Mayeux v. US Army Corps Engs

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: July 24, 1998
• Docket: 19-11048
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 97-31066 Summary Calendar

RODNEY MAYEUX,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS,

Defendant-Appellee.

- - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana USDC No. 96-CV-1304-R - - - - - - - - - - July 17, 1998

Before WISDOM, WIENER, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges

PER CURIAM:*

Rodney Mayeux his complaint under the Federal Tort Claims

Act (FTCA). He appeals from the district court’s dismissal of

his complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Finding

no error, we affirm.

The United States, as a sovereign, is immune from suit

unless it consents to be sued. United States v. Mitchell, 445

U.S. 535, 538 (1980). Both the FTCA and the Suits in Admiralty

Act (SAA) waive sovereign immunity. The FTCA waives the

Government’s sovereign immunity from tort liability and provides

* Under 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 97-31066 -2-

a remedy against the United States for personal injury resulting

from the negligence of its agents or employees. See 28 U.S.C. §

1346(b). The FTCA does not apply to “[a]ny claim for which a

remedy is provided by [the Public Vessels Act or the SAA],

relating to claims or suits in admiralty against the United

States.” See 28 U.S.C. § 2680(d). The FTCA and the SAA are

mutually exclusive. Mayeux’s assertion of jurisdiction under the

FTCA is correct only if his claim is not covered by the SAA. See

McCormick v. United States, 680 F.2d 345, 348 (5th Cir. 1982).

The SAA waives sovereign immunity of the United States not

only in cases involving government vessels, property, or cargo,

but also in cases in which a proceeding in admiralty could be

maintained if a private person or property were involved. 46

U.S.C. app § 742; see McCormick, 680 F.2d at 349. The present

case, in which the alleged negligence of a government employee

caused injury in the navigable waters of the Harvey Canal, is a

case covered by the SAA. See McCormick, 680 F.2d at 349. See

also De Bardeleben Marine Corp. v. United States, 451 F.2d 140,

145 (5th Cir. 1971)(applying the SAA to a claim for negligent

drafting of maritime survey charts); Sheridan Trans. Co. v.

United States, 897 F.2d 795, 800 (5th Cir. 1990)(applying the SAA

to a claim for failure to give notice of submerged wreck).

Mayeux’s argument has no merit.

Suits filed under the SAA must be filed within two years of

the time when the cause of action arises. See 46 U.S.C. app. §

745; see McMahon v. United States, 342 U.S. 25, 27 (1951).

Mayeux’s suit was filed on April 15, 1996, almost six months No. 97-31066 -3-

after the limitations period expired. Mayeux argues that his

suit is not time-barred because of the doctrine of equitable

tolling. We find that Mayeux did not allege any facts justifying

the tolling of the statute of limitations.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.