Farmer v. Anninos

604 F. Supp. 136, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23952
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedAugust 31, 1984
DocketNo. C-3-84-212
StatusPublished

This text of 604 F. Supp. 136 (Farmer v. Anninos) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Farmer v. Anninos, 604 F. Supp. 136, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23952 (S.D. Ohio 1984).

Opinion

DECISION AND ENTRY SUSTAINING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS; PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT DISMISSED IN ITS ENTIRETY; PLAINTIFF DIRECTED TO FILE SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLAINT UNDER CASE NO. C-3-81-285; INDIVIDUAL PARTIES ORDERED TO SUBMIT AFFIDAVITS UNDER CASE NO. C-3-81-285; TERMINATION ENTRY

RICE, District Judge.

Based upon the reasoning and citations of authority set forth by Defendants [137]*137in support of their Motion to Dismiss (Doc. # 4), filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1), the Court concludes that Defendant’s Motion, as it pertains to Plaintiff’s state law claims, is well-taken and dismisses said claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.1 With reference to Plaintiff’s claims under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1983, the Court treats Defendants’ Motion as one asserting that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6), and sustains said Motion. Simply stated, Defendants, Plaintiff’s counsel, under facts as alleged in the Plaintiff’s Complaint, do not act under col- or of state law. See Henderson v. Fisher, 631 F.2d 1115, 1119 (3d Cir.1980) (per curiam) (private attorney does not act under color of state law); Moss v. Varian, 537 F.Supp. 711, 712 (N.D.Ohio 1982) (same); see also Black v. Bayer, 672 F.2d 309, 314 (3rd Cir.) cert. denied, sub nom. Stoica v. Stewart, 459 U.S. 916, 103 S.Ct. 230, 74 L.Ed.2d 182 (1982) (court appointed counsel does not act under color of state law); Polk County v. Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 325, 102 S.Ct. 445, 453, 70 L.Ed.2d 509 (1981) (public defender does not act under color of state law), state action being one of the required elements of a § 1983 civil rights claim. Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535, 101 S.Ct. 1908, 1912, 68 L.Ed. 420 (1981); Brandon v. Allen, 719 F.2d 151, 153 (6th Cir.1983).2 Thus, Plaintiff has failed to state a cause of action under § 1983.

Despite the fact that the Court sustains Defendants’ Motion, dismisses Plaintiff’s Complaint and terminates the instant case infra, the Court states that it does have supervisory jurisdiction over contingent fee contracts arising out of attorney services rendered in cases before it. See Allen v. United States, 606 F.2d 432, 435-36 (4th Cir.1979). See also Cooper v. Singer, 719 F.2d 1496, 1504-07 (10th Cir.1983); Jersey Land and Development Corp. v. United States, 342 F.Supp. 48 (D.N.J. 1972).3 Exercise of this supervisory jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s allegations seems particularly appropriate in that the complained of conduct arose out of the attorney-client relationship created with the assistance of this Court. Furthermore, the contingent fee arrangement that grew out of that relationship specifically concerns settlement of at least one ease4, namely, C-3-81-285, which was previously pending in this Court. See attached Special Power of Attorney. For these reasons, the Court directs Plaintiff to file the allegations which initiated the captioned cause, as a supplemental complaint, under the terminated case, number C-3-81-285, if Plaintiff wishes to proceed with these matters. After Plaintiff’s complaint is properly filed under C-3-81-285, the individual parties to the captioned cause are ordered to promptly file affidavits (with authenticated supporting documents, if necessary) specifically setting forth facts relevant to the allegations made by Plaintiff in his supplemental complaint. In the event that an oral evidentiary hearing is needed by the Court in order to dispose of Plaintiff's supplemental complaint, said hearing will be held in Cincinnati.

Plaintiff, in his Complaint filed in this case on March 21,1984, seeks the return of his property, presumably including a copy [138]*138of a Motion to Vacate Judgment, court orders, trial transcripts, etc. (Doc. # 1 at If 25), allegedly withheld by Defendants. The Court notes, however, that on March 30, 1984, Judge Spiegel, in case number C-l-80-647, ordered Defendant Anninos “to return all files and documents, the property of plaintiff, to plaintiff forthwith and without charge”. See attached Order. The Court is confident that by this time Defendants) has fully complied with Judge Spiegel’s Order. If this is not the case, Plaintiff should promptly so advise this Court by filing a motion and affidavit under case number C-3-81-285.

WHEREFORE, based upon the aforesaid, the Court sustains Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and, accordingly, dismisses Plaintiff’s Complaint in its entirety. If Plaintiff wishes to proceed in this Court with his allegations, he is directed to file a supplemental complaint under the terminated case, C-3-81-285. After said filing, the parties are directed to file affidavits addressing Plaintiff’s allegations.

The captioned cause is hereby ordered terminated upon the docket records of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, at Dayton, Ohio.

APPENDIX

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, DEREK A. FARMER, hereby appoint A. P. Anninos my Attorney-In-Fact, to endorse the draft issued in the settlement of my case against the Sheriff's Department of Montgomery County, Ohio, in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred ($7,500.00) Dollars. Said case is presently pending in the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, Ohio, being Case No. C-3-81-285 > and which case involves an occurrence at the Montgomery County, Ohio, jail in which I sustained injury. Said Attorney-In-Fact is hereby authorized to act for me and in my name, plaaa, and stead, for my use, and to sign said draft in my name, for me, and in my name, place, and stead, and to pay all cost3 and attorney's fees incurred by my attorney in the said cause of action.

I further give and grant unto my said Attorney-In-Fact full power and authority to perform every act and deed necessary and proper to be done in the exercise of any and all of the foregoing powers as fully as I might [139]*139or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney-In-Fact may lawfully do or cause to be dpne by virtue hereof.

This power of attorney shall further authorize my Attorney-In-Fact to deposit the remainder of the proceeds from said draft in an interest-bearing savings account for me, and in my name, place and stead, and I further hereby ratify and confirm any and all such transactions.

This power of attorney shall not be affected by my disability, incapacity, or adjudged incompetency.

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Related

Parratt v. Taylor
451 U.S. 527 (Supreme Court, 1981)
Polk County v. Dodson
454 U.S. 312 (Supreme Court, 1981)
Tower v. Glover
467 U.S. 914 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Jersey Land and Development Corp. v. United States
342 F. Supp. 48 (D. New Jersey, 1972)
Moss v. Varian
537 F. Supp. 711 (N.D. Ohio, 1982)
Black v. Bayer
672 F.2d 309 (Third Circuit, 1982)
Stoica v. Stewart
459 U.S. 916 (Supreme Court, 1982)

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Bluebook (online)
604 F. Supp. 136, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23952, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farmer-v-anninos-ohsd-1984.