Johnson v. Veterans Affairs Medical Center

133 F. Supp. 3d 10, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129731, 2015 WL 5692881

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: September 28, 2015
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2014-1384
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Granting Dependant Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s SECOND Motion to Dismiss

RUDOLPH CONTRERAS, United States District Judge

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Charles Johnson,' Jr., has brought this action seeking damages from Defendant Veterans Affairs Medical Center and four unknown individual defendants (“Does 1-4”) for claims arising from Mr. Johnson’s inpatient treatment at the Medical Center. Mr. Johnson initially brought common law tort claims against the defendants in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. But the Medical Center removed to this Court and has now moved to dismiss Mr. Johnson’s claims against the Medical Center on sovereign immunity grounds. Because the Medical Center correctly argues that Mr. Johnson did not name the United States as a defendant and that he has therefore failed to sue the only proper defendant in this action, the Court will grant the Medical Center’s motion and dismiss Mr. Johnson’s claims against the Medical Center.

II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

According to the Complaint, Plaintiff Charles Johnson, Jr., was receiving inpatient care from Defendant Veterans Affairs Medical Center on November 13, 2011, when four Medical Center employees, the Defendants Does 1-4, searched his belongings and his person. Compl. 11 3, 9, 11-13, ECF No. 1-1. At the time, Mr. Johnson was receiving treatment for depression and neurovegetative symptoms, and he had not used illicit substances for •eighteen years. Compl. 11 9-10. Suspecting that Mr. Johnson’s visiting family members had brought him narcotics, the four Medical Center employees searched Mr. Johnson’s bed, his personal effects, and his person. Compl. 11 11-13, 21; Opp’n Mot. Dismiss Exs. A-B, ECF No. 6-2. The employees conducting the search included one female nurse — a member of the opposite sex as compared to Mr. Johnson, who is male. Compl. 11 3, 13, 20. During the search of Mr. Johnson’s person, the Medical Center employees made him hold up his arms, lift his scrotum, and bend down and part his buttock cheeks so that the employees could thoroughly search his body. Compl 1113, 21.

After the search, Mr. Johnson made several informal complaints to the Medical Center and also sent the Medical Center a letter through counsel, complaining about his treatment. Mem. P. & A. Supp. Pl.’s Opp. Mot. Dismiss 11 1-15, ECF No. 6-1. Unsatisfied with the Medical Center’s perfunctory responses, Mr. Johnson filed suit against the Medical Center and its four unnamed employees (“Does 1-4”) in the District of Columbia Superior Court on June 2, 2014. See Compl. Seeking damages, he charged the Medical Center with six common law tort violations arising from the search of his belongings and his person: assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, and negligence. Compl. 1116-39.

The Medical Center removed to this Court and filed an initial motion to dismiss Mr. Johnson’s claims for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. See Notice of Removal, ECF No. 2; Mot. Dismiss, ECF No. 5. However, the Medical Center withdrew its first motion to dismiss, and now it has filed a second motion to dismiss — this time arguing that the Court lacks jurisdiction over Mr. Johnson’s claims because sovereign immunity bars them. See Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss, ECF No. 10; Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss, ECF No. 10-1.

The Medical Center argues that sovereign immunity bars Mr. Johnson’s claims for three reasons:

(1) despite the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)’s waiver of the federal government’s sovereign immunity, federal agencies such as the Medical Center still enjoy sovereign immunity;

(2) the FTCA waives sovereign immunity only when the plaintiffs claims arise from the federal employees’ acts within the scope of their employment, and there is no such allegation or determination here; and

(3) the FTCA does not waive sovereign immunity for Mr. Johnson’s claims because they arise from intentional torts exempted from the FTCA waiver of sovereign immunity.

See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss 4-7. 1

Because the Court agrees with the Medical Center’s first argument, the Court need not address the Medical Center’s second and third arguments to dismiss Mr. Johnson’s claims. But the Court sua sponte grants Mr. Johnson leave to amend his Complaint to substitute the United States as the appropriate defendant under the FTCA and to properly allege whether he believes the Medical Center employees were acting within or outside the scope of their employment, along with the facts supporting such belief.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

The Medical Center has moved to dismiss the Complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, citing Rule 12(b)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss 4. Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, and the law presumes that “a cause lies outside this limited jurisdiction.” Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466, 489, 124 S.Ct. 2686, 159 L.Ed.2d 548 (2004) (quoting Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377, 114 S.Ct. 1673, 128 L.Ed.2d 391 (1994)). Thus, to survive a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss, a plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that a court has jurisdiction over his claim. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 103-04, 118 S.Ct. 1003, 140 L.Ed.2d 210 (1998) (standing and Article III jurisdiction); Moms Against Mercury v. FDA, 483 F.3d 824, 828 (D.C.Cir.2007) (subject-matter jurisdiction). To determine whether jurisdiction exists, a court may “consider the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts evidenced in the record, or the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts plus the court’s resolution of disputed facts.” Coal. for Underground Expansion v. Mineta, 333 F.3d 193, 198 (D.C.Cir.2003).

“If sovereign immunity has not been waived, a claim is subject to dismissal under Rule 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” Clayton v. District of Columbia, 931 F.Supp.2d 192, 200 (D.D.C.2013) (citing FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475, 114 S.Ct. 996, 127 L.Ed.2d 308 (1994) (“Sovereign immunity is jurisdictional in nature.”)). Courts “may not find a waiver unless Congress’ intent is ‘unequivocally expressed’ in the relevant statute.” Hubbard v. Adm’r, EPA, 982 F.2d 531, 532 (D.C.Cir.1992) (quoting United States v. Mitchell, 445 U.S. 535, 538, 100 S.Ct. 1349, 63 L.Ed.2d 607 (1980)).

The Medical Center has also moved to dismiss the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, citing Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss 4. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that a complaint contain “a short and plain statement of the claim” to give the defendant fair notice of the claim and the grounds upon which it rests. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2); accord Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (per curiam). Unlike the standard of review for a motion under Rule 12(b)(1), a court considering a motion under Rule 12(b)(6) presumes that the complaint’s factual allegations are true and construes them liberally in the plaintiffs favor. See, e.g., United States v. Philip Morris, Inc., 116 F.Supp.2d 131, 135 (D.D.C.2000).

But the Medical Center’s motion is properly adjudicated as a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, not a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. All three of the Medical Center’s arguments allege that sovereign immunity bars Mr. Johnson’s claims. See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss 4-7. Because sovereign immunity is a jurisdictional issue, FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475, 114 S.Ct. 996, 127 L.Ed.2d 308 (1994), the Court must rule on all of the Medical Center’s arguments using the Rule 12(b)(1) standard of review, not the Rule 12(b)(6) standard of review. See Kelley v. FBI, 67 F.Supp.3d 240, 255 (D.D.C.2014) (explaining that, when considering a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, as opposed to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court “is not limited to the allegations of the complaint” (quoting Hohri v. United States, 782 F.2d 227, 241 (D.C.Cir.1986), vacated on other grounds, 482 U.S. 64, 107 S.Ct. 2246, 96 L.Ed.2d 51 (1987)); see also CNA v. United States, 535 F.3d 132, 144-45 (3d Cir.2008) (adopting the Rule 12(b)(1) standard of review in an FTCA sovereign immunity case, even when adjudicating jurisdictional facts intertwined with the merits). Thus, the burden falls on Plaintiff Mr. Johnson to prove, in response to the Medical Center’s contentions, that the government has waived its sovereign immunity. See Tri-State Hosp. Supply Corp. v. United States, 341 F.3d 571, 575 (D.C.Cir.2003) (placing the burden to prove waiver on the party bringing suit). He may not merely rest on the factual allegations made in his Complaint.

IV. ANALYSIS

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is a limited waiver of sovereign immunity that makes the federal government liable to the same extent as a private individual for certain torts of federal employees acting within the scope of their employment. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346, 2674; United States v. Orleans, 425 U.S. 807, 813, 96 S.Ct. 1971, 48 L.Ed.2d 390 (1976). The FTCA provides the exclusive remedy “[w]here a plaintiff seeks monetary damages against a federal agency for torts committed by federal employees.” Lempert v. Rice, 956 F.Supp.2d 17, 28 (D.D.C.2013) (alteration in original) (quoting Jones v. United States, 949 F.Supp.2d 50, 53 (D.D.C.2013)); see 28 U.S.C. § 2679(b)(1) (declaring the FTCA remedy “exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding for money damages”). Congress has also specified that the FTCA remedy is the exclusive remedy for suits, like this one, arising from the alleged malpractice or negligence of Veterans Health Administration 2 employees exercising duties in or for the Administration. See 38 U.S.C. § 7316(a)(1).

Here, Mr. Johnson has sued the Medical Center and four unnamed Medical Center employees for torts arising out of actions taken by the employees during his inpatient treatment at the Medical Center. The Medical Center and its employees are agencies of the United States and subject to oversight by the Veterans Health Administration. See Peacock v. United States, 597 F.3d 654, 659-60 (5th Cir.2010) (finding a doctor employed by a Veterans Affairs hospital to be a United States employee for FTCA purposes); Our History, Washington DC VA Medical Center, http:// www.washingtondc.va.gov/about/history. asp (last visited Sept. 25, 2015) (affiliating the Medical Center with the Veterans Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Thus, assuming that the Medical Center employees were acting within the scope of their employment, 3 the FTCA provides Mr. John son’s only possible avenue for relief against the Medical Center.

To establish the FTCA waiver of sovereign immunity, the plaintiff must show that his claim is

[1] against the United States, [2] for money damages, ... [3] for injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death [4] caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government [5] while acting within the scope of his office or employment, [6] under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred.

FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 477, 114 S.Ct. 996, 127 L.Ed.2d 308 (1994) (alterations in original) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)). For an FTCA claim to be actionable, it must prove all six elements. Id.

The first element — that the FTCA claim must be against the United States — is not a trifling matter: in this case, its absence compels dismissal of Mr. Johnson’s claims against the Medical Center. FTCA suits “must name the United States as defendant.” Goddard v. D.C. Redevelopment Land Agency, 287 F.2d 343, 345-46 (D.C.Cir.1961). Even if a federal agency may sue and be sued in its own name, FTCA claims against that federal agency are barred. 28 U.S.C. § 2679(a). In sum, “[u]nder the FTCA, the United States is the only proper party defendant.” Welsh v. Hagler, 83 F.Supp.3d 212, 223 (D.D.C.2015) (quoting Cureton v. U.S. Marshal Serv., 322 F.Supp.2d 23, 25 n. 4 (D.D.C.2004)). Failure to name the United States as the defendant in an FTCA action requires dismissal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. See, e.g., Kissi v. Simmons, No. 09-1377, 2009 WL 3429567, at *1 (D.D.C. Oct. 22, 2009); Cox v. Sec’y of Labor, 739 F.Supp. 28, 29 (D.D.C.1990).

In this case, Mr. Johnson has failed to name the United States as a defendant. For that reason, his claims must be dismissed for failure to establish a waiver of sovereign immunity under the FTCA. The Court grants the Medical Center’s motion to dismiss on these grounds, without reaching the Medical Center’s other arguments. However, as previously stated, the Court sua sponte grants Mr. Johnson leave to amend his Complaint to substitute the United States as the appropriate defendant under the FTCA and to properly allege whether he believes the Medical Center employees were acting within or outside the scope of their employment, along with the facts supporting such belief.

V. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Medical Center’s second motion to dismiss (ECF No. 10) is GRANTED. As a result, Mr. Johnson’s claims against Defendant Veterans Affairs Medical Center are dismissed. Mr. Johnson may, however, file an amended complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) as set forth above. An order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is separately and contemporaneously issued.

1 . Although the Court does not reach the Medical Center's argument that Mr. Johnson's claims arise from intentional torts exempted from the FTCA waiver of sovereign immunity, the Court finds the Medical Center's discussion of the FTCA exceptions enumerated in 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h) incomplete. See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.'s Second Mot. Dismiss 6-7. Notably, the Medical Center does not address the impact of 38 U.S.C. § 7316(f). See Levin v. United States, -U.S. -, 133 S.Ct. 1224, 1234, 185 L.Ed.2d 343 (2013) (stating that 38 U.S.C. § 7316(f) expresses "Congress' intent to abrogate § 2680(h)” in suits against the Department of Veterans Affairs); Ingram v. Faruque, 728 F.3d 1239, 1246 (10th Cir.2013) (" § 2680(h) does not bar application of the FTCA to [intentional] tort claims arising out of the conduct of VA medical personnel within the scope of 38 U.S.C. § 7316(f).” (alteration in original) (quoting Franklin v. United States, 992 F.2d 1492, 1502 (10th Cir.1993)).

2 . The Veterans Health Administration is a subdivision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. See 38 U.S.C. § 301(c)(2).

The Administration in turn operates medical centers throughout the United States, including the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., which is a party to this case. See Locations — District of Columbia, U.S. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, http://www.va. gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL & STATE=DC# divl (last visited Sept. 25, 2015) (listing “Washington DC VA Medical Center” as a Veterans Health Administration facility); Veterans Health Administration— About VHA, U.S. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, http://www.va.gov/health/aboutVHA.asp (last visited Sept. 25, 2015) ("The Veterans Health Administration is home to the United States' largest integrated health care system consisting of 150 medical centers, nearly 1,400 community-based outpatient clinics, community living centers, Vet Centers and Domiciliar-ies.”).

3 . Without deciding the issue, the Court assumes for purposes of this analysis that the four Medical Center employees were acting within the scope of their employment.

Mr. Johnson's claims against the Medical Center must be dismissed regardless of whether the four Medical Center employees were acting within the scope of their employment. If the employees were acting within the scope of their .employment, then the FTCA covers their actions and requires Mr. Johnson to sue the proper defendant (the United States). Because Mr. Johnson did not, his claims against the Medical Center fail, as discussed later in this opinion.

On the other hand, if the four Medical Center employees were acting outside the scope of their employment, the FTCA waiver of sovereign immunity would not reach their actions, and the United States would not be liable. See Russell v. Dupree, 844 F.Supp.2d 46, 52 (D.D.C.2012) (citing FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 477, 114 S.Ct. 996, 127 L.Ed.2d 308 (1994)) ("To show that the government has waived its sovereign immunity under .the FTCA, plaintiff must show ... that the employee was acting within his scope of employment at the time of the injurious act.”). Likewise, the Medical Center would not be liable because it is an agency of the federal government and, as such, it enjoys sovereign immunity when no waiver of sovereign immunity exists. FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. at 474, 114 S.Ct. 996 ("Absent a waiver, sovereign immunity shields the Federal Government and its agencies from suit.”). So, Mr. Johnson's claims against the Medical Center must be dismissed, regardless of whether the four employees acted within or outside the scope of their employment.

However, the legal sufficiency of Mr. Johnson's claims against the individual Medical Center employees (“Does 1-4”) could depend on whether their actions were within the scope of their employment. If the Medical Center employees were acting within the scope of their employment, the FTCA would require Mr. Johnson to sue the United States, not the individuals. See Welsh v. Hagler, 83 F.Supp.3d 212, 223 (D.D.C.2015) ("Under the FTCA, 'the United States is the only proper party defendant.' ” (quoting Cureton v. U.S. Marshal Serv., 322 F.Supp.2d 23, 25 n. 4 (D.D.C.2004))). His claims against the individual employees, like his claims against the Medical Center, would fail on this ground.

But if the employees were found to be acting outside the scope of their employment during their search of Mr. Johnson and his belongings, the employees might be liable in their individual capacities. See, e.g., Majano v. United States, 469 F.3d 138, 139 (D.C.Cir.2006) (illustrating that, in a suit seeking relief against a federal employee rather than the federal government, the plaintiff's "sole hope of success” required showing that the employee's assault was not within the scope of her employment, so that the FTCA would not render the employee herself immune from suit). If the Medical Center employees were acting outside the scope of their employment, Mr. Johnson's claims against the individual employees might be justiciable — although, as the Medical Center points out, such claims may be untimely under District of Columbia law. See Mem. P. & A. Supp. Def.’s Second Mot. Dismiss 8. Nonetheless, the government’s motion to dismiss does not seek dismissal of Mr. Johnson’s claims against the four employees.

Regardless, if the unnamed defendants are sued in their individual capacities, they must be served in their individual capacities under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e). Coulibaly v. Kerry, No. 14-0712, 130 F.Supp.3d 140, 150, 2015 WL 5387422, at *7 (D.D.C. Sept. 11, 2015) (citing Simpkins v. D.C. Gov’t, 108 F.3d 366, 369 (D.C.Cir.1997)) ("A federal official sued in his personal capacity must be personally served in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(e).”). Until that occurs, these defendants are not properly before the Court.