-DAS Boyd v. Department of Medicaid Jackson, et al, No. 1:2011cv00118 - Document 5 (N.D. Miss. 2011)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION re 4 Order Dismissing Case. Signed by District Judge Sharion Aycock on 7/11/2011. (psk)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI EASTERN DIVISION RALPH W. BOYD PLAINTIFF V. NO. 1:11CV118-A-D DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAID JACKSON, MS, et al. DEFENDANTS MEMORANDUM OPINION This matter is before the court, sua sponte, for consideration of dismissal. The Plaintiff files this pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Plaintiff is seeking damages arising out of what can best be characterized a medical malpractice claim. After carefully considering the contents of the pro se complaint and giving it the liberal construction required by Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519 (1972), this court has come to the following conclusion. Subject Matter Jurisdiction Pursuant to the federal rules of civil procedure, whenever it appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). Of course, at any time the court may of its own volition examine potentially deficient subject matter jurisdiction. Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 46566 (5th Cir. 1999). Diversity jurisdiction exists "where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between ... citizens of different states ..." 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a); Sid Richardson Carbon & Gasoline Co. v. Interenergy Res., Ltd., 99 F.3d 746, 751 (5th Cir. 1996). Diversity must be complete; that no plaintiff and defendant are citizens of the same state. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. See Stawbridge v. Curtiss, 3 Cranch 267, 2 L. Ed. 435 (1806). A court cannot exercise diversity jurisdiction if the plaintiff shares the same citizenship as any one of the defendants. Stiftung v. Plains Marketing, L.P., 603 F.3d 295, 297 (5th Cir. 2010). Diversity of citizenship is determined at the time the action is commenced and subsequent changes in citizenship will have no affect on jurisdiction. Dole Food Co. v. Patrickson, 123 S. Ct. 1655, 1662, 155 L. Ed. 2d 643 (2003); Zurn Indus., Inc. v. Acton Const. Co., 847 F.2d 234, 236 (5th Cir. 1988); Wright v. Combined Ins. Co. of America, 959 F. Supp. 359, 361 (N.D. Miss 1997). Of course, the burden of pleading the citizenship of each party is on the party seeking to invoke federal jurisdiction. Mas v. Perry, 489 F.2d 1396, 1399 (5th Cir. 1974). Identifying a party s domicile is determined in accordance with federal common law. Wright, Miller & Cooper, Federal Practice & Procedure § 3612 (1984). An individual s citizenship is determined by reference to that person s domicile. Gilbert v. David, 235 U.S. 561, 569-70, 35 S. Ct. 164, 166-67, 59 L. Ed. 360 (1915). A person s domicile is the place of his true, fixed, and permanent home and principle establishment, and to which he has the intention of returning whenever he is absent therefrom. Mas, 489 F.2d at 1399 (citations omitted). [I]t is assumed that a person s current residence is also his domicile. Wright, Miller & Cooper, Federal Practice & Procedure § 3612 (1984). Once established, a person s domicile continues until changed. A change in domicile may result when a person (a) takes up residence in a new state with (b) the intention to remain there. Id. (Mas did not lose her status as a U.S. citizen by marrying a foreign man. Nor did her domicile change by virtue of having attended college in another state). Based on the pleadings, the Plaintiff is a resident of Belmont, Mississippi located in Tishomingo County. The Plaintiff names as Defendants the Department of Medicaid located in Jackson, Mississippi, Iuka Medical Clinic also located in Mississippi, and Dr. Donald Robertson who is likely also a resident of Mississippi since he worked at Iuka Medical Clinic. As noted above, diversity jurisdiction requires an amount in controversy in excess of $75,000 and that there is complete diversity among the parties. Here, the court will assume that the amount in controversy has been satisfied. Diversity, however, is lacking. By his own pleadings, the Plaintiff admits that he is a resident of Mississippi. He also admits that the Defendants are considered Mississippi citizens. Accordingly, the parties are not diverse. 2 This court cannot exercise jurisdiction over parties with the same citizenship. As a result, the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction and the matter is DISMISSED. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3); Burge v. Parish of St. Tammany, 187 F.3d 452, 465-66 (5th Cir. 1999). This case is CLOSED. Federal Question Jurisdiction Alternatively, this matter could also be dismissed for absence of a federal question. It is clear that whether claims are habeas corpus or civil rights in nature a plaintiff must be deprived of some right secured to him by the Constitution or the laws of the United States. Irving v. Thigpen, 732 F.2d 1215, 1216 (5th Cir. 1984)(citing 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a) (1982); Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137 (1979); and Trussell v. Estelle, 699 F.2d 256, 259 (5th Cir. 1983)). In the event there is no constitutional right, the plaintiff'complaint fails. Irving, 732 F.2d at 1216 (citing Thomas v. Torres, s 717 F.2d 248, 249 (5th Cir. 1983)). It is clear that the Constitution has not been implicated by the facts of this case. Rather, the Plaintiff s claim for damages against the non-diverse medical providers and insurer is not founded in any constitutional right. If Plaintiff has stated any claim at all, it would be purely based on state tort law. Consequently, the Plaintiff s complaint may be dismissed for failing to present any federal question. A final judgment in accordance with this opinion will be entered. THIS the 11th day of July, 2011. /s/ Sharion Aycock U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE 3
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