Summary
dismissing a complaint seeking to preclude an ALJ from hearing the plaintiff's case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the administrative proceedings provided due process and a district court's review of a final decision of the Commissioner may include the failure to recuse an ALJ
Summary of this case from Meade v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec.Opinion
Case No: 2:14-cv-139-FtM-29DNF
03-11-2014
SUZANNE ROSEN, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on review of plaintiff's Verified Complaint (Doc. #1) and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (Doc. #2) filed on March 10, 2014. Plaintiff seeks to preclude Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Larry J. Butler from hearing plaintiff's case scheduled for the afternoon of March 10, 2014. For the reasons set forth below, the Verified Complaint is dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, and the Motion for a temporary restraining order is denied as moot.
The Court will assume the reference to 2013 was simply a typographical error.
The Court "should inquire into whether it has subject matter jurisdiction at the earliest possible stage in the proceedings. Indeed, it is well settled that a federal court is obligated to inquire into subject matter jurisdiction sua sponte whenever it may be lacking." Univ. of S. Alabama v. Am. Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 405, 410 (11th Cir. 1999)(collecting cases). If the Court determines "at any time" that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the Court must dismiss the case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3).
The Verified Complaint (Doc. #1) provides that it is an action for a temporary restraining order pursuant to Local Rule 4.05. Plaintiff states that a request for recusal was made, but ALJ Butler refused to recuse himself. Plaintiff contacted the Office of Regional Counsel and obtained no relief. Plaintiff alleges that administrative remedies were exhausted and no other adequate remedy is available. No jurisdictional allegations are otherwise set forth in the Complaint, and no recognizable cause of action is articulated. Plaintiff simply wants the Court to compel the recusal of the ALJ while the administrative case is proceeding.
The Motion for Temporary Restraining Order provides that Anita Bellinger, the Regional Counsel, was unavailable because she was out of the office. (Doc. #3, p. 2.)
A complaint must set forth "a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction". Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1). The only possible basis for jurisdiction set forth in the Complaint or the Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is the reference to Middle District of Florida Local Rule 4.05, which addresses motions for temporary restraining orders. (Doc. #3, pp. 2-3.) It is well established, however, that rules of practice and procedure do not create federal subject matter jurisdiction, which can only be done by Congress. Kontrick v. Ryan, 540 U.S. 443, 452, 454 (2004). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 82 ("These rules do not extend or limit the jurisdiction of the district courts or the venue of actions in those courts.").
To the extent that plaintiff may be asserting a procedural due process claim as a basis for jurisdiction, such a claim is frivolous on its face. The administrative proceedings, 20 C.F.R. § 404.940 (which plaintiff has not followed) provide due process, and district court review of a final decision of the Commissioner can include the failure to recuse an ALJ. E.g., Jarrett v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 422 F. App'x 869, 874 (11th Cir. 2011). Therefore, such a constitutional cause of action would not create a basis for jurisdiction. See Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678, 682-83 (1946)(a failure to state a cause of action normally calls for a judgment on the merits and not a dismissal for want of jurisdiction, except "that a suit may sometimes be dismissed for want of jurisdiction where the alleged claim under the Constitution or federal statutes clearly appears to be immaterial and made solely for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction or where such a claim is wholly insubstantial and frivolous."). See also Barnett v. Bailey, 956 F.2d 1036, 1041-42 (11th Cir. 1992)(citing Bell).
See Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (Doc. #3, p. 3).
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED:
1. The Verified Complaint (Doc. #1) is dismissed without prejudice for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
2. Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (Doc. #3) is DENIED as moot.
DONE and ORDERED at Fort Myers, Florida, this 11th day of March, 2014.
__________
JOHN E. STEELE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Copies:
U.S. Magistrate Judge
Counsel of Record