Summary
finding lack of subject matter jurisdiction where plaintiff entered into a one-year teaching contract and alleged that he was wrongfully discharged because action was nothing more than a breach of contract claim, notwithstanding reference to Civil Rights Act
Summary of this case from Atrisco Heritage Found. v. N.M. Comm'n for Cmty. VolunteerismOpinion
No. 71-1512.
May 11, 1972.
Wayne B. Snow, Loyd Benefield, Ok (John R. Couch, and Thomas G. Braddock, Altus, Okl., with him on the brief), for appellant.
Elliott C. Fenton, Oklahoma City, Okl., for appellees.
Wayne B. Snow, Loyd Benefield, Oklahoma City, Okl., and Johnny M. Perry, Hobart, Okl., on the brief, for appellees, except Bob Garton.
Elliot C. Fenton, Oklahoma City, Okl., on the brief, for appellee, Bob Garton.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
Before LEWIS, Chief Judge and HOLLOWAY and McWILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
Alleging a civil rights action under 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, plaintiff, a school teacher, brought this action for damages against his employer school district and various school officials claiming damages for wrongful discharge from his employment. Plaintiff alleges that on April 3, 1970, he entered into a one-year teaching contract and was wrongfully discharged on September 28, 1970, because defendants "dislike the fact that the plaintiff grew a mustache; they requested that he remove it; he refused; and they fired him." The trial court dismissed the action for lack of jurisdiction.
The judgment of dismissal is manifestly correct. Plaintiff's complaint asserts nothing more than a breach of contract claim, alleges no claim to diversity jurisdiction, negates specifically any claim to a constitutional right to wear a mustache, and recites no involvement of a substantial federal question. Adelt v. Richmond School District, 9 Cir., 439 F.2d 718. And see Freeman v. Flake, 10 Cir., 448 F.2d 258. The Civil Rights Act cannot be used as a jurisdictional subterfuge for traditional lawsuits. Oklahoma High School Athletic Ass'n v. Bray, 10 Cir., 321 F.2d 269.
Affirmed.