Case ID: f-appx_60/html/0487-02.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

Peter M. WENDT, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Darlene LEONARD, Individually; Ralph Thomas, Jr., Individually; Roy Gittings, Individually; John Does, Individually; Seatow Services of Carteret County, Incorporated; Jarrett Bay Boat Works, Incorporated, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 02-2374.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
    Submitted March 21, 2003.
    Decided April 3, 2003.
    
      Peter M. Wendt, Appellant Pro Se. David J. Adinolfi, II, Assistant Attorney General, William McBlief, Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina; Claud Roberson Wheatly, III, Wheatly, Wheatly, Nobles, Weeks & Wainwright, Beaufort, North Carolina; Janet Marie Lyles, DAVIS, MUrrelle & Lumsden, Beaufort, North Carolina; Robert Clifton Dodge, Robert C. Dodge, P.A., Beaufort, North Carolina, for Appellees.
    Before MICHAEL, TRAXLER, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
    Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Peter Wendt appeals the district court’s order dismissing his complaint filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2000) and the denial of his motion for a preliminary injunction as moot. Wendt asserted civil rights claims against the Clerk of Carteret County Superior Court, the Carteret County Sheriff, and others, for their actions in confiscating his boat and other personal property when the North Carolina Department of Revenue obtained a tax judgment against him for failure to pay taxes in 2002, pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 105-242 (2002). Wendt also sought to enjoin the sale of his property in satisfaction of the judgment.

On appeal, Wendt contends the district court was required to exercise subject matter jurisdiction because he has presented a federal question by alleging violations of his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. However, this court lacks jurisdiction over his claims under the Tax Injunction Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1341 (2000). Lawyer v. Hilton Head Pub. Serv. Dist. No. 1, 220 F.3d 298, 303-04 (4th Cir.2000). Wendt does not allege that North Carolina has failed to provide a “plain speedy and efficient remedy.” Furthermore, civil rights actions under § 1983 do not fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts, and may therefore be brought in North Carolina courts. See Bacon v. Lee, 353 N.C. 696, 549 S.E.2d 840, 843 (2001). Therefore we affirm the district court’s order for the reasons stated in its opinion. See Wendt v. Leonard, No. CA-02-135-4-H (E.D.N.C. Oct. 23, 2002). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.