Fields v. Department of Public Safety

911 F. Supp. 2d 373, 2012 WL 6005775, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168112
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Louisiana
DecidedNovember 27, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. 3:11-CV-00101
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 911 F. Supp. 2d 373 (Fields v. Department of Public Safety) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fields v. Department of Public Safety, 911 F. Supp. 2d 373, 2012 WL 6005775, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168112 (M.D. La. 2012).

Opinion

RULING AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS PURSUANT TO FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 12(b)(1) AND 12(b)(6)

BRIAN A. JACKSON, Chief Judge.

This matter is before the Court on a motion by the Department of Public Safety (“Defendant” or “LDPSC”) to dismiss (doc. 13-1) pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) and (b)(6). Edwina Fields (“Plaintiff’) opposes the motion (doc. 15), and Defendant has replied to Plaintiffs opposition (doc. 18).

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, a black female employee of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (“Elayn Hunt”), began working for Defendant on January 11, 1999, as a Sergeant and later as a Master Sergeant (doc. 1, p. 2; doc. 15, p. 2). She asserts that throughout the many years of her employment she experienced discrimination based on her age, race, and disability in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination and Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) (doc. 1, p. 1-3). Although not specifically pleaded in her complaint, Plaintiff also avers that she was discriminated and retaliated against because she exercised leave under the FMLA, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. (doc. 1, p. 3).

Plaintiff further alleges that on or around December 31, 2008, she requested leave under the FMLA after “exacerbating a pre-existing post-traumatic stress or mental disorder” (doc. 15, p. 2). Upon returning to work, Plaintiff alleges that she was assigned to D1 cell block, which was “unreasonably stressful,” and she was denied accommodation to be moved to a less stressful work environment in violation of the ADA (doc. 15, p. 2). Plaintiff further alleges she was forced to remain in D1 cell block because of her race (doc. 15, P- 3).

Plaintiff claims she was denied recognition and awards for responding to an inmate’s attempted hanging in retaliation for exercising leave under the FMLA. (doc. 15, p. 3) Moreover, she alleges the Assistant Warden Frederick Boutte said “those who have received FMLA cannot receive a reward” (doc. 15, p. 3). Additionally, Plaintiff asserts she was denied a position that she applied for in the 24 hour unit [376]*376ward on the basis of age discrimination (doc. 15, p. 3).

As a result of the alleged discrimination, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) (doc. 15, p. 3-4). The EEOC granted Plaintiff a right to sue letter, and she filed the present suit on February 23, 2011 (doc. 1). In lieu of an answer, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, respectively (doc. 13). In opposition, Plaintiff argues that the Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C § 1331 (doc. 15, p. 4). Plaintiff also argues that the Elayn Hunt Correction Center is not entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity because the prison receives federal funding (doc. 15, p. 4-5). Finally, Plaintiff argues that she has stated a valid cause of action for her disability, discrimination, and FMLA claims (doc. 15, p. 6).

LAW AND DISCUSSION

I. RULE 12(b)(1) SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION

Defendant asserts that this Court lacks the requisite subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs ADEA claims as a result of Defendant’s Eleventh Amendment immunity from suit in federal court (doc. 13-1, p. 6). Plaintiff argues that because she alleges federal civil rights violations “on the face of her complaint,” any Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) motion is defeated (doc. 15, p. 1). Plaintiff asserts that federal question jurisdiction exists as provided by §§ 1331 and 1332 (doc. 15, p. 4). Plaintiff further alleges that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claim by virtue of the presence of federal questions and the acceptance of federal funds (doc. 15, p. 5).

In asserting a court’s subject matter jurisdiction, the burden of proof lies on the party seeking to invoke the court’s jurisdiction. St. Paul Reinsurance Co., Ltd. v. Greenberg, 134 F.3d 1250, 1253 (5th Cir.1998). In federal question cases, the party must demonstrate a non-frivolous claim based on federal law. Gibbs v. Buck, 307 U.S. 66, 72, 59 S.Ct. 725, 83 L.Ed. 1111 (1939). In examining a Rule 12(b)(1) motion, a district court is empowered to consider matters of fact which may be in dispute. Williamson v. Tucker, 645 F.2d 404, 413 (5th Cir.1981). The Fifth Circuit has held that when a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) motion, is filed concurrently with other Rule 12 motions, the district court must first address subject matter jurisdictional issues under Rule 12(b)(1) before addressing any attack on the merits. Hitt v. City of Pasadena, 561 F.2d 606, 608 (5th Cir.1977) (per curiam). Moreover, when a district court finds it lacks subject matter jurisdiction, its determination is not on the merits of the case and does not bar the plaintiff from pursuing a claim that has proper jurisdiction. Id. When a State is protected by Eleventh Amendment immunity, federal courts are divested of subject matter jurisdiction. See Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 662-63, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974).

a. Whether LDPSC is an “Arm of the State”

Defendant alleges that the LDPSC is an arm of the state and, therefore, is entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity which divests this Court of subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs ADEA claims (doc. 13-1, p. 4, 6). Although, Plaintiff does not address the issue of whether LDPSC is an arm of the state in her opposition, she alleges that Eleventh Amendment immunity does not extend to prisons such as [377]*377Elayn Hunt because it receives federal funding1 (doc. 15, p. 5).

The Eleventh Amendment 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 any one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any foreign state.”

U.S. CONST, amend. XI. Though the language of the Eleventh Amendment does not specifically address suits against the State by its own citizens, the Supreme Court has “consistently held that an unconsenting State is immune from suits brought in federal court by her own citizens as well as citizens of other States.” Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651, 662-63, 94 S.Ct. 1347, 39 L.Ed.2d 662 (1974) (citing Hans v. Louisiana, 134 U.S. 1, 10 S.Ct. 504, 33 L.Ed. 842 (1890)).

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Bluebook (online)
911 F. Supp. 2d 373, 2012 WL 6005775, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fields-v-department-of-public-safety-lamd-2012.