Flores v. Kelley

61 F.R.D. 442, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10841
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Indiana
DecidedNovember 30, 1973
DocketNo. 71 H 269
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 61 F.R.D. 442 (Flores v. Kelley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flores v. Kelley, 61 F.R.D. 442, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10841 (N.D. Ind. 1973).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ALLEN SHARP, District Judge.

This case was commenced on September 17, 1971 when the plaintiff filed its complaint asserting the constitutional invalidity of Sections 52-1201 (a) and 52-1221 (a) of Indiana Statutes Annotated (Burns 1972) as well as rules, regulations and policies thereunder because of the limiting provisions relating to citizenship. The essential allegation was that the residency requirements in those statutes and regulations were constitutionally invalid and unconstitutionally excluded resident aliens. The State statutes referred to were alleged to be in conflict with Article I, Article VI as [444]*444well as the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. It was also alleged that said Indiana statutes were in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 2000d and Title 42, United States Code, Section 1981. Jurisdiction of this court was asserted under Title 28, United States Code 1331 and Title 28, United States Code 1343(3) (4) as well as Title 42, United States Code 1983. Jurisdiction was also asserted for purposes of declaratory judgment under Title 28, United States Code, Sections 2201 and 2202. It is also asserted that the plaintiff brings this action as a class action under Rule 23(a) (b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. It is specifically alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint that the class is so “so numerous that joinder of all members is impractical”. The complaint continues to detail and assert seven different claims for relief on behalf of the plaintiff who claims to be a resident alien residing in Lake County, Indiana. The prayer for relief in the plaintiff’s complaint requests a wide variety of actions by this court including a preliminary injunction, an order to determine that this is a proper class action under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a preliminary injunction, a declaratory judgment, a permanent injunction, an order directing the defendants to notify all persons who have been denied certain benefits because of their lack of citizenship and who may now be eligible for such benefits and who may reapply, for an order directing the defendants to pay retroactive benefits to the plaintiff, for costs and for all other proper relief.

On July 5, 1973 the plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This motion for summary judgment requests the entry of a declaratory judgment at this stage of the proceedings declaring Indiana Statutes Annotated, Sections 52-1201(a) and 52-1221(a) (Burns 1972), IC 1971 12-1-5-1 and IC 1971 12-1-6-1, as well as Chapter I, Chart I, of the Indiana State Welfare Manual and all rules, regulations and policies thereunder as unconstitutional and invalid. Said motion for summary judgment also asks, at this stage in the proceedings, for a permanent injunction in joining the defendants, their successors, agents and employees from enforcing said State statutes, Manual and Regulations. Said motion for summary judgment further requests, at this stage in the proceedings, an order of restitution to the plaintiffs of benefits which have been unconstitutionally withheld by State and County officials since the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Graham v. Richardson, 403 U.S. 365, 91 S.Ct. 1848, 29 L.Ed.2d 534, decided June 14, 1971. Lastly, said motion for summary judgment requests that the defendants be ordered to send a copy of this court’s decree on this motion for summary judgment to all 92 County Departments of Public Welfare in the State of Indiana.

On June 21, 1972 the defendants filed their answer to plaintiff’s complaint which asserts numerous jurisdictional issues and defenses on the merits. Among the matters put in issue are the factual basis for a class action and the question of the obligation to pay retroactive payments. Also pending and unruled upon is a petition to intervene by another resident alien who claims to be in the same class as the plaintiff. In this regard the intervenor alleged that “the representative [sic] of applicant’s interest by the plaintiff herein is or may be inadequate”.

The present posture of this case demands that all pleadings are to be liberally construed in favor of the party or parties against whom the motion for summary judgment is made but the court may pierce pleadings and determine from depositions, admissions and affidavits, if any, in the record whether a material issue of fact actually exists. [445]*445If after such scrutiny any issue as to a material fact depositive of a right or duty remains, the case is not ripe for disposition by summary judgment and the parties are entitled to a full trial on the merits. See Machinery Center, Inc. v. Anchor National Life Ins. Co., 434 F.2d 1 (10th Cir. 1970). All reasonable doubts as to whether there is any evidence of a genuine issue as to a material fact should be resolved against the movant for summary judgment. See Central National Ins. Co. of Omaha v. Royal Indemnity Co., 337 F.Supp. 319 (DC Neb.1972). A motion for summary judgment should be granted only where it is perfectly clear where no issue of fact is involved and inquiry into facts is not desirable to clarify the application of the law, even where there is no dispute as to evidentiary facts in the case but only as to conclusions to be drawn therefrom. See Crane Co. v. Aeroquip Corp., 356 F.Supp. 733 (DC Ill.1973).

Where jurisdictional issues are inextricably intertwined with merits it is proper for the court to deny motion for summary judgment for want of subject matter jurisdiction on the basis that there are genuine issues of fact, the resolution of which will not only affect the jurisdiction but also the merit. See Elektra Industries, Inc. v. Honeywell, Inc., 58 F.R.D. 118 (DC Ill.1973). The party moving for a summary judgment must demonstrate the entitlement to it beyond a reasonable doubt. See James v. Atchison T. & S.F. Railroad Co., 464 F.2d 173 (10th Cir. 1972). See also, First National Bank of Cincinnati v. Pepper, 454 F.2d 626 (2d Cir, 1972), and Burk v. Gateway Clipper, Inc., 441 F.2d 946 (3rd Cir. 1971).

It has been repeatedly held that a District Court has broad discretion in the denial of motions for summary judgment in favor of a full hearing on the merits. Such a court has discretion to deny an otherwise justified motion for summary judgment if arguments of parties have failed to clarify the underlying facts. See George R. Whitten, Jr., Inc. v. Paddock Pool Builders, Inc., 424 F.2d 25 (1st Cir. 1970).

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Bluebook (online)
61 F.R.D. 442, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10841, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flores-v-kelley-innd-1973.