Hurt v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT SERVICES

612 F. Supp. 2d 54, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37888, 2009 WL 1203927
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedMay 5, 2009
DocketCivil Action 07-1167 (RBW)
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 612 F. Supp. 2d 54 (Hurt v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT SERVICES) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hurt v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT SERVICES, 612 F. Supp. 2d 54, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37888, 2009 WL 1203927 (D.D.C. 2009).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

REGGIE B. WALTON, District Judge.

In this civil action brought pro se, the plaintiff alleges that his parole officer violated his rights under the Constitution and the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a (2000), when he informed the plaintiffs girlfriend that he had served time for murder and based a request for a parole violator warrant on erroneous information. The plaintiff sues Community Supervision Officer (“CSO”) Keith Cromer and his supervisor, CSO Marie Asike, in their official and individual capacities for $10 million in damages. 1 Complaint (“Compl.”) at 4, 5. The defendants move to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or alternatively for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56. Upon consideration of the parties’ submissions and the entire record, the Court will grant in part and deny in part the defendants’ motion to dismiss.

*56 I. BACKGROUND

The plaintiff was convicted in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for murder in the second degree while armed, grand larceny and petit larceny, and was sentenced on May 19, 1983, to 15 to 45 years’ imprisonment. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment (“Defs.’ Mot.”), Attachment (“Attach.”) 1 & 2. On December 30, 2005, the United States Parole Commission (“USPC”) released the plaintiff to parole with a full-term expiration date of July 1, 2039, id., Attach. 6, under the supervision of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (“CSOSA”).

In June 2006, the plaintiff “met a lady” and later moved into her apartment in the District of Columbia. Compl. at 1. In July or August 2006, Cromer visited the plaintiff and spoke with his girlfriend alone. Id. at 2. Allegedly, the plaintiff later learned from the girlfriend that Cromer had told her that he had served time in prison for murder. Id. The relationship subsequently ended, and the plaintiff “became homeless.” Id. On September 2, 2006, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested the plaintiff for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, but he was released on September 4, 2006, after the United States Attorney declined to prosecute the case. Id.; Defs.’ Mot., Attach. 13 at 3.

On September 14, 2006, Cromer prepared a parole violation report based on the plaintiffs alleged violations of three conditions of his parole — failure to report to his parole officer, failure to obey all laws and the illegal use of a narcotic drug — and recommended that the USPC issue an arrest warrant. Defs.’ Mot., Attach. 7. Asike approved the report and recommendation. Id. at 3. The USPC then issued an arrest warrant, which was executed on October 26, 2006. Compl. at 3. The plaintiff initiated this civil action on June 29, 2007, while confined at the District of Columbia Jail. Following a parole revocation hearing at the D.C. Jail on July 2, 2007, the USPC found the plaintiff had committed the parole violations but nonetheless reinstated his parole. Defs.’ Mot., Attach. 13 (Notice of Action).

II. DISCUSSION

A court may dismiss a complaint on the ground that it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted if, assuming the alleged facts to be true and drawing all inferences in the plaintiffs favor, it appears that the plaintiff can prove no facts “consistent with the allegations in the complaint” to support the claim. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 563, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). The plaintiff claims that Cromer’s disclosure of “personal/private information about his criminal past to his woman ... caused great psychological suffering and mental anguish ... and devastated his relationship with [her].” Compl. at 4. He also claims that Cromer’s “violation report contained] erroneous information which form[ed] the basis for an unreasonable search and seizure of plaintiffs person; violated [his] right to procedural due process; and [his] right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.” Id. at 4-5.

Because the complaint is predicated on the alleged misuse and improper disclosure of information by a federal agency, the constitutional claims are foreclosed by the Privacy Act’s “comprehensive remedial schemef ].” Wilson v. Libby, 535 F.3d 697, 706 (D.C.Cir.2008) (citing Chung v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 333 F.3d 273, 274 (D.C.Cir.2003)) (other citations omitted); cf. id. at 707 (“[E]ach Constitutional claim, whether pled in terms of privacy, property, due process, or the First Amendment, is a claim alleging damages from the improper disclosure of informa *57 tion covered by the Privacy Act.”). The defendants correctly argue, then, that the plaintiff fails to state a Privacy Act claim against them because the Act authorizes lawsuits against federal agencies only, Martinez v. Bureau of Prisons, 444 F.3d 620, 624 (D.C.Cir.2006), and the official-capacity lawsuit is in effect against the United States. Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.Ed.2d 114 (1985); Mason v. Judges of U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit in Regular Active Service Acting in Their Official Capacities, 952 F.2d 423, 425 (D.C.Cir.1991). Because CSOSA is a federal agency, Defs.’ Statement of Material Facts ¶ 2, the Court, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 17(a)(3), substitutes CSOSA as the real party in interest to the Privacy Act claim.

The Privacy Act requires federal agencies to maintain records used in making determinations “with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is reasonably necessary to assure fairness to the individual in the determination [of matters concerning the individual].... ” 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(5). Section 552a(d) of the Privacy Act allows individuals access to agency records about themselves and to request the amendment of records “they believe to be inaccurate, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete.” Doe v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 936 F.2d 1346, 1350 (D.C.Cir.1991). The Privacy Act also prohibits a federal agency from disclosing “any record ... contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person” without the subject’s permission, save exceptions listed therein. 5 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
612 F. Supp. 2d 54, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37888, 2009 WL 1203927, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hurt-v-district-of-columbia-court-services-dcd-2009.