Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 19-11040-RGS
05-16-2019
DAVID MICHAEL REPICI v. JILLIAM BETH CARMICHAEL
ORDER
David Michael Repici, who resides in South Boston, MA, has filed a civil complaint against Jilliam Carmichael. Repici provides a Massachusetts address for the defendant. Repici claims that from the evening of December 2, 2018 through the morning of December 3, 2018, Carmichael violated his constitutional and civil rights to liberty and property by trapping him in his apartment, not letting him call authorities, holding him down while keeping a knife at his throat, and verbally taunting him and harassing him.
Upon review of the complaint, the court concludes that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this action. Federal courts are of limited jurisdiction, and they may only adjudicate certain types of cases. Federal district courts may exercise jurisdiction over civil actions arising under federal laws, see 28 U.S.C. § 1331 ("§ 1331"), and over certain actions in which the parties are of citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, see 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
Here, the court cannot discern a claim arising under federal law to provide jurisdiction under § 1331. Although Repici refers to his "constitutional" and "civil" rights, the federal constitutional provision which guarantee freedom from unlawful search and seizure and unlawful deprivations of life, liberty and property protect only against infringement by government actors. They do not apply to purely private conduct. See, e.g., Holly v. Scott, 434 F.3d 287, 291 (4th Cir. 2006) ("The Bill of Rights is a negative proscription on public action—to simply apply it to private action is to obliterate 'a fundamental fact of our political order.'" (quoting Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 937 (1982))). Repici does not suggest, nor can the court infer, that Carmichael is a government actor.
Further, it appears that jurisdiction does not exist under § 1332 because the complaint does not indicate that the parties are residents of different states.
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "[i]f the court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, the court orders that this action be DISMISSED for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The dismissal is without prejudice to bringing an appropriate action in a state court.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ Richard G. Stearns
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE