Moses Langford v. Magnolia Advanced Materials, Inc.

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: July 7, 2021
• Docket: 20-13126
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

USCA11 Case: 20-13126 Date Filed: 07/07/2021 Page: 1 of 12

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________

No. 20-13126 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________

D.C. Docket No. 1:19-cv-05141-AT

MOSES LANGFORD,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

MAGNOLIA ADVANCED MATERIALS, INC., NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP, ERIKA CLARKE BIRG, PETER L. MUNK,

Defendants-Appellees.

________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ________________________

(July 7, 2021)

Before JORDAN, JILL PRYOR, and LUCK, Circuit Judges. USCA11 Case: 20-13126 Date Filed: 07/07/2021 Page: 2 of 12

PER CURIAM:

Moses Langford, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s (1) dismissal

of his 42 U.S.C. § 1981 action based on res judicata and (2) denial of his motion for

reconsideration. After careful review of the parties’ briefs and the record, we affirm.

I

A

Mr. Langford’s claim arises from the events from a May 2015 state-court

lawsuit in a Georgia court, which is still ongoing. Magnolia Advanced Materials,

Inc., represented by Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough, LLP, sued Mr. Langford

in Georgia for breach of contract and violation of the Georgia Trade Secrets Act, and

sought a permanent injunction. Michael Mondy, a Georgia lawyer, represented Mr.

Langford in the lawsuit. After Mr. Mondy was held in contempt for violating a court

order, he notified Mr. Langford that he wished to withdraw as counsel in May of

2018. Mr. Langford consented, and Mr. Mondy filed a notice of his intent to

withdraw as counsel.

Magnolia subsequently filed an objection to Mr. Mondy’s withdrawal. In its

objection, Magnolia argued that permitting Mr. Mondy to withdraw while a motion

for attorney’s fees and a motion to compel discovery were pending would delay trial

and interrupt the court’s efficient operations because of the additional procedures

that would be required to (1) obtain discovery from a pro se party, (2) issue a

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subpoena to Mr. Mondy for any documents retained, and (3) obtain attorney’s fees

from Mr. Mondy. Magnolia cited Georgia’s Uniform Superior Court Rule 4.3 and

Georgia precedent, which explain that a motion to withdraw as counsel is granted

only with the court’s permission.

The Georgia court issued an order compelling Mr. Langford and Mr. Mondy

to provide discovery. The court determined that each of Mr. Langford’s objections

to Magnolia’s discovery request failed as a matter of law, and stated that it was

reserving its ruling on Mr. Mondy’s motion to withdraw until discovery had been

produced. In making its ruling, the court specified that allowing Mr. Mondy to

withdraw as Mr. Langford’s counsel before that point would further interfere with

the discovery process. The court eventually granted Mr. Mondy’s motion to

withdraw in March of 2021. As noted, the state court litigation is ongoing.

B

On October 30, 2018, Mr. Mondy filed suit against Judge Boulee (who

presided over the Georgia action), Magnolia, Magnolia’s attorneys, and their law

firm, Nelson Mullins, under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, seeking damages,

injunctive relief, and declaratory relief. See Mondy v. Boulee, 805 F. App'x 939,

939–41 (11th Cir. 2020). Mr. Mondy alleged that the defendants violated his

Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment rights when they interfered with his right to

withdraw as Mr. Langford’s counsel “for racially discriminatory reasons.” In

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support, Mr. Mondy argued that he and Mr. Langford were African-American and

the defendants were Caucasian, and that Magnolia’s objection did not cite

appropriate facts or legal authority. See id at 941. The district court entered a

separate judgment in favor of Judge Boulee, and we dismissed Mr. Mondy’s appeal

from that judgement as untimely. Id at 940. The district court also dismissed Mr.

Mondy’s complaint against the other defendants for failure to state a claim under

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) because Mr. Mondy did not have an

absolute right under Georgia law to withdraw as Mr. Langford’s counsel, and

because the complaint lacked factual allegations necessary to assert that Magnolia

or its counsel acted with racist motives. See id. at 941–42. Mr. Mondy challenged

that dismissal, and we affirmed. See id.

C

On November 13, 2019, Mr. Langford filed a complaint that was an almost

verbatim copy of Mr. Mondy’s; the only differences were the substitution of his

name for Mr. Mondy’s and the omission of Judge Boulee as a defendant. As had

Mr. Mondy, Mr. Langford asserted claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 for

damages, injunctive relief and declaratory relief. He alleged that the defendants’

objection to Mr. Mondy’s withdrawal violated his Thirteenth and Fourteenth

Amendment rights because it interfered with his right to terminate his contract with

Mr. Mondy “for racially discriminatory reasons.” He asserted that the objection was

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not supported by legal authority, was not supported by an affidavit, and contained

allegations that the defendants knew were false.

The defendants filed a motion to dismiss under Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6)

arguing that (1) Mr. Langford’s § 1981 claims were precluded by collateral estoppel,

(2) Mr. Langford’s claims became moot when the state court in the Magnolia action

ruled on the motion to compel and the motion for attorney’s fees, and (3) Mr.

Langford failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Mr. Langford

filed a motion to amend his complaint on December 15, 2019, followed by a

proposed amended complaint on March 23, 2020.

The district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss based on res

judicata (i.e., claim preclusion). In addition, the district court determined that Mr.

Langford’s amended complaint was untimely and futile because it exceeded the

timeline allowed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure without prior permission

from the court and because, even if it had been timely, the claims would not have

survived dismissal. The court also denied Mr. Langford’s motion for

reconsideration.

Mr. Langford now appeals.

II

We review de novo the district court’s dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,

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“accepting the allegations in the complaint as true and construing them in the light

most favorable to the plaintiff.” Leib v. Hillsborough Cty. Pub. Transp. Comm’n,

558 F.3d 1301, 1305 (11th Cir. 2009). We note that the district court concluded that

claim preclusion barred Mr. Langford’s discrimination claims. We may, however,

“affirm on any ground that finds support in the record.” Long v. Comm'r of IRS, 772

F.3d 670, 675 (11th Cir. 2014).

We review the district court’s decision to deny leave to amend a pleading for

abuse of discretion. See Walker v. S. Co. Servs., Inc., 279 F. 3d 1289, 1291 (11th

Cir. 2002). “A district court abuses its discretion by applying an incorrect legal

standard, following improper procedures, or basing its award on clearly erroneous

factual findings.” Smith v. Psychiatric Sols., Inc., 750 F.3d 1253, 1259 (11th Cir.

2014).

III

The defendants argue that Mr. Langford’s claims are moot because

Magnolia’s objection to Mr. Mondy’s motion to withdraw expired on its own terms

when the state court ruled on Magnolia’s motion for attorney’s fees and motion to

compel discovery in October of 2018. We disagree, as Mr. Langford is still capable

of benefitting from the relief that he requested in his complaint. See Florida Ass’n

of Rehab. Facilities, Inc. v. State of Fla. Dep’t of Health & Rehab. Servs., 225 F.3d

1208, 1217 (11th Cir. 2000). Although the Georgia court granted Mr. Mondy’s

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motion to withdraw in March of 2021, which may render his request for injunctive

and declaratory relief moot, Mr. Langford also sought damages based on the

defendants’ alleged conduct, which he could still obtain if successful. See Adler v.

Duval Cty. School Bd., 112 F.3d 1475, 1478 (11th Cir. 1997).

IV

A complaint must contain sufficient facts and allegations that “state a claim

to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570

(2007). The mere possibility that a defendant acted unlawfully is insufficient. See

id. Therefore, though “detailed factual allegations” are not required, a complaint

must contain more than “labels and conclusions” or “naked assertion[s] devoid of

further factual enhancement.” Id. at 555–57. See also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.

662, 678 (2008). We construe pro se pleadings liberally, but nevertheless require

pro se parties to follow procedural rules. See Albra v. Advan, Inc., 490 F.3d 826,

829 (11th Cir. 2007).

As the Supreme Court has explained, 42 U.S.C. §1981 “protects the equal

right of [a]ll persons to make and enforce contracts without respect to race.”

Domino's Pizza, Inc. v. McDonald, 546 U.S. 470, 470 (2006) (internal quotations

omitted and alteration in original) (defining “make and enforce contracts” to include

“the making, performance, modification, and termination of contracts, and the

enjoyment of all benefits ... of the contractual relationship”). See also Moore v.

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Grady Mem’l Hosp. Corp., 834 F.3d 1168, 1171 (11th Cir. 2016). Therefore, in

order to assert a claim under § 1981, a complaint must “initially identify an impaired

contractual relationship.” Domino's Pizza, Inc., 546 U.S. at 470.

The Georgia Constitution provides that “[n]o person shall be deprived of the

right to prosecute or defend, either in person or by an attorney, that person’s own

cause.” Ga. Const. art. I, § 1, ¶ XII. Further, a represented party retains his right to

represent himself pro se. See Cherry v. Coast House, Ltd., 359 S.E.2d 904, 907 (Ga.

1987). But the Georgia Supreme Court has indicated that this right is not absolute

and is subject to the power of courts to ensure the orderly disposition of matters

before them, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 15-1-3(4). See, e.g., id. (determining that,

where a court was confronted with multiple appearances and filings by a party and

his attorneys, the court erred in barring the party from proceeding pro se but was

within its power to appoint a leading counsel).

Georgia courts are vested with the authority “[t]o control, in the furtherance

of justice, the conduct of its officers and all other persons connected with a judicial

proceeding before it, in every matter appertaining thereto.” O.C.G.A. § 15-1-3(4).

Rule 4.3 of Georgia’s Uniform Superior Court Rules provides that an attorney who

wishes to withdraw as counsel must file a request with the court, which “will be

granted unless in the judge’s discretion to do so would delay the trial or otherwise

interrupt the orderly operation of the court or be manifestly unfair to the client.” Ga.

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Unif. Superior Ct. R. 4.3(1). In addition, the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct

require attorneys to comply with applicable laws and rules before withdrawing. See

Ga. R. Prof’l Conduct 1.16(c). When ordered to do so by a court, an attorney must

continue representing a client “notwithstanding good cause for terminating the

representation.” Id.

To state a claim of racial discrimination under § 1981, “plaintiffs must allege

facts establishing: (1) that the plaintiff is a member of a racial minority; (2) that the

defendant intended to discriminate on the basis of race; and (3) that the

discrimination concerned one or more of the activities enumerated in the statute.”

Jackson v. BellSouth Telecommunications, 372 F.3d 1250, 1270 (11th Cir. 2004).

Here, dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) was appropriate

because Mr. Langford failed to state a claim of race discrimination under § 1981.

See Haynes, 793 F.3d at 1249. 1

As an initial matter, Mr. Langford has abandoned the issue of whether he

stated a claim of mixed-motive discrimination by addressing the issue only in a

single sentence in his initial brief without developing a supporting argument or citing

legal authority. See Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 680–82

1 We note that Mr. Langford asserted claims under §1981 as well as under §1983 in his original complaint. Because Mr. Langford only raises his § 1981 claim on appeal, we need not address the §1983 claim. See United States v. Jernigan, 341 F.3d 1273, 1283 n.8 (11th Cir. 2003). Furthermore, Mr. Langford has not raised the denial of his motion to amend the judgment, so we do not address it either. See id. 9 USCA11 Case: 20-13126 Date Filed: 07/07/2021 Page: 10 of 12

(11th Cir. 2014). Likewise, he has abandoned his claim for punitive damages, to the

extent that it was a separate cause of action, by failing to raise it on appeal. See id.

Mr. Langford’s complaint failed to sufficiently allege that the defendants’

objection impaired his contractual relationship with Mr. Mondy because that

relationship was subject to the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. See Ga. R.

Prof’l Conduct 1.16(c). Because Georgia law provides that an attorney must

continue to represent a client if ordered to do so by the court, notwithstanding the

existence of good cause for withdrawal, Mr. Mondy did not have an immediate or

absolute right to withdraw, and Mr. Langford did not have the unilateral right to

discharge him. See id.; Ga. Unif. Superior Ct. R. 4.3(1).

Mr. Langford’s complaint also failed to state a claim under § 1981 because he

asserted only conclusory allegations of animus and the races of the parties in order

to allege racially discriminatory motives. See Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678; Jimenez v.

Wellstar Health System, 596 F.3d 1304, 1308 (11th Cir. 2010). As we determined

in Mr. Mondy’s suit, Magnolia’s objection was facially neutral: it stated that

permitting Mr. Mondy to withdraw would delay a resolution of the case by

complicating discovery—which had already been ongoing since August of 2015 at

the time the Georgia state court issued its order in October of 2018. See Mondy, 805

F. App’x at 942. Moreover, Magnolia supported its objection with citations to

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relevant legal authority. Accordingly, dismissal was appropriate based on Mr.

Langford’s failure to state a claim under § 1981.

V

A party may amend a pleading once as a matter of course within 21 days of

the service of a Rule 12(b) motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(B). But a party may

amend a pleading more than 21 days after such a motion has been filed “only with

the opposing party’s written consent or the court’s leave.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1),

(2). In general, leave to amend should be freely given when justice so requires. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(2). A district court has “extensive discretion” in deciding

whether to grant a motion for leave to amend. Campbell v. Emory Clinic, 166 F.3d

1157, 1162 (11th Cir. 1999). Leave to amend need not be given “when the

amendment would prejudice the defendant, follows undue delays, or is futile.” Id.

Leave to amend is futile where the amended complaint would still fail at the motion

to dismiss stage of the litigation. See L.S. ex rel. Hernandez v. Peterson, 982 F.3d

1323, 1332 (11th Cir. 2020).

Mr. Langford timely filed his motion to amend as a matter of course after

Nelson Mullins filed its motion to dismiss. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1), (2). Because

he did not file an amended complaint until several months later, however, he waived

his right to amend as a matter of course. See Coventry First, LLC v. McCarty, 605

F.3d 865, 869-70 (11th Cir. 2010). Moreover, because the proposed amended

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complaint reasserted the same factual allegations from his original complaint, while

adding Judge Boulee as a party and asserting additional state claims, like the original,

it was subject to dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6).2 In other

words, amendment would have been futile.

For these reasons, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Mr.

Langford’s motion to amend complaint.

VI

We affirm the district court’s dismissal of Mr. Langford’s complaint and the

denial of his motion to amend the complaint.

AFFIRMED.

2 In his proposed amended complaint, Mr. Langford’s asserted the following state claims: negligence, intentional interference of an employment relationship, intentional interference of a business relationship, right to present yourself without an attorney, absolute right to fire your attorney. He also asserted a claim for punitive damages against the defendants. 12