Middleton v. City of Lakeland

830 F. Supp. 1449, 27 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 601, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12933, 1993 WL 370568
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedSeptember 15, 1993
DocketNo. 92-201-CIV-T-17
StatusPublished

This text of 830 F. Supp. 1449 (Middleton v. City of Lakeland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Middleton v. City of Lakeland, 830 F. Supp. 1449, 27 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 601, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12933, 1993 WL 370568 (M.D. Fla. 1993).

Opinion

ORDER

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE is before the Court on the Motion to Dismiss the Plaintiff’s Complaint filed by the Defendant City of Lakeland.

The Court must read Plaintiffs pro se allegations liberally, holding them to a less stringent standard than those drafted by an attorney. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S.Ct. 594, 595, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972). Under this more lenient standard, the complaint should not be'dismissed unless it appears “beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 102, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957). With this standard in mind, the Court turns to consideration of Plaintiffs Amended Complaint, beginning with a brief history of two previously dismissed claims.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On January 19, 1990, Plaintiff filed a first civil complaint before this Court under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, additionally claiming sexual harassment and violations of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Case No. 90-64-CIV-T-20A) Plaintiffs complaint was dismissed without prejudice on October 31, 1991, because she did not respond and show cause why the matter should not be dismissed for failure to perfect service and for failure to prosecute under Local Rule 3.10. According to Judge Schlesinger’s order, Plaintiff never received a copy of the Court’s Order requiring her to respond, since she neglected to inform the Court of her new address.

On February 14, 1992, Plaintiff filed a second civil complaint before this Court, alleging violations under Title VII, 29 U.S.C. § 216(b), the Fair Labor Standards Act, 42 U.S.C.1983, and the Equal Pay Act. (Case No. 92-201-CIV-T-17A) Plaintiffs second complaint on its face showed that Plaintiff had not yet received the Equal Opportunity Commission’s Notice of Right to Sue letter, a jurisdictional prerequisite for Title VII actions under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e—5(f)(1). This second complaint was dismissed sua sponte on November 3,1992, with leave to amend on or before November 20, 1992.

On November 19, 1992, Plaintiff filed a third civil complaint, which now comes before this Court. Plaintiff alleges violations under Title VII, 29 U.S.C. 216(b), the Equal Pay Act, 42 U.S.C.1983, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Defendant seeks dismissal with prejudice of this Amended Complaint.

II. DISCUSSION

Defendant first alleges that' Plaintiff’s claim fails for insufficiency of service of process under Rule 4(c)(1) or (2) and Rule 4(d)(6), Fed.R.Civ.P., in that the Defendant, CITY OF LAKELAND, is a municipal corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida, and that service of Plaintiffs summons and complaint by U.S. mail was therefore improper. Service under Rule 4(c)(1) shall be by United States marshal, deputy United States marshal, or by a per[1452]*1452son specially appointed to serve process, and under Rule 4(c)(2), by any non-party over 18 years of age, Fed.R.Civ.P. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(6), service upon a state or municipal corporation is either by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint to the chief executive officer or in the manner prescribed by state law. Florida Statute § 48.111, which applies to service on public agencies and officers, does not require any specific means of service of process.

Plaintiff, proceeding in forma pauperis, is entitled to service by the U.S. Marshal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(2)(B)(i), Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c). A party proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the United States Marshals to effect proper service and should not be penalized for failure to effect service where such failure is not due to fault on the litigant’s part. Fowler v. Jones, 899 F.2d 1088 (11th Cir.1990). Receipt of Plaintiffs summons and complaint was acknowledged and returned in a timely manner by the Assistant City Attorney, who was served on behalf of the Defendant, CITY OF LAKELAND.

Since service of process was by mail through the U.S. Marshal’s office, and particularly since state law expresses no explicit preference for any precise form of service, Plaintiff should not be penalized for the U.S. Marshal’s failure to deliver her summons and complaint. The Assistant City Attorney’s prompt acknowledgement shows that Defendant has received Plaintiffs service of process. Defendant’s allegations regarding insufficiency of service of process are therefore ungrounded, and personal jurisdiction has been established by proper service. Because the Court finds no insufficiency of service of process, Defendant’s fifth allegation, concerning timely service of process, is mooted.

Defendant’s second allegation concerns Plaintiffs claim under 42 U.S.C.S. § 1983. Defendant mischaracterizes Great American Federal Savings & Loan Association v. Novotny, 442 U.S. 366, 99 S.Ct. 2345, 60 L.Ed.2d 957 (1979), when he states that § 1983 actions may not be brought to enforce Title VII rights. Great American holds that a deprivation of a right created by 42 U.S.C.S. §§ 2000e, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, cannot be the basis for a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3). Id., at 378, 99 S.Ct. at 2352. Although both sections descend from the Civil Rights Act of 1871, § 1983 is derived from § 1 of the 1871 Act, providing a remedy for state action, while § 1985. is derived from § 2 of the 1871 Act and provides a remedy for private, conspiratorial action. One significant difference between the two sections is that § 1985 cannot provide a remedy for private acts of discrimination which violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.' Id., at 384, 99 S.Ct. at 2355.

The question remains, however, whether Plaintiffs pro se complaint meets the minimal pleading requirements under 42 U.S.C.S. § 1983. To maintain an action under § 1983,1 Plaintiff must prove two elements: (1) that she was deprived of “rights, privileges or immunities” protected by the Constitution or federal law; and, (2) that the deprivation was caused by a person acting under color of law. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co.,

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Related

Conley v. Gibson
355 U.S. 41 (Supreme Court, 1957)
Foman v. Davis
371 U.S. 178 (Supreme Court, 1962)
Cooper v. Pate
378 U.S. 546 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Adickes v. S. H. Kress & Co.
398 U.S. 144 (Supreme Court, 1970)
Haines v. Kerner
404 U.S. 519 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs.
436 U.S. 658 (Supreme Court, 1978)
Ken L. Michaelis (Formally Known as Kenneth L. Michaelis) and Iona Rae Michaelis Rory Lee Michaelis, a Minor, by Ken L. Michaelis, His Father and Next Friend, and Kyle Lee Michaelis, a Minor, by Ken L. Michaelis, His Father and Next Friend v. The Nebraska State Bar Association, a Nebraska Association, and Homer Ed Hurt, Jr. James Egley Kenneth Olds Pliny M. Moodie Robert D. Moodie John M. Thor, Jr. Stanley P. Gushard William E. Webster, All Nebraska Lawyers and Members of the Nebraska State Bar Association Richard P. Garden, a Nebraska Lawyer and Member of the Nebraska State Bar Association Lucille Toelle Norris Maack Richard Lindberg Gwen Lindberg, D/B/A West Point News Theodore M. Huettmann and Gladys M. Huettmann, D/B/A Wisner News-Chronicle the Norfolk Daily News Fremont Tribune Lincoln Journal Newspaper Omaha World Herald Company, Owner-Publisher of Omaha World Herald Newspapers the Associated Press Wireservices and Paul Douglas, Ken L. Michaelis (Formally Known as Kenneth L. Michaelis) and Iona Rae Michaelis Rory Lee Michaelis, a Minor, by Ken L. Michaelis, His Father and Next Friend, Kyle Lee Michaelis, a Minor, by Ken L. Michaelis, His Father and Next Friend, and Kari Lynn Michaelis, a Minor, by Ken L. Michaelis, Her Father and Next Friend v. Norman M. Krivosha Leslie Boslaugh William C. Hastings Hale McCown Donald Brodkey Lawrence M. Clinton (Deceased) Edward Asche Dixon G. Adams Pliny M. Moodie Robert D. Moodie Homer Ed Hurt, Jr. Stanley P. Gushard Kenneth Olds James Egley John M. Thor, Jr. William E. Webster, All Being Members of the Nebraska State Bar Association the Nebraska State Bar Association, a Nebraska Association Consisting of All Licensed Nebraska Lawyers, All Nebraska Lawyers
717 F.2d 437 (Eighth Circuit, 1983)
Bailey v. United States
92 F.2d 456 (Fifth Circuit, 1937)

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Bluebook (online)
830 F. Supp. 1449, 27 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 601, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12933, 1993 WL 370568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/middleton-v-city-of-lakeland-flmd-1993.