Brown v. Arkansas Department of Human Services

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 11-1116
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Timothy W. Brown, *
*
Appellant, *
* Appeal from the United States
v. * District Court for the Western
* District of Arkansas.
Arkansas Department of Human *
Services; Kurt Knickrehm, individually * [UNPUBLISHED]
and in his official capacity; John M. *
Selig, individually and in his official *
capacity; Quranner Cotledge, *
individually and in his official capacity; *
Lee Thalheimer, individually and in his *
official capacity; Breck Hopkins, *
individually and in his official capacity; *
Sherry Wilson, individually and in her *
official capacity; Nancy Mathis, *
individually and in her official capacity; *
Lex Maples, individually and in his *
official capacity; Mason Pickens, *
individually and in his official capacity; *
Trish Smith, individually and in her *
official capacity; Beverly Huddleston, *
individually and in her official capacity; *
Ronald Smith, individually and in his *
official capacity; Dana Byrd, *
individually and in her official capacity; *
James Johnson, individually and in his *
official capacity; Jane Does, 1-7, *
individually and in their official *
capacity; John Does, 1-7, individually *
and in their official capacity; *
Fourteenth Judicial District State of *
Arkansas; Gary B. Isbell, individually *
and in his official capacity; Robert *
McCorkindale, individually and in his *
official capacity; John Putman, *
individually and in his official *
capacity; Ron Kincaide, individually *
and in his official capacity; Kenford *
Carter, individually and in his *
official capacity; Johnny Savage, *
individually and in his official capacity;
*
Deanna Evans, individually and in her *
official capacity; Jeffrey Malm, *
individually and in his official capacity;
*
Steven Davis, individually and in his *
official capacity; Greg Harris, *
individually and in his official capacity;
*
Deputy Tom Smith, individually and in *
his official capacity; Peggy Jackson, *
individually and in her official capacity;
*
Shiloh Hunsaker, individually and in *
her official capacity, *
*
Appellees. *
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Submitted: April 20, 2011
Filed: April 27, 2011
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Before MELLOY, GRUENDER, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
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Timothy Brown appeals from the district court’s1 dismissal with prejudice of
his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint. Upon careful review, see Moore v. Sims, 200 F.3d
1170, 1171 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam) (28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) dismissal for
failure to state claim is reviewed de novo), we conclude that Brown’s claims related
to the termination of his parental rights as to three of his children were properly
dismissed as untimely. See Ark. Code. Ann. § 16-56-105 (three-year statute of
limitations for personal injury action); Wallace v. Kato, 549 U.S. 384, 388 (2007)
(accrual date of § 1983 cause of action is question of federal law; accrual occurs when
plaintiff has complete and present cause of action); Miller v. Norris, 247 F.3d 736,
739 (8th Cir. 2001) (Arkansas three-year personal injury statute of limitations applies
to § 1983 action); see also Eidson v. State of Tenn. Dep’t of Children’s Servs., 510
F.3d 631, 635 (6th Cir. 2007) (continuing violation is occasioned by continuing
unlawful acts, not continual ill effects from original violation).
In addition, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in
finding that Brown’s claims relating to his parental rights for a fourth child were
barred under the abstention doctrine set forth in Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37(1971). See Norwood v. Dickey, 409 F.3d 901, 903 (8th Cir. 2005) (application of
Younger abstention doctrine reviewed for abuse of discretion); Night Clubs Inc. v.
City of Ft. Smith, 163 F.3d 475, 479-80 (8th Cir. 1998) (discussing three-part analysis
that must be addressed in determining whether to invoke Younger abstention doctrine;
stating that Younger abstention requires state proceeding to be ongoing at time district
court enters its order granting abstention); cf. Amerson v. State of Iowa, 94 F.3d 510,
512-14 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting Supreme Court has long rejected federal court
interference in state domestic relations policy; finding abstention appropriate where
district court concluded plaintiff’s claims seeking damages could not be granted
1
The Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the Western District of Arkansas, adopting the report and recommendations of the
Honorable James R. Marschewski, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western
District of Arkansas.
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without disturbing state juvenile court decision to terminate her parental rights and
considering simultaneously pending state-court appeal on decision, and where claims
in effect required preliminary declaration that state court judgment terminating
parental rights was invalid).
Moreover, although a dismissal based upon the Younger abstention doctrine
ordinarily should be without prejudice, see Anderson v. Schultz, 871 F.2d 762, 766
(8th Cir. 1989), we nevertheless affirm the dismissal with prejudice of Brown’s claims
concerning his parental rights for the fourth child, because the record supports the
following alternative grounds for dismissing these claims: Brown’s complaint did not
suggest how any of the individual defendants were involved in or responsible for any
interference with his parental rights related to the fourth child, see Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (complaint must contain sufficient factual matter,
accepted as true, that is plausible on its face; claim has facial plausibility when
plaintiff pleads factual content that allows court to draw reasonable inference that
defendant is liable for misconduct alleged); Ellis v. Norris, 179 F.3d 1078, 1079 (8th
Cir. 1999) (§ 1983 complaint must allege facts supporting any individual defendant’s
personal involvement in or responsibility for alleged constitutional violations); and
Brown’s claims against the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the
Fourteenth Judicial District of Arkansas were barred by the Eleventh Amendment, see
Nix v. Norman, 879 F.2d 429, 431-32 (8th Cir. 1989) (suit brought solely against state
or state agency is proscribed by Eleventh Amendment); Mildfelt v. Cir. Ct. of Jackson
Cnty., Mo., 827 F.2d 343, 345 (8th Cir. 1987) (per curiam) (state courts as entities are
protected by Eleventh Amendment immunity against § 1983 suits); see also Phipps
v. F.D.I.C., 417 F.3d 1006, 1010 (8th Cir. 2005) (court may affirm on any basis
supported by record).
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
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