Case ID: f-appx_225/html/0084-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Eduardo MARTINEZ-TULL, Appellant, v. Carlos M. GONZALEZ-ALEMAN.
    No. 06-4861.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) May 3, 2007.
    Filed: May 31, 2007.
    Eduardo Martinez-Tull, Fort Dix, NJ, pro se.
    Before: RENDELL, SMITH and JORDAN, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Eduardo Martinez-Tull appeals from the District Court’s dismissal of his complaint as frivolous. Because we determine that the appeal is lacking in arguable legal merit, we will dismiss it under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

While incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, Martinez-Tull filed a complaint in the District Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988 that named Carlos M. Gonzalez-Aleman as defendant. Martinez-Tull alleges that Gonzalez-Aleman, his former criminal defense attorney, violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel by failing to provide adequate representation on direct appeal, and also stole ten thousand dollars from Martinez-Tull. (Compl. at 1-2.) He seeks compensatory and punitive damages totaling $1,500,000. (Id. at 2.)

The District Court dismissed Martinez-Tull’s complaint as frivolous, reasoning that “[tjhe complaint filed in this case does not allege or even suggest that the defendant ... acted under color of state law with respect to plaintiffs claim.” (Order at 2.) The dismissal was without prejudice to Martinez-Tull’s right to file an action against Gonzalez-Aleman for breach of contract and related claims in an appropriate forum. (Id.) Martinez-Tull filed a timely notice of appeal.

His appeal is clearly devoid of legal merit. A plaintiff cannot state a viable claim under § 1983 without alleging that the violation of federal rights of which he complains “was committed by a person acting under color of state law.” See Harvey v. Plains Twp. Police Dep’t, 421 F.3d 185, 189 (3d Cir.2005). Criminal defense attorneys such as Gonzalez-Aleman do not act under color of state law. See Polk County v. Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 319-25, 102 S.Ct. 445, 70 L.Ed.2d 509 (1981)(function of defense lawyer is “essentially ... private” and performed without “state office and authority,” even though lawyer is licensed by government and even if he is employed by government as public defender).

“[A] public defender does not act under color of state law when performing a lawyer’s traditional functions as counsel to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.” Id. at 325, 102 S.Ct. 445. Martinez-Tull does not allege that Gonzalez-Aleman was employed by or even appointed to represent him by the state.

Indisputably, a claim will not lie against Gonzalez-Aleman under § 1983 because he did not act under color of state law. Therefore, we will dismiss this appeal under § 1915(e)(2).