Opinion
No. 03:13-cv-02221-HU
07-16-2014
AMINADAD GONZALEZ, Plaintiff, v. PORTLAND POLICE BUREAU, WILLIAM JOHNSON, HYTHUM ISMAIL, ANDREW HEARST, and CHRISTOPHER LINDSEY, Defendants.
Aminadad Gonzalez SID 15357043 Oregon State Penitentiary 2605 State Street Salem, OR 97310-0505 Plaintiff appearing pro se James G. Rice Deputy City Attorney City of Portland 1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 430 Portland, OR 97204 Attorney for Defendants
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATION ON MOTION TO DISMISS
Aminadad Gonzalez
SID 15357043
Oregon State Penitentiary
2605 State Street
Salem, OR 97310-0505
Plaintiff appearing pro se James G. Rice
Deputy City Attorney
City of Portland
1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 430
Portland, OR 97204
Attorney for Defendants HUBEL, United States Magistrate Judge:
This matter is before the court on motion of the defendant Portland Police Bureau ("PPB") to dismiss it pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Dkt. #23. The PPB argues it is an improper party in this action because it "is not a 'person' subject to liability under federal civil rights law." Id., p. 2.
Despite defense counsel's discussion with the plaintiff regarding this matter, see id., p. 1, and the court's order directing the plaintiff to file his opposition to the motion by July 23, 2014, the plaintiff has failed to respond. Indeed, the court can conceive of no argument the plaintiff could make that would justify denying the PPB's motion. As other judges of this court have recognized, "[c]ourts have repeatedly decided that city police departments cannot be sued under federal civil rights laws." Keller v. City of Portland, Case No. 98-cv-2 63-ST, 1998 WL 1060222, at **3-4, Findings and Recommendations (D. Or. Nov. 13, 1998) (citations omitted) (Stewart, MJ); adopted by Judge Ancer L. Haggerty, Dkt. #64 (Feb. 12, 1999).
The undersigned recommends the motion be granted, and the PPB be dismissed from this action.
SCHEDULING ORDER
These Findings and Recommendations will be referred to a district judge. Objections, if any, are due by August 4, 2014. If no objections are filed, then the Findings and Recommendations will go under advisement on that date. If objections are filed, then any response is due by September 2, 2014. By the earlier of the response due date or the date a response is filed, the Findings and Recommendations will go under advisement.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 16th day of July, 2014.
/s/ Dennis J. Hubel
Dennis James Hubel
Unites States Magistrate Judge