(PS) Mead v. Williams

District Court, E.D. California·Decided November 30, 2020·No. 2:20-cv-00578·Unknown

Opinion

ROBERT M. MEAD, No. 2:20-cv-0578 DB PS Plaintiff, v. ORDER Defendant. On May 29, 2020, this action was reassigned to the undersigned pursuant to the parties’ consent to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1). (ECF No. 14.) Pending before the court is defendant’s motion to dismiss. (ECF No. 10.) For the reasons stated below, defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted and plaintiff’ complaint is dismissed without leave to amend. Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, commenced this action on March 17, 2020, by filing a complaint and paying the required filing fee. (ECF No. 1.) Therein, plaintiff alleges that on “December 9, 2004, a settlement was reached in the dissolution of marriage” between plaintiff and defendant Carolyn Williams. (Compl. (ECF No. 1) at 4.1) “[J]udgement was entered the 1 Page number citations such as this one are to the page number reflected on the court’s CM/ECF system and not to page numbers assigned by the parties. same day[.]” (Id.) “On January 22, 2005, by operation of law . . . the case was dismissed.” (Id. at 5.) On February 2, 2005, defendant’s attorney wrote to plaintiff stating an “intention to ‘redraft the judgment.’” (Id. at 6.) Plaintiff “did not agree” to the indicated “changes in redrafting the judgment.” (Id. at 7.) The “fraudulently ‘redrafted judgement’ was submitted to the Sacramento Superior Court” without plaintiff’s prior approval.” (Id. at 7-8.) On March 8, 2005, a “Notice of Entry of Judgment” was entered reflecting the redrafted judgment.” (Id. at 8.) Plaintiff complains that “the State courts refused to consider or dispose of subject-matter jurisdiction that was fraudulently acquired and the state courts have resisted in hearing collateral attacks on subject matter jurisdiction[.]” (Id. at 9.) Pursuant to these allegations, the complaint alleges claims for fraud, “impairment of right to contract,” and equal protection. (Id. at 4-14.) On May 6, 2020, the court issued an order to show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed due to a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. (ECF No. 9.) On May 12, 2020, defendant filed the pending motion to dismiss pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (ECF No. 10.) On May 26, 2020, plaintiff filed a response to the order to show cause and an opposition to defendant’s motion to dismiss. (ECF Nos. 12 & 13.) Defendant filed a reply on June 3, 2020. (ECF No. 15.) I. Legal Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) allows a defendant to raise the defense, by motion, that the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of an entire action or of specific claims alleged in the action. “A motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction may either attack the allegations of the complaint or may be made as a ‘speaking motion’ attacking the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact.” Thornhill Publ’g Co. v. Gen. Tel. & Elecs. Corp., 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979). When a party brings a facial attack to subject matter jurisdiction, that party contends that the allegations of jurisdiction contained in the complaint are insufficient on their face to demonstrate the existence of jurisdiction. Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004). In a Rule 12(b)(1) motion of this type, the plaintiff is entitled to safeguards similar to those applicable when a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is made. See Sea Vessel Inc. v. Reyes, 23 F.3d 345, 347 (11th Cir. 1994); Osborn v. United States, 918 F.2d 724, 729 n. 6 (8th Cir. 1990). The factual allegations of the complaint are presumed to be true, and the motion is granted only if the plaintiff fails to allege an element necessary for subject matter jurisdiction. Savage v. Glendale Union High Sch. Dist. No. 205, 343 F.3d 1036, 1039 n. 1 (9th Cir. 2003); Miranda v. Reno, 238 F.3d 1156, 1157 n. 1 (9th Cir. 2001). Nonetheless, district courts “may review evidence beyond the complaint without converting the motion to dismiss into a motion for summary judgment” when resolving a facial attack. Safe Air for Everyone, 373 F.3d at 1039. When a Rule 12(b)(1) motion attacks the existence of subject matter jurisdiction, no presumption of truthfulness attaches to the plaintiff’s allegations. Thornhill Publ’g Co., 594 F.2d at 733. “[T]he district court is not restricted to the face of the pleadings, but may review any evidence, such as affidavits and testimony, to resolve factual disputes concerning the existence of jurisdiction.” McCarthy v. United States, 850 F.2d 558, 560 (9th Cir. 1988). When a Rule 12(b)(1) motion attacks the existence of subject matter jurisdiction in fact, plaintiff has the burden of establishing that such jurisdiction does in fact exist. Thornhill Publ’g Co., 594 F.2d at 733. II. Legal Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) The purpose of a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the legal sufficiency of the complaint. N. Star Int’l v. Ariz. Corp. Comm’n, 720 F.2d 578, 581 (9th Cir. 1983). “Dismissal can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). A plaintiff is required to allege “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “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.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). In determining whether a complaint states a claim on which relief may be granted, the court accepts as true the allegations in the complaint and construes the allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Hishon v. King & Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984); Love v. United States, 915 F.2d 1242, 1245 (9th Cir. 1989). In general, pro se complaints are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972). However, the court need not assume the truth of legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations. United States ex rel. Chunie v. Ringrose, 788 F.2d 638, 643 n.2 (9th Cir. 1986). While Rule 8(a) does not require detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. A pleading is insufficient if it offers mere “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.” Twombl

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