Cribb v. Pelham

552 F. Supp. 1217, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16301
CourtDistrict Court, D. South Carolina
DecidedNovember 24, 1982
DocketCiv. A. 81-2749-15
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 552 F. Supp. 1217 (Cribb v. Pelham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cribb v. Pelham, 552 F. Supp. 1217, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16301 (D.S.C. 1982).

Opinion

*1219 ORDER

HAMILTON, District Judge.

The complaint herein purports to state seven causes of action against six defendants for damages sustained by reason of the alleged unlawful arrest and subsequent state prosecution of plaintiff Daniel P. Cribb. Mr. Cribb asserts claims for the alleged deprivation of rights secured by 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983,1985 and 1988 and the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution; and, along with Mrs. Cribb, seeks to impose liability on defendants based upon pendent state law claims sounding in tort.

Before the court for ruling at this time are three motions. First, by motion filed January 12, 1982, the defendant South Carolina Highway Patrol has moved this court to dismiss the complaint as against it pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Second, by motion filed January 19, 1982, the defendants Dudley Saleeby and W. Harry Conner have moved this court to dismiss the complaint as against them pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). Finally, by motion filed February 15, 1982, the defendant County of Florence, State of South Carolina, has moved this court to dismiss the complaint as against it pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) or, in the alternative, for summary judgment in its favor pursuant to Rule 56. The respective parties have presented to the court memoranda of authorities in support of and in opposition to the various motions, and oral arguments were heard on July 27, 1982.

MOTION OF DEFENDANT PATROL TO DISMISS

This first matter is before the court on a motion to dismiss filed by defendant South Carolina Highway Patrol (hereinafter Patrol) pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Defendant Patrol, in its motion and supporting memorandum, asserts two grounds for dismissal. First, this court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action as against the Patrol in that the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution bars this suit. Secondly, the complaint here fails to state a claim against the Patrol upon which relief can be granted in that the State of South Carolina or its alter ego, the Patrol, is not a “person” within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Based upon the reasons and authorities to be discussed below, the court is of the opinion that this action as against the defendant Patrol should be dismissed. 1

Defendant Patrol is the law enforcement division of the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation (hereinafter Department), which is an administrative agency of the government of the State of South Carolina. Sections 23-5-10 (Patrol) and 57-3-10 (Department) of the Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976, as amended. The Patrol, as a division of the Department, functions as an arm of state government and is an alter ego of the State of South Carolina. Sections 23-5-10 and 57-3-10, supra; United States v. State of South Carolina, 445 F.Supp. 1094, 1100 (D.S.C.1977), aff’d, 434 U.S. 1026, 98 S.Ct. 756, 54 L.Ed.2d 775 (1978); Simmons v. South Carolina State Highway Department, 195 F.Supp. 516 (D.S.C.1961). If this action as against the Patrol should proceed to trial and the plaintiffs prevail, their recovery would be paid from public funds in the state treasury. Accordingly, this court concludes that the plaintiffs’ action herein against the Patrol is in reality a suit against the State of South Carolina.

The defendant Patrol contends that it is absolutely immune from suit in this case by reason of the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution which states: *1220 The Supreme Court has held that, pursuant to the Eleventh Amendment, a state is immune from suits brought in federal courts by its own citizens as well as by citizens of another state or citizens or subjects of any foreign state. Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974); Southern Railway Co. v. South Carolina State Highway Department, 246 F.Supp. 435 (D.S.C.1965). See also Cory v. White, - U.S. -, 102 S.Ct. 2325, 72 L.Ed.2d 694 (1982). Moreover, it is well settled that the Eleventh Amendment precludes a suit against a state agency, entity or institution that functions as an arm or alter ego of the state. Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 98 S.Ct. 3057, 57 L.Ed.2d 1114 (1978); United States v. State of South Carolina, 445 F.Supp. 1094, 1100 (D.S.C.1977), aff’d, 434 U.S. 1026, 98 S.Ct. 756, 54 L.Ed.2d 775 (1978); Belcher v. South Carolina Department of Corrections, 460 F.Supp. 805 (D.S.C.1978); Gourdine v. Ellis, 435 F.Supp. 882 (D.S.C.1977).

*1219 The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.

*1220 The immunity afforded to the states by the Eleventh Amendment can be overcome if the state waives its constitutional immunity and consents to suit; or, with respect to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, Congress abrogates the state’s immunity pursuant to its authority to enforce the substantive provisions of those amendments “by appropriate legislation.” Amendment XIII, Section 2; Amendment XIV, Section 5; Amendment XV, Section 2. First, the doctrine of sovereign immunity prevails in South Carolina. Belue v. City of Spartanburg, 276 S.C. 381, 280 S.E.2d 49 (1981). Clearly, the State of South Carolina has not waived its immunity regarding claims such as the ones brought by plaintiffs here. Secondly, Congress did not exercise its power to abrogate the state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity when it enacted 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985. Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 99 S.Ct. 1139, 59 L.Ed.2d 358 (1979); Sessions v. Rusk State Hospital, 648 F.2d 1066 (5th Cir.1981); Gourdine v. Ellis,

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Bluebook (online)
552 F. Supp. 1217, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cribb-v-pelham-scd-1982.