Halliday v. Barr

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: February 11, 2021
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2020-3444
• Status: Published

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

ROBERT B. HALLIDAY III, et al.,

Petitioners,

v. Case No. 20-cv-3444 (CRC)

MONTY WILKINSON, in his official capacity as Acting Attorney General of the United States, et al.,

Respondents.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Petitioners Robert B. Halliday III and Patricia M. Halliday filed this petition for a writ of

mandamus to compel a federal investigation into the disappearance of their son, Private Richard

K. Halliday of the U.S. Army. The Court concludes that this case must be dismissed because it

is clear on the face of the petition that the Court is powerless to grant the relief petitioners seek.

I. Background

The following facts are alleged in the petition. Robert and Patricia Halliday are the

parents of Private Richard K. Halliday, who disappeared from the Fort Bliss military base in

Texas. Redacted Pet. 2, ECF No. 2. They allege that Private Halliday’s disappearance

“materialized in July of 2020” and that the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (“CID”) “has

failed to do its most rudimentary duties” in investigating potential perpetrators behind the

disappearance, including those who “may be in military uniform.” Id.

Understandably experiencing “an aura of grief” and feeling “hopeless as to finding

closure,” id., petitioners filed this action in November 2020 against the Attorney General of the

United States and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The petition seeks an

order directing respondents to “commence an immediate investigation” and to notify the Court and petitioners of that investigation. Id. 4. Petitioners hope the investigation will lead to

“prosecution of all the parties involved” in Private Halliday’s disappearance. Id.

In December 2020, petitioners filed an ex parte motion, again seeking to compel an

investigation of the disappearance.

It appears from the docket that the petition has not been served on the respondents. The

respondents have not entered appearances in the case.

II. Legal Standard

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) provides that a complaint may be dismissed for

“failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” A district court may dismiss a

complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) on its own motion “whenever the plaintiff cannot possibly win

relief.” Best v. Kelly, 39 F.3d 328, 331 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks omitted). In

deciding whether to dismiss a complaint sua sponte for failure to state a claim, a court “should

presume that the complaint’s factual allegations are true, construing them liberally in the

plaintiff’s favor.” Lemon v. Kramer, 270 F. Supp. 3d 125, 141 (D.D.C. 2017).

III. Analysis

After carefully reviewing the petition, the Court finds it clear that petitioners cannot win

any relief. The Court will therefore dismiss the petition on its own motion under Rule 12(b)(6).

“[A]n agency’s decision not to prosecute or enforce, whether through civil or criminal

process, is a decision generally committed to an agency’s absolute discretion.” Heckler v.

Chaney, 470 U.S. 821, 831 (1985). Accordingly, a court “cannot compel a criminal investigation

by any law enforcement agency by means of a writ of mandamus.” Ballance v. Peeples, No. 10-

cv-0864, 2010 WL 3069201, at *1 (D.D.C. Aug. 5, 2010) (citing Otero v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 832

F.2d 141, 141-42 (11th Cir. 1987)). This legal proposition is so settled that courts will invoke it

2 sue sponte to dismiss claims that “stem from [the government’s] alleged failure to investigate

and prosecute alleged crimes.” Kidwell v. FBI, 813 F. Supp. 2d 21, 28 (D.D.C. 2011); see also

Zernik v. DOJ, 630 F. Supp. 2d 24, 27 (D.D.C. 2009) (“[I]t is well established that this Court

cannot order the Executive Branch to exercise its prosecutorial discretion to perform an

investigation.”); Whittle v. Moschella, 756 F. Supp. 589, 596-97 (D.D.C. 1991).

Here, the relief petitioners seek is a court order requiring the Attorney General and the

FBI Director to investigate Private Halliday’s disappearance. This is precisely the type of

mandamus petition that other courts in this district have found appropriate for sua sponte

dismissal. See, e.g., Kidwell, 813 F. Supp. 2d at 28; Zernik, 630 F. Supp. 2d at 27; Whittle, 756

F. Supp. at 596-97. While the Court sympathizes with petitioners and does not doubt the

sincerity of their convictions, it must conclude that they “cannot possibly win relief.” Best, 39

F.3d at 331.

IV. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the Court will dismiss the petition and deny petitioners’ ex

parte motion. A separate Order shall accompany this memorandum opinion.

CHRISTOPHER R. COOPER United States District Judge

Date: February 11, 2021