Sonnenfeld v. United States

62 Fed. Cl. 336, 2004 U.S. Claims LEXIS 250, 2004 WL 2181563
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedSeptember 24, 2004
DocketNo. 03-1345 C
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 62 Fed. Cl. 336 (Sonnenfeld v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sonnenfeld v. United States, 62 Fed. Cl. 336, 2004 U.S. Claims LEXIS 250, 2004 WL 2181563 (uscfc 2004).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

GEORGE W. MILLER, Judge.

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado transferred plaintiffs claim for breach of contract to this court on August 7, 2002. Mr. Sonnenfeld filed his [337]*337complaint with the court on June 4, 2003. On March 2, 2004, defendant filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to United States Court of Federal Claims Rule (“RCFC”) 12(b)(1). On May 27, 2004, plaintiff filed a response to defendant’s motion to dismiss. Defendant filed its reply brief on June 3, 2004. Oral argument was held on Tuesday, August 24, 2004. For the reasons discussed below, defendant’s motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

FACTS

Plaintiff enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on November 6, 1993, and signed a re-enlistment agreement purporting to enroll him in the Army’s Student Loan Repayment Program (“SLRP”) for loan repayment up to $20,000. Complaint (“Compl.”) UU 5-7; Pl.Ex. A. At the time of his re-enlistment, the Retention Non Commissioned Officer (“NCO”) apparently told Mr. Sonnenfeld that he was eligible for the SLRP. Compl. U 7; PLEx. A. The SLRP is part of the Army’s Selected Reserve Incentive Program (“SRIP”), which authorizes bonuses and educational funding to facilitate the Army’s efforts to meet retention and recruiting goals in critical skills areas. Skill areas are designated by a number and a letter known as a Military Occupational Specialty (“MOS”). At the time Mr. Sonnenfeld signed his re-enlistment contract, his MOS was 71L — administration. Compl. U 7.

Twice a year the U.S. Army Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel publishes a list of the MOSs that are eligible for the SLRP. Because Mr. Sonnenfeld signed his re-enlistment contract in November 1993, his eligibility was governed by the 1994 fiscal year SRIP list, dated October 1, 1993. Def. Ex. C. The list appears to indicate that drill sergeants were the only soldiers with a 71L MOS who were eligible for the SLRP. Mr. Sonnenfeld was not a drill sergeant, and therefore, the Government contends, he was ineligible. Plaintiff asserts that the SLRP was offered as a re-enlistment bonus for Prior Service (“PS”) soldiers. Plaintiff further contends that Army Regulation 135-7 provided that PS applicants and in-service personnel who contracted for an MOS in which they were qualified or in a critical MOS that had been established by the Department of the Army were eligible for the SLRP increased incentive. Plaintiff asserts that he was a qualified 71L PS soldier on the date of re-enlistment in accordance with the requirements stated in Army Regulation 135-7.

Mr. Sonnenfeld’s alleged ineligibility for the SLRP was discovered in March 1998, after he submitted a request for reimbursement of a portion of his student loan and was informed that he was not eligible for the program. Pl.Ex. B. The 104th Division Retention Officer submitted a request for exception to policy on Mr. Sonnenfeld’s behalf that was supported by his commander. PI. Ex. C and D. The exception to policy request was denied, and Mr. Sonnenfeld filed suit first in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and then in this court seeking $20,000 for breach of contract. In response to the Government’s motion to dismiss, plaintiff, in addition to his breach of contract claim, articulated a tort claim and a claim for entitlement based on Army Regulation 135-7.

DISCUSSION

I. Standard of Review for Motion to Dismiss

When considering a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to RCFC 12(b)(1), the court may consider all relevant evidence in order to resolve any disputes as to the truth of the jurisdictional facts alleged in the complaint. CC Distributors, Inc. v. United States, 38 Fed.Cl. 771, 774 (1997) (citing Reynolds v. Army & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d 746, 747 (Fed.Cir.1988)). The court is required to decide any disputed facts that are relevant to the issue of jurisdiction. Reynolds, 846 F.2d at 747. The burden of establishing jurisdiction is on the plaintiff. McNutt v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 189, 56 S.Ct. 780, 80 L.Ed. 1135 (1936); CC Distributors, 38 Fed.Cl. at 774.

“In passing on a motion to dismiss, whether on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter or for failure to state a [338]*338cause of action, unchallenged allegations of the complaint should be construed favorably to the pleader.” Hamlet v. United States, 873 F.2d 1414, 1416 (Fed.Cir.1989); CC Distributors, 38 Fed.Cl. at 774. In rendering a decision, the court must presume that the undisputed factual allegations included in the complaint are true. Miree v. DeKalb County, 433 U.S. 25, 27 n. 2, 97 S.Ct. 2490, 53 L.Ed.2d 557 (1977). The court should not grant a motion to dismiss unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of its claim that will entitle it to relief. CC Distributors, 38 Fed.Cl. at 774 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). “Conclusory allegations unsupported by any factual assertions will not withstand a motion to dismiss.” Id. The court, however, “is mindful that pleadings drafted by pro se plaintiffs are held to ‘less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers,’” and accordingly, such pleadings are construed “liberally.” McSheffrey v. United States, 58 Fed.Cl. 21, 25 (2003) (quoting Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S.Ct. 594, 30 L.Ed.2d 652 (1972)).

II. The Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Plaintiffs Claim Based On the Reenlistment Agreement

The court’s subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to the Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1491, extends to “any claim against the United States founded either upon the Constitution, or any Act of Congress or any regulation of an executive department, or upon any express or implied contract with the United States, or for liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort.” 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1) (2000). “Courts created by statute can have no jurisdiction but such as the statute confers.” Christianson v. Colt Indus. Operating Corp., 486 U.S. 800, 818, 108 S.Ct. 2166, 100 L.Ed.2d 811 (1988). RCFC 12(b)(1) provides for the dismissal of suits where the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter.

In his complaint, plaintiff asserts Tucker Act jurisdiction based on the “Enlistment Contract Agreement” that plaintiff and the United States Army Reserve entered into on November 6, 1993. Compl. H 5.

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Bluebook (online)
62 Fed. Cl. 336, 2004 U.S. Claims LEXIS 250, 2004 WL 2181563, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sonnenfeld-v-united-states-uscfc-2004.