United States ex rel. Phipps v. Comprehensive Community Development Corp.

152 F. Supp. 2d 443, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9949, 2001 WL 812221
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJuly 16, 2001
DocketNo. 99 Civ. 5172(JGK)
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 152 F. Supp. 2d 443 (United States ex rel. Phipps v. Comprehensive Community Development Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States ex rel. Phipps v. Comprehensive Community Development Corp., 152 F. Supp. 2d 443, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9949, 2001 WL 812221 (S.D.N.Y. 2001).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

KOELTL, District Judge.

Plaintiff Claudette Phipps (“Phipps”) brings this qui tam action on behalf of the United States against Comprehensive Community Development Corporation, d/b/a Soundview Health Center (“CCDC”), Nonprofit Community Resources, Inc. (“NCR”), Pedro Espada (“Espada”), Sandra Love (“Love”), Kenneth Brennan (“Brennan”), Esther Hill (“Hill”), and Maria Cruz (“Cruz”), each in their official and individual capacities pursuant to the False Claims Act, 21 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. (“FCA”). Phipps has also brought common law claims for unjust enrichment, fraud, and mistake of fact. Phipps alleges that the defendants falsely represented that certain individuals were enrolled in CCDC’s Women, Infants, and Children [448]*448(“WIC”) program and submitted false claims, statements, records, and information to the federal government (“Government”) and to New York State to obtain funds from various federal and state programs. The defendants CCDC, Espada, Love, Brennan, Hill and Cruz (collectively the “Moving Defendants”) now move pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c) for judgment on the pleadings, or in the alternative, for partial summary judgment on the grounds that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs qui tam action and that the plaintiffs complaint does not meet the requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b).1

I.

The same standards apply to a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings and to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. See Burnette v. Carothers, 192 F.3d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1999); Narvarte v. Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., 969 F.Supp. 10, 11 (S.D.N.Y. 1997). The Court “must view the pleadings in the light most favorable to, and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of, the nonmoving party.” Davidson v. Flynn, 32 F.3d 27, 29 (2d Cir.1994); see also Madonna v. United States, 878 F.2d 62, 65 (2d Cir.1989); National Ass’n of Phaonnaceutical Mfrs., Inc. v. Ayerst Labs., 850 F.2d 904, 909 n. 2 (2d Cir.1988) (indicating that the Court treats a motion for judgment on the pleadings as if it were a motion to dismiss); Slavsky v. New York City Police Dep’t, 967 F.Supp. 117, 118 (S.D.N.Y.1997), aff'd, 159 F.3d 1348 (2d Cir.1998). A court should not dismiss a complaint unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle the plaintiff to relief. See Valmonte v. Bane, 18 F.3d 992, 998 (2d Cir.1994) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)). In deciding the motion, the Court can consider documents referenced in the complaint and documents that are in the plaintiffs possession or that the plaintiff knew of and relied on in bringing suit. See Brass v. American Film Technologies, Inc., 987 F.2d 142, 150 (2d Cir.1993); Cortee Indus., Inc. v. Sum Holding L.P., 949 F.2d 42, 47-48 (2d Cir. 1991); I Meyer Pincus & Assoc., P.C. v. Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., 936 F.2d 759, 762 (2d Cir.1991); Skeete v. TVF America, Inc., 972 F.Supp. 206, 208 (S.D.N.Y.1997). The Court can also consider “matters of which judicial notice may be taken.” See Leonard F. v. Israel Discount Bank of New York, 199 F.3d 99, 107 (2d Cir.1999) (quotation omitted); see also Kramer v. Time Warner Inc., 937 F.2d 767, 773 (2d Cir.1991).

Although subject matter jurisdiction is usually challenged by way of a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss, it may also be raised on a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings. See Ryan v. Volpone Stamp Co., Inc., 107 F.Supp.2d 369, 375 (S.D.N.Y.2000); Brooks v. New York City Housing Authority, No. 98 Civ. 5016, 1999 WL 395387, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jun. 15 1999); Peters v. Timespan Comm., Inc., No. 97 Civ. 8750, 1999 WL 135231, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 12, 1999). A Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings [449]*449based upon a lack of subject matter jurisdiction is treated as a Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss the complaint. See Peters, 1999 WL 135231, at *2. A party invoking federal jurisdiction “must allege in [its] pleading the facts essential to show jurisdiction,” and “must support [those facts] by competent proof.” See McNutt v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 179, 56 S.Ct. 780, 80 L.Ed. 1135 (1936); see also Board of Educ. of the Mount Sinai Union Free Sch. Dist. v. New York State Teachers Retirement Sys., 60 F.3d 106, 109 (2d Cir.1995) (citation omitted); United States ex rel. Pentagen Tech. Int’l Ltd. v. Caci Int’l Inc., No. 96 Civ. 7827, 1997 WL 473549, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 18,1997), aff'd. 172 F.3d 39 (2d Cir.1999). In considering a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, a court must accept as true all material factual allegations in the complaint and refrain from drawing inferences in favor of the party contesting jurisdiction. See Atlantic Mut. Ins. Co. v. Balfour Maclaine Intern. Ltd., 968 F.2d 196, 198 (2d Cir.1992). Where subject matter jurisdiction is challenged, however, a court may consider materials outside the pleadings, such as affidavits, documents and testimony. See Antares Aircraft v. Fed. Rep. of Nigeria, 948 F.2d 90, 96 (2d Cir.1991); Kamen v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 791 F.2d 1006, 1011 (2d Cir.1986). Thus, the standard used to evaluate a Rule 12(b)(1) claim is similar to that for summary judgment under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. See Kamen, 791 F.2d at 1011. The plaintiff has the ultimate burden of proving the Court’s jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence. See Malik v. Meissner, 82 F.3d 560, 562 (2d Cir.1996); see also Kehr Packages, Inc. v. Fidelcor, Inc., 926 F.2d 1406, 1409 (3d Cir.1991) (when subject matter jurisdiction is challenged under Rule 12, plaintiff must bear burden of persuasion); Martin v. Reno, No. 96 Civ. 7646, 1999 WL 527932 at *1 (S.D.N.Y. July 22,1999).2

[450]*450.11.

The following facts are undisputed for purposes of this motion except where specifically noted.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
152 F. Supp. 2d 443, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9949, 2001 WL 812221, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-ex-rel-phipps-v-comprehensive-community-development-corp-nysd-2001.