EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 1 Feb 05, 2025 2 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 8 ANDRES MESA GARCIA, 9 No. 1:24-CV-03140-ACE
10 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S
11 MOTION TO DISMISS v.
12 ECF No. 5 13 KRISTY RINIKER,
14 Defendant. 15 16 BEFORE THE COURT is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.1 ECF No. 5. 17 Plaintiff is proceeding pro se; Defendant is represented by Assistant United States 18 Attorney Timothy M. Durkin. This matter was submitted for consideration without 19 oral argument. 20 BACKGROUND 21 Plaintiff brought this lawsuit against Dr. Kristy Riniker, M.D., in the Small 22 Claims Division of the Yakima County District Court on April 4, 2024. ECF No. 23 1-1 at 5. Plaintiff’s complaint alleges Dr. Riniker, a public health care provider 24
25 1Plaintiff filed no response to Defendant’s dispositive motion. See LCivR 26 7(e) (“The failure to comply with the requirements of LCivR 7(b) or (c) may be 27 deemed consent to the entry of an order adverse to the party who violates these 28 rules.”). 1 and employee of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (“YVFWC”), a federally 2 assisted public health service facility, “prescribed me medicine that was killing me. 3 The memorial Hospital doctor told me that I should not be taking the mediation & 4 that much of what was prescribed to me. The doctor took the medicine away from 5 me because it was dangerous for me.” ECF No. 1-1 at 5. Although not specified 6 in the complaint, the YVFWC advised that the alleged dates of Plaintiff’s care 7 occurred sometime before November 25, 2022. ECF No. 5 at 2. Plaintiff’s state 8 court medical negligence suit was removed to this Court pursuant to the Federal 9 Supported Health Center Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 233, and the Federal Tort 10 Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1342, 1346(a), 1346(b), 2679.2 11 DISCUSSION 12 A. Standard of Review 13 Defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14 12(b)(1) tests whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear the claims 15 asserted by Plaintiff. A complaint must be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(1) if, 16 considering all allegations in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the action: (1) 17 does not arise under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States, or does 18 not fall within one of the other enumerated categories of Article III, Section 2, of 19 the Constitution; (2) is not a case or controversy within the meaning of the 20 Constitution; or (3) is not one described by any jurisdictional statute. Baker v. 21 Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 198 (1962); D.G. Rung Indus., Inc. v. Tinnerman, 626 F.Supp. 22 1062, 1063 (W.D. Wash. 1986). The party asserting jurisdiction (here, Plaintiff) 23 bears the burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction. Ass’n of Am. Med. 24 Coll. v. United States, 217 F.3d 770, 778-779 (9th Cir. 2000); Kokkonen v. 25 Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375 (1994). 26
27 2The federal district courts provide exclusive jurisdiction and venue for 28 plaintiffs who are asserting FTCA claims. 1 B. Analysis 2 1. Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies 3 Defendant first argues that since Plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative 4 remedies, a prerequisite for establishing subject matter jurisdiction, the Court lacks 5 jurisdiction. ECF No. 5 at 4-5. 6 A FTCA action “shall not be instituted” against the United States unless the 7 claimant first presents the claim to the “appropriate Federal agency” and the claim 8 is denied or the agency fails to make a final disposition of the claim within six 9 months. 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a); McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) 10 (“The [FTCA] bars claimants from bringing suit in federal court until they have 11 exhausted their administrative remedies.”) “The claim requirement of § 2675(a) is 12 a jurisdictional limitation.” Id.; Meridian Intern. Logistics, Inc. v. United States, 13 939 F.2d 740, 743 (1991). The FTCA, once jurisdictional prerequisites are 14 satisfied, “vests the federal District Courts with exclusive jurisdiction over suits 15 arising from the negligence of Government employees.” Jerves v. United States, 16 966 F.2d 517, 518 (9th Cir. 1992). 17 Here, no evidence has been provided demonstrating Plaintiff filed a FTCA 18 administrative claim prior to filing his lawsuit in Yakima County District Court. 19 As indicated above, Plaintiff filed no response or otherwise objected to 20 Defendant’s argument that Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative 21 remedies in this matter. Since it appears Plaintiff failed to exhaust his FTCA 22 administrative remedies before filing his suit against Dr. Rinker, the Court finds it 23 lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s medical negligence claims and 24 dismissal is appropriate. 25 2. Statute of Limitations 26 Defendant additionally asserts Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the FTCA’s 27 two-year claim filing requirement. ECF No. 5 at 6-7. 28 /// 1 It is well settled that the United States has sovereign immunity and remains 2 immune from suit absent a specific waiver or consent. United States v. Mitchell, 3 445 U.S. 535, 538 (1980). In enacting the FTCA, Congress provided a limited 4 waiver of immunity, specifically allowing individuals to sue the government “for 5 injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or 6 wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within 7 the scope of his office or employment.” 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). But such a claim is 8 “forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency 9 within two years after such claim accrues.” 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b). 10 Generally, the FTCA’s statute of limitations begins to run on the date of the 11 injury. United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111, 120 (1979). Accrual of a claim 12 does not “wait awareness by a plaintiff that his injury has been negligently 13 inflicted.” Id. at 123. In a medical malpractice case under the FTCA, the Ninth 14 Circuit explains “a claim accrues when the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of 15 reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury and its cause.” Landreth 16 by and Through Ore v. United States, 850 F.2d 532, 533 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing 17 Kubrick, 444 U.S. at 120). The cause of an injury is known when the immediate 18 physical cause of the injury is discovered. Outman v. United States, 890 F.2d 19 1050, 1051 (9th Cir. 1989); A.Q.C. ex rel. Castillo v.
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 1 Feb 05, 2025 2 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 8 ANDRES MESA GARCIA, 9 No. 1:24-CV-03140-ACE
10 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S
11 MOTION TO DISMISS v.
12 ECF No. 5 13 KRISTY RINIKER,
14 Defendant. 15 16 BEFORE THE COURT is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.1 ECF No. 5. 17 Plaintiff is proceeding pro se; Defendant is represented by Assistant United States 18 Attorney Timothy M. Durkin. This matter was submitted for consideration without 19 oral argument. 20 BACKGROUND 21 Plaintiff brought this lawsuit against Dr. Kristy Riniker, M.D., in the Small 22 Claims Division of the Yakima County District Court on April 4, 2024. ECF No. 23 1-1 at 5. Plaintiff’s complaint alleges Dr. Riniker, a public health care provider 24
25 1Plaintiff filed no response to Defendant’s dispositive motion. See LCivR 26 7(e) (“The failure to comply with the requirements of LCivR 7(b) or (c) may be 27 deemed consent to the entry of an order adverse to the party who violates these 28 rules.”). 1 and employee of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (“YVFWC”), a federally 2 assisted public health service facility, “prescribed me medicine that was killing me. 3 The memorial Hospital doctor told me that I should not be taking the mediation & 4 that much of what was prescribed to me. The doctor took the medicine away from 5 me because it was dangerous for me.” ECF No. 1-1 at 5. Although not specified 6 in the complaint, the YVFWC advised that the alleged dates of Plaintiff’s care 7 occurred sometime before November 25, 2022. ECF No. 5 at 2. Plaintiff’s state 8 court medical negligence suit was removed to this Court pursuant to the Federal 9 Supported Health Center Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 233, and the Federal Tort 10 Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1342, 1346(a), 1346(b), 2679.2 11 DISCUSSION 12 A. Standard of Review 13 Defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14 12(b)(1) tests whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear the claims 15 asserted by Plaintiff. A complaint must be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(1) if, 16 considering all allegations in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, the action: (1) 17 does not arise under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States, or does 18 not fall within one of the other enumerated categories of Article III, Section 2, of 19 the Constitution; (2) is not a case or controversy within the meaning of the 20 Constitution; or (3) is not one described by any jurisdictional statute. Baker v. 21 Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 198 (1962); D.G. Rung Indus., Inc. v. Tinnerman, 626 F.Supp. 22 1062, 1063 (W.D. Wash. 1986). The party asserting jurisdiction (here, Plaintiff) 23 bears the burden of establishing subject matter jurisdiction. Ass’n of Am. Med. 24 Coll. v. United States, 217 F.3d 770, 778-779 (9th Cir. 2000); Kokkonen v. 25 Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375 (1994). 26
27 2The federal district courts provide exclusive jurisdiction and venue for 28 plaintiffs who are asserting FTCA claims. 1 B. Analysis 2 1. Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies 3 Defendant first argues that since Plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative 4 remedies, a prerequisite for establishing subject matter jurisdiction, the Court lacks 5 jurisdiction. ECF No. 5 at 4-5. 6 A FTCA action “shall not be instituted” against the United States unless the 7 claimant first presents the claim to the “appropriate Federal agency” and the claim 8 is denied or the agency fails to make a final disposition of the claim within six 9 months. 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a); McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113 (1993) 10 (“The [FTCA] bars claimants from bringing suit in federal court until they have 11 exhausted their administrative remedies.”) “The claim requirement of § 2675(a) is 12 a jurisdictional limitation.” Id.; Meridian Intern. Logistics, Inc. v. United States, 13 939 F.2d 740, 743 (1991). The FTCA, once jurisdictional prerequisites are 14 satisfied, “vests the federal District Courts with exclusive jurisdiction over suits 15 arising from the negligence of Government employees.” Jerves v. United States, 16 966 F.2d 517, 518 (9th Cir. 1992). 17 Here, no evidence has been provided demonstrating Plaintiff filed a FTCA 18 administrative claim prior to filing his lawsuit in Yakima County District Court. 19 As indicated above, Plaintiff filed no response or otherwise objected to 20 Defendant’s argument that Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative 21 remedies in this matter. Since it appears Plaintiff failed to exhaust his FTCA 22 administrative remedies before filing his suit against Dr. Rinker, the Court finds it 23 lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s medical negligence claims and 24 dismissal is appropriate. 25 2. Statute of Limitations 26 Defendant additionally asserts Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the FTCA’s 27 two-year claim filing requirement. ECF No. 5 at 6-7. 28 /// 1 It is well settled that the United States has sovereign immunity and remains 2 immune from suit absent a specific waiver or consent. United States v. Mitchell, 3 445 U.S. 535, 538 (1980). In enacting the FTCA, Congress provided a limited 4 waiver of immunity, specifically allowing individuals to sue the government “for 5 injury or loss of property, or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or 6 wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting within 7 the scope of his office or employment.” 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). But such a claim is 8 “forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency 9 within two years after such claim accrues.” 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b). 10 Generally, the FTCA’s statute of limitations begins to run on the date of the 11 injury. United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111, 120 (1979). Accrual of a claim 12 does not “wait awareness by a plaintiff that his injury has been negligently 13 inflicted.” Id. at 123. In a medical malpractice case under the FTCA, the Ninth 14 Circuit explains “a claim accrues when the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of 15 reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury and its cause.” Landreth 16 by and Through Ore v. United States, 850 F.2d 532, 533 (9th Cir. 1988) (citing 17 Kubrick, 444 U.S. at 120). The cause of an injury is known when the immediate 18 physical cause of the injury is discovered. Outman v. United States, 890 F.2d 19 1050, 1051 (9th Cir. 1989); A.Q.C. ex rel. Castillo v. United States, 656 F.3d 135, 20 145 (2d Cir. 2011); Aarteaga v. United States, 711 F.3d 828, 834 (7th Cir. 2013). 21 Here, the complaint fails to specifically allege an injury date; however, as 22 indicated above, Plaintiff’s care at the YVFWC occurred sometime prior to 23 November 25, 2022. Therefore, more than two years have elapsed since the 24 alleged negligent prescription event occurred. Again, Plaintiff has filed no 25 response or otherwise objected to Defendant’s assertions regarding Plaintiff’s 26 failure to comply with the FTCA’s two-year administrative claim filing 27 requirement. 28 /// 1 The Court finds Plaintiff has failed to comply with the FTCA’s two-year 2|| administrative claim filing requirement. Accordingly, Plaintiff's claims are time barred as well. C. Conclusion 5 For the reasons discussed above, dismissal of this action is appropriate under 6|| Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. 7 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 8 1. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 5, is GRANTED. 9 2. Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. The District Court Executive is directed to file this Order, provide copies to pro se Plaintiff and counsel for Defendant, and CLOSE 12|| THE FILE. 13 DATED February 5, 2025.
15 _ Clagynlee € Gade C, Oe oad ALEXANDER C. EKSTROM —_ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
ORDER - 5