Vasiliades v. United States

991 F. Supp. 1136, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21537, 1997 WL 827407
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedOctober 21, 1997
DocketNo. 8:97CV349
StatusPublished

This text of 991 F. Supp. 1136 (Vasiliades v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vasiliades v. United States, 991 F. Supp. 1136, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21537, 1997 WL 827407 (D. Neb. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER

SHANAHAN, District Judge.

Before the court is filing no. 9, the “Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction” Under F.R.C.P. 12(B)(1), or for Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can Be Granted Under F.R.C.P. 12(B)(6), or in the Alternative, For Summary Judgment filed by the defendant SJA OR LT. Col. R.B. Sorenson (Sorenson). In filing no. 9, Soren-son alleges that the court is divested of jurisdiction by virtue of the Contract Disputes Act. In the alternative, Sorenson alleges that the complaint (filing no. 1 Exh. A) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted in accordance with F.R.C.P. 12(b)(6). Finally, Sorenson requests an order granting summary judgment pursuant to F.R.C.P. 56(b) because no genuine issues of material fact exits, and Sorenson is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

BACKGROUND

John Vasiliades (Vasiliades) rendered services as an expert in the field of forensic toxicology for the United States Airforce. (Filing no. 1 Exh. A). Vasiliades filed case no. SC97-932 against Sorenson in small claims court on June 27, 1997. Vasiliades alleged that the United States Air Force refused to pay sums owed to Vasiliades for expert services rendered. Sorenson filed a “Notice of Removal” on July 25, 1997. (Filing no. 1). Sorenson predicated the “Notice of Removal” (filing no. 1) on Vasiliades having sought damages against a member of the armed forces for actions taken under color of office pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a). (Filing no. 1). On September 24,1997, Sorenson filed a “Motion to Substitute Defendant United States of America for SJA OR LT. COL. R.B. Sorenson as a Real Party in Interest Under F.R.C.P. 17.” (Filing no. 11). On October 15, 1997, Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken ordered the substitution of the United States of America as the real party in interest. (Filing no. 16).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction rests on the plaintiff. Hoekel v. Plumbing Planning Corp., 20 F.3d 839, 840 (8th Cir.1994); Nucor Corp. v. Nebraska Pub. Power Dist., 891 F.2d 1343, 1346 (8th Cir.1989). To survive a challenge pursuant to F.R.C.P. 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction the pleadings must sufficiently evince a basis for subject matter jurisdiction. Bowe v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 974 F.2d 101, 103 (8th Cir.1992); Haley v. Childers, 314 F.2d 610, 613 (8th Cir.1963). Cf Drevlow v. Lutheran Church, 991 F.2d 468, 470 (8th Cir.1993) (noting that the court may consider matters outside the pleadings in making subject matter jurisdiction determinations); Osborn v. United States, 918 F.2d 724, 729 (8th Cir.1990) (discussing the difference between Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) when matters outside the pleadings are considered by the court). When considering a challenge to subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to F.R.C.P. 12(b)(1), the court must assume the factual allegations provided by the plaintiff are true. Wheeler v. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co., 90 F.3d 327, 329 (8th Cir.1996). Accordingly, the court should dismiss plaintiff’s cause of action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, sparingly and cautiously, and only when no basis for subject matter jurisdiction exists. Wheeler, 90 F.3d at 329; Bowe, 974 F.2d at 103; Huelsman v. Civic Ctr. Corp., 873 F.2d 1171, 1174 (8th Cir.1989).

ANALYSIS

28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) provides that:

The district courts shall have original jurisdiction, ... [over any] civil action or claim against the United States, not exceeding $10,000 in amount, 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, except that the district courts shall not have jurisdiction of any civil action or claim against the United States founded upon any express or implied contract with the United States [1138]*1138or for liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort which are subject to sections 8(g)(1) and, 10(a)(1) of the Contract Disputes Act of1978.

28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) subject matter jurisdiction over Vasiliades’ claim is contingent upon the applicability of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978.

The Contract Disputes Act of 1978, Pub.L. No. 95-563, 92 Stat. 2383 (1978) (codified as amended at 41 U.S.C. §§ 601-613 (1988 & Supp. V 1993) and in scattered sections of 5 and 28 U.S.C.) (CDA), statutorily enunciates explicit dispute resolution procedures for all claims “relating to” any express or implied contract entered into by an executive agency with a contractor for: (1) the procurement of property, other than real property in being; (2) the procurement of services; (3) the procurement of construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of real property; or (4) the disposal of personal property. 41 U.S.C. §§ 602, 605.

The CDA statutorily defines the term “executive agency” as an executive department delineated within Title 5, section 101 of the United States Code. 41 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
991 F. Supp. 1136, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21537, 1997 WL 827407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vasiliades-v-united-states-ned-1997.