David Nursing Home v. Michigan Department of Social Services

579 F. Supp. 285, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19623
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedFebruary 9, 1984
DocketCiv. 84-CV-0406-DT
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 579 F. Supp. 285 (David Nursing Home v. Michigan Department of Social Services) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
David Nursing Home v. Michigan Department of Social Services, 579 F. Supp. 285, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19623 (E.D. Mich. 1984).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CHURCHILL, District Judge.

On January 27, 1984, the defendant removed this action from the Wayne County Circuit Court. At the time of the removal, a Temporary Restraining Order was in effect, having been issued on the date of the filing of the complaint. Accordingly, 28 U.S.C. § 1450 and F.R.Civ.P. 65(b) operated to effect a ten-day temporary restraining order upon removal. Granny Goose Foods v. Teamsters, 415 U.S. 423, 94 S.Ct. 1113, 39 L.Ed.2d 435 (1974).

On February 3, 1984, the Court advised counsel that it would hear arguments on the plaintiff’s motion to remand or for preliminary injunction on February 6, 1984, and that it would treat the latter motion as one for a ten-day extension of the temporary restraining order under F.R.Civ.P. 65(b). The Court then heard arguments and took the matter under advisement.

The complaint alleges that the defendant has terminated, effective December 15, 1983, the plaintiff’s certification as a skilled nursing facility based upon its failure to obtain certification from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) as a Medicare provider under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq. This action by the defendant effectively excludes the plaintiff from reimbursement from the state under the Medicaid program.

The gist of the plaintiff’s claim is. that the defendant’s termination was improper under state law and not mandated by federal law. The plaintiff alleges that the Michigan statute (M.C.L.A. § 333.21718) does not require such concurrent certification and that, in any event, any termination based on the lack of such certification cannot be effected without a formal hearing and appeal. The plaintiff claims such rights afforded by the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act (M.C.L.A. § 24.201 et seq.) and the Michigan Administrative Code’s rules governing Medicaid providers (1969 AC R 400.3401, et seq.). The plaintiff also alleges that the defendant’s action is not mandated by federal law or regulation and that neither federal law nor regulation require current certification. See ¶¶ 22 and 36(B).

*287 The alleged violations of federal law in the complaint are as follows:

a. Defendant’s conduct is not pursuant to any rule or regulation governing the state Medicaid program, all of such rules and regulations being required to be included in the State’s Medicaid plan and submitted to the Secretary of HHS (¶ 36(E)).
b. Defendant’s failure to abide by federal and state law in deciding to terminate and its failure to afford plaintiff a hearing is a violation of the due process and taking clauses of the federal and Michigan constitutions (II 36(H)).

The allegations concerning the absence of federal mandate for the defendant’s action is construed by the Court as made in anticipation of a defense and, consequently, is not an essential ingredient to the plaintiff’s claim. Louisville v. Nashville R.R. Co. v. Mottley, 211 U.S. 149, 29 S.Ct. 42, 53 L.Ed. 126 (1908).

Notwithstanding the fact that the majority of the plaintiff’s claims are based expressly on the interpretation of state statutes and regulations, the federal due process and taking allegations of ¶ 36(H) present a claim arising under federal law. The Court concludes that the complaint alleges, at least in part, a claim arising under federal law. There is another impediment however to a conclusion by the Court that this case is within its original jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).

The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution provides:

“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”.

This Amendment has been construed to also prohibit suit against a state by her own citizen. Hans v. Louisiana, 134 U.S. 1, 10 S.Ct. 504, 33 L.Ed. 842 (1890) * .

The complaint alleges that the defendant is charged with responsibility for administering the federal Medicaid program in Michigan. M.C.L.A. §§ 400.10 and 16.552. The Michigan Department of Social Services is an arm of the State’s executive branch created pursuant to the State’s Constitution. Const.1963, Art. 5., § 2, M.C.L.A. § 16.104(18) and M.C.L.A. § 16.550.

The plaintiff has already secured the state court’s order that the defendant be restrained from terminating the plaintiff’s provider agreement or Medicaid payments pursuant thereto. By virtue of the Eleventh Amendment, however, this Court lacks the power to continue such an order against the State of Michigan or to grant permanent injunctive relief.

Such injunctive relief is not within the exception of Ex Parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 28 S.Ct. 441, 52 L.Ed. 714 (1908) or Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974). Those cases involved claims against state officers whose acts pursuant to unconstitutional statutes were deemed to be acts which the state was without power to authorize and thus outside the scope of the Amendment’s imL munity.

The only remaining issue in assessing federal jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s claims involves the defendant’s possible waiver of the immunity through participation in the Medicaid program and by removal of the action to this court.

Such a waiver will be found only if stated “by the most express language or by such overwhelming implication from the text as will leave no room for any other reasonable construction.” Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974). The waiver may not be lightly inferred. Soni v. Board of Trustees of the University of Tennessee, 513 F.2d 347 (6th Cir.1975) cert denied, 426 U.S. 919, 96 S.Ct. 2623, 49 L.Ed.2d 373 (1976). There is no indication of an express statutory waiver of the immunity, and par *288 ticipation in the federal program is insufficient to rise to such a waiver. Florida Dept of Health v. Florida Nursing Home Association,

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Bluebook (online)
579 F. Supp. 285, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19623, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/david-nursing-home-v-michigan-department-of-social-services-mied-1984.