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or
4
value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between citizens of
different States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). A plaintiff’s case will only be dismissed
for failing to meet the jurisdictional minimum amount in controversy if “it appears
to a legal certainty the plaintiff’s claim is actually for less than the jurisdictional
amount.” Burns v. Windsor Ins. Co., 31 F.3d 1092, 1094 (11th Cir. 1994).
We review the district court’s findings of jurisdictional facts for clear error.
Scarfo v. Ginsberg, 175 F.3d 957, 960 (11th Cir. 1999). In a factual attack on
jurisdiction, such as in this case, the district court may consider matters outside the
pleadings, and the presumption of truthfulness normally afforded a plaintiff under
Rule 12(b)(1) does not apply. Lawrence v. Dunbar, 919 F.2d 1525, 1529 (11th
Cir. 1990).
Because Kathryn provided reliable evidence that Christopher’s assessment
of the value of his allegedly stolen items was based entirely on his own
unsupported valuation of them, the magistrate could find with legal certainty that
the total value of the items did not approach $75,000.
Christopher also argues that the magistrate abused her discretion when she
ordered Rule 11 sanctions against him. He asserts that his underlying claim was
not frivolous and that his limited ability to pay should have been a consideration in
the court’s assessment of attorney’s fees.
5
A district court’s award of sanctions under Rule 11 is reviewed for abuse of
discretion. Massengale v. Ray, 267 F.3d 1298, 1301 (11th Cir. 2001). Rule 11
permits imposing sanctions on an attorney, law firm, or party as the court deems
appropriate. Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(c). Rule 11 sanctions are appropriate (1) when a
party files a pleading that has no reasonable factual basis; (2) when the party files a
pleading that is based on a legal theory with no reasonable chance of success and
that cannot be advanced as a reasonable argument to change existing law; or (3)
when the party files a pleading in bad faith for an improper purpose. Massengale,
267 F.3d at 1301. The rule is intended to deter improper litigation techniques, such
as delay and bad faith. Fed.R.Civ.P. 11, 1983 Advisory Committee notes. The
sanction must be enough to deter repetition of the same conduct and may consist of
monetary or non-monetary damages paid to the court or, if appropriate, to the
opposing party in the form of attorneys’ fees. Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(c)(2).
When the district court orders sanctions, it must describe the conduct it
determined warranted sanctions. Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(c)(3); Riccard v. Prudential Ins.
Co., 307 F.3d 1277, 1295 (11th Cir. 2002).2 Because Christopher filed a pleading
2
We decline to entertain Christopher’s argument that the district court erred in failing to
consider his ability to pay the sanctioned amount, because the argument was raised for the first
time on appeal and no exception to our usual rule is apparent. See Narey v. Dean, 32 F.3d 1521,
1526-27 (11th Cir. 1994) (setting forth exception to the general rule that arguments raised for the
first time on appeal will not be entertained).
6
that had no factual basis, and he filed the pleading for the purpose of harassing his
sister as part of an ongoing family disagreement, Rule 11 sanctions were
appropriate.
Accordingly, the district court magistrate’s dismissal of Christopher’s claims
and the imposition of sanctions is AFFIRMED.
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