Kruger v. Nebraska

90 F. Supp. 3d 874, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16136, 2015 WL 518748
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedFebruary 9, 2015
DocketNo. 4:14CV3139
StatusPublished

This text of 90 F. Supp. 3d 874 (Kruger v. Nebraska) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kruger v. Nebraska, 90 F. Supp. 3d 874, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16136, 2015 WL 518748 (D. Neb. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LYLE E. STROM, Senior District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on the motion (Filing No. 46) of the four1 defendants to dismiss plaintiffs complaint pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) and 12(b)(6). The plaintiff has also filed a motion for oral argument (Filing No. 50). After review of the motions, briefs, indices of evidence, and relevant case law, the Court finds as follows.

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Michael-Ryan Kruger (“Kruger”) was married to Andrea Kruger (“Andrea”), mother of three. Tragically, Andrea was killed by local serial killer Nikko Jenkins (“Jenkins”). Subsequently Kruger learned that his wife’s murderer was only recently released from Nebraska Department of Correctional Services following an alleged act of bureaucracy aimed to offload numerous inmates who required mental care from the State. Though not named in this case, Andrea was not Jenkins’ sole victim. Jenkins also pleaded [877]*877guilty in state court for the murders of Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz, Juan Uribe-Pena, and Curtis Bradford.

Kruger, as special administrator of his wife’s estate, brought the instant action for various negligence claims and violations of his wife’s constitutional rights under Title 42, Sections 1983 and 1988(a) in state court. The defendants removed the case to federal court and Kruger amended his complaint. All defendants moved for dismissal. Following legislative hearings regarding the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Kruger wishes to dismiss several defendants and amend his complaint again to include facts learned from the legislative hearings. Though the motions to dismiss were pending, the Court allowed Kruger to amend his complaint which rendered the pending motions to dismiss moot. In his amended complaint, Kruger essentially alleges that the defendants, in their individual and official capacities, ignored the dangers Jenkins presented and failed to prevent his wife’s murder.

The remaining defendants are the State of Nebraska, Robert Houston (“Houston”), the director of the Department of Correctional Services at all relevant times, Dr. Cameron White (“White”), who was the behavioral health administrator for the Department of Correctional Services during all relevant times, and Dr. Randy Kohl, who administered overall mental health services throughout the State during all relevant times. Filing No. 44, at 1. Kruger brings Nine Causes of Action against the defendants in their official and individual capacities. The First, Second, and Third Causes of Action allege 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims against the defendants. The remaining six Causes of Action allege various negligence claims and statements of damages.

Kruger claims that actions and inactions of the defendants constituted deliberate indifference to the policies, practices or customs governing treatment and incarceration resulting in the injuries suffered by Andrea (Filing No. 44, at 13-14). Specifically, Kruger claims defendants Houston, White, and Dr. Kohl deprived Andrea of her Constitutional rights, privileges and immunities, and acted with a deliberate indifference to the mental health needs of an inmate in their custody. Kruger states Houston, White, and Dr. Kohl were aware of facts which “presented a substantial risk of serious harm to Andrea Kruger and the citizens of Nebraska, and in fact, drew that inference.” (Id. at 12). “The Defendants created the dangerous situation and harm that happened to Andrea Kruger.” (Id.).

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

The Court has an obligation to consider sua sponte whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over a case. Thomas v. United Steelworkers Local 1938, 743 F.3d 1134, 1139 (8th Cir.2014). The Court “must raise jurisdictional issues ‘when there is an indication that jurisdiction is lacking, even if the parties concede the issue.’ ” Id. (quoting Thomas v. Basham, 931 F.2d 521, 523 (8th Cir.1991)). Suits are subject to dismissal when the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to hear the matter. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). The party asserting jurisdiction bears the burden of proving that jurisdiction is proper. Great Rivers Habitat Alliance v. FEMA, 615 F.3d 985, 988 (8th Cir.2010).

Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief is “a context-specific task” that requires the court “to draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. at 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Under Twombly, a court considering a motion to dismiss may begin by identifying pleadings that, because they are no more [878]*878than conclusions, are not. entitled to the assumption of truth. Id. Although legal conclusions “can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations.” Id. Accordingly, the Supreme Court has prescribed a “two-pronged approach” for evaluating Rule 12(b)(6) challenges. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). First, a court should divide the allegations between factual and legal allegations; factual allegations should be accepted as true, but legal allegations should be disregarded. Id. Second, the factual allegations must be examined for facial plausibility. Id.

“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. at 677, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (stating that the plausibility standard does not require a probability, but asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully). A court must find “enough factual matter (taken as true) to suggest” that “discovery will reveal evidence” of the elements of the claim. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). When the allegations in a complaint, however true, could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief, the complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a claim under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). Id. at 558, 127 S.Ct. 1955; Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009).

III. DISCUSSION

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Bluebook (online)
90 F. Supp. 3d 874, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16136, 2015 WL 518748, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kruger-v-nebraska-ned-2015.