Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08160/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08160-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

James Martin Houston, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Arizona State Board of Education, a

political sub-division of the State of

Arizona, et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. CV-10-8160-PHX-GMS

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. (Doc. 36). For the

reasons discussed below, the motion is granted. 

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Dr. James M. Houston is a resident of Oregon, where he is a certified teacher.

(Doc. 32 at ¶49). Plaintiff obtained his doctoral degree at Northern Arizona University

(“NAU”) between 1992 and 1995. (Id. at ¶22). In December 1995, Plaintiff told the Arizona

Board of Regents that he would return his diploma and awards in exchange for his tuition

money. (Id. at 31). Early in 1996, he sued NAU for consumer fraud, and he attracted

substantialmedia attention as he picketed outside NAU commencement ceremonies between

1996 and 1998. (Id. at ¶¶33, 36). In 2004 Plaintiff obtained his teaching license in Oregon,

and he applied for teaching reciprocity in Arizona in 2006. (Id. at ¶¶47–49). In connection

with this application, Plaintiff was obliged to submit his criminal history, which in his case

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Plaintiff was worried that he would be denied his reciprocity certification, in which

case the rejection would be entered into a national database maintained by the National

Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Withdrawing the

application prior to the rejection decision would enable Plaintiff to keep a clean record for

purposes of future employment. (Doc. 32 at ¶57).

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includes misdemeanor alcohol-related convictions, to the Professional Practices Advisory

Committee (“PPAC”). (Id. at ¶¶49–50). The PPAC conducts teaching applicants’ character

and fitness checks for the State of Arizona. (Doc. 32 at ¶52). The PPAC voted 4-1 to

recommend that Plaintiff receive his reciprocity license in Arizona. (Id. at ¶54). Plaintiff was

assured by an employee of Defendant Arizona State Board of Education (“SBE”) that the

SBE almost always votes in favor of the PPAC’s recommendations. (Id. at ¶59). 

Plaintiff had his first hearing before the SBE on March 26, 2007. (Doc. 32 at

¶¶60–61). Upon arrival at his SBE hearing, Plaintiff allegedly found errors within the PPAC

hearing transcript submitted to the SBE and within the hearing agenda documents that were

not corrected in time for the hearing. (Id.). There were eleven SBE members present at the

hearing, including Defendant John Haeger, President of NAU, and Defendant Tom Horne.

(Id. at ¶63–66). At the hearing, several board members cited Plaintiff’s alcohol problems as

reasons for rejecting PPAC’s recommendation. (Id. at ¶65). When it came time to vote on

PPAC’s recommendation for Plaintiff’s certification, Defendant Haeger whispered into

Defendant Horne’s ear and exited the room. (Id. at ¶63). Plaintiff was given an opportunity

to give a presentation supporting his application for certification, but he opted not to speak.

(Id. at ¶64). After the remaining board members took a vote of 6-4 rejecting the PPAC’s

recommendation and before the final vote on whether to grant certification, Plaintiff

attempted to withdraw his application.1

 (Doc. 32 at ¶¶66–67). On Plaintiff’s request, the

certification vote was continued until April 2007 so that he could consult with an attorney.

(Id. at ¶67). That vote was later continued until May 19, 2008. (Id. at ¶75).

After consulting with an attorney, Plaintiff served notice of claims on Defendants in

April 2007. (Doc. 32 at ¶¶73–74). In March 2008, Plaintiff filed a lawsuit in the District

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2

Exhibit 1 of Doc. 20 is Plaintiff’s original complaint filed in the District Court of

Oregon and the District Court of Oregon’s order dismissing the case for lack of personal

jurisdiction. This Court has taken judicial notice of the original complaint because it is a

document “whose contents are alleged in a complaint and whose authenticity no party

questions, but which are not physically attached to the [plaintiff’s] pleading.” Knievel v.

ESPN, 393 F.3d 1068, 1076 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting In re Silicon Graphics Inc. Sec. Litig.,

183 F.3d 970, 986 (9th Cir. 1999) (alteration in original). This Court also takes judicial

notice of the District Court of Oregon’s order as a “matter[] of public record outside the

pleadings.” Mack v. S. Bay Beer Distribs., Inc., 798 F.2d 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986)

(overruled on other grounds by Astoria Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n. v. Solimino, 501 U.S. 104

(1991)). 

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Court of Oregon which wassubsequently dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. (Id. at ¶75; Doc.

20, Ex. 12). At some point prior to his certification vote, Plaintiff contacted Defendant Vince

Yanez, Director of the SBE, to “remind[] Defendant Yanez . . . that an inherent conflict-ofinterest, bias, prejudice, and partiality existed in this matter due to the notice of claim . . . and

the then active lawsuit filed by the plaintiff” against the board members. (Id. at ¶76).

Defendant Yanez allegedly responded with threats to withdraw the reciprocity application.

(Id. at ¶76).

The certification vote took place on May 19, 2008. Plaintiff made a speech in support

of his application and was allegedly repeatedly interrupted by various board members,

including Defendant Horne, who commented about Plaintiff’s allegedly stereotypical beliefs

about members of the Navajo Nation. (Doc. 32 at ¶77). The SBE unanimously voted to both

reject the PPAC recommendation and reject Plaintiff’s application for certification. (Id. at

¶78). Plaintiff subsequently obtained reciprocity teaching certificates from California and

Alaska; Plaintiff also renewed his Oregon certificate. (Id. at ¶92).

Plaintiff filed a petition for judicial review of SBE’s decision before the Maricopa

County Superior Court, which was dismissed. (Doc. 32 at ¶81). The Arizona Court of

Appeals affirmed the dismissal. Houston v. State Bd. of Educ., No. 1 CA-CV 10-0634, 2011

WL 5926675, at *5 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2011).

Plaintiff then sued Defendants in August 2008 in Maricopa County Superior Court for

various state tort claims. (Doc. 32 at ¶82). Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the

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 This Court has taken judicial notice of Maricopa County Superior Court’s order for

summary judgment as a matter of public record. A court may take judicial notice of “matters

of public record outside the pleadings.” Mack v. S. Bay Beer Distribs., Inc., 798 F.2d 1279,

1282 (9th Cir. 1986) (overruled on other grounds by Astoria Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n. v.

Solimino, 501 U.S. 104 (1991)).

4

On October 11, 2011 Plaintiff filed a claim in the District Court of Arizona, No. 11-

CV-01974-SRB, with eleven apparently identical claims to those asserted here, and arising

from the same factual scenario.

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tort claims was granted on June 8, 2011. (Doc. 46, Ex. 1).3

 After Plaintiff served subpoenas

on Defendants for depositions in the action filed in Maricopa County, Defendant SBE

brought disciplinary proceedings against Plaintiff in March 2010 and revoked Plaintiff’s

twenty-six-year-old, unused Arizona substitute teaching license based upon Plaintiff’s DUI

history. (Id. at ¶87; Doc. 44, Ex. 8).

Plaintiff filed the instant action on August 25, 2010.4

 Plaintiff’s amended complaint

contains thirteen counts alleging constitutional claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, racketeering

violations under state and federal law, abuse of process, state law torts, whistle-blower

violations under state and federal law, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

(Doc. 36 at ¶¶101–210). Defendants now move to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims pursuant to

Federal Rules of Procedure 12(b)(1), (2), (6) and 12(c). (Doc. 36 at 2:1).

DISCUSSION

I. Counts 1–5: 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Counts 1–5 are dismissed because they are barred by the statute of limitations.

A. Legal Standard

The first five counts are all based on an alleged deprivation of constitutional rights in

violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. 36 at ¶¶103, 113– 19, 125–26, 134, 147). Section 1983

claims “are best characterized as personal injury actions.” Madden-Tyler v. Maricopa

County, 189 Ariz. 462, 471, 943 P.2d 822, 826 (App. 1997) (quoting Wilson v. Garcia, 471

U.S. 261, 280 (1985)). Federal law determines when the statute of limitations for personal

injury claims under §1983 begins, while state law determines the length of the statute of

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In Count one, Plaintiff alleges that “in the denial of his application for teacher

certification,” he was deprived of the privileges and immunities due to United States citizens,

due process, equal protection, free speech, his right against illegal search and seizure, and he

was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. Count two alleges that the Defendant’s

promulgation or lack of promulgation of unconstitutional policies resulted in similar

constitutional deprivations. Count three alleges that the same conduct constitutes violation

of Plaintiff’s substantive due process rights. Count four alleges that the same conduct

constitutes an equal protection violation, and count five alleges that the same conduct

constituted a civil rights conspiracy in violation of §1983. (Doc. 36 at ¶¶103, 113– 19,

125–26, 134, 147).

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limitations. Hoesterer v. City of Cathedral City, 945 F.2d 317, 318 (9th Cir. 1991). Time

accrues for a cause of action when a party “kn[ows] or reasonably should have known of [its]

rights to bring the action.” Vaughan v. Grijalva, 927 F.2d 476, 480 (9th Cir. 1991).

Additionally, accrual begins with “the last overt act” and not from “the mere continuance of

a conspiracy” that may result in continued injury. Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334,

1340 (9th Cir. 1986). Under Arizona law, there is a two year statute of limitations period for

§1983 claims, derived from A.R.S. § 12-542(1). Madden-Tyler, 189 Ariz. at 466.

B. Analysis

The acts that allegedly gave rise to Plaintiff’s injuries occurred during the SBE

hearings on March 26, 2007 and May 19, 2008. (Doc. 46 at 4:4–5).5

 Plaintiff knew or should

have reasonably known that after May 19, 2008 he had a cause of action to bring against

Defendants. He had two years or up until May 19, 2010, to do so. Plaintiff filed this suit on

August 25, 2010, over three months after the expiration of the limitations period. (Doc. 44

at 8:5–6). His § 1983 constitutional claims must therefore be dismissed. 

Plaintiff argues that the official denial of his certification was August 28, 2008, the

date of the administrative review of the SBE’s decision. (Id. at 8:1–4). Exhaustion of state

administrative remedies, however, is not “required as a prerequisite to bringing an action

pursuant to §1983.” Patsy v. Bd. of Regents of State of Fla., 457 U.S. 496, 502, 516 (1982).

Because Plaintiff was not required to exhaust state administrative remedies prior to bringing

the constitutional claims, the statute of limitations accrued with the “last overt act” that gave

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Local Rule of Civil Procedure 7.2(i) provides that when “the opposing party does not

serve and file the required answering memoranda . . . such non-compliance may be deemed

a consent to the . . . granting of the motion and the Court may dispose of the motion

summarily.”

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rise to these claims, and was not tolled while Plaintiff waited for the administrative review.

Gibson, 181 F.2d at 1340. According to the facts alleged by Plaintiff, that last overt act

occurred on May 19, 2008 the date of the second SBE hearing. Plaintiff does not allege the

occurrence of facts between May 19, 2008 and August 28, 2008 that would give rise to

constitutional claims. (Doc. 32 at ¶¶93–94). Furthermore, Plaintiff knew after his first SBE

hearing and after speaking with an attorney that he had claims for injury. (See id. at ¶73–74).

Plaintiff demonstrated this knowledge by suing Defendants in March 2008 in the District

Court of Oregon for the same constitutional claims alleged here. (Doc. 20, Ex. 1 at 24–29,

33–35). Although the second SBE hearing, that occurred two months later, contains

additional facts that gave rise to Plaintiff’s Complaint in this Court, Plaintiff reasonably

should have known of his rights on May 19, 2008, the date of that hearing. Counts 1–5 are

therefore barred due to the two year statute of limitations.

II. Counts 5–6, 12–13 

Plaintiff fails to address Counts 5–6 and 12–13 in his response to Defendants’ motion.

Thus, under the local rules, the Court is entitled to treat Plaintiff’s failure to respond as

consent to Defendants’ arguments and consent to the granting of the Defendants’ Motion to

Dismiss.6 See Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53–54 (9th Cir. 1995) (holding that district court

did not abuse its discretion in summarily granting defendants’ motion to dismiss pursuant to

local rule where pro se plaintiff had time to respond to motion but failed to do so). In its

discretion, however, the Court will evaluate the merits of Defendants’ challenge. The Court

finds that Count 5 is already dismissed due to the statute of limitations, while Counts 6 and

12–13 are barred under Rule 12(b)(6).

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A. Legal Standard

To survive dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain factual allegations sufficient to “raise a right

to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007).

The task in a motion to dismiss “is to evaluate whether the claims alleged can be [plausibly]

asserted as a matter of law.” See Adams v. Johnson, 355 F.3d 1179, 1183 (9th Cir. 2004); see

also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009). While “a complaint need not contain

detailed factual allegations . . . it must plead ‘enough facts to state a claim to relief that is

plausible on its face.’” Clemens v. Daimler Chrysler Corp., 534 F.3d 1017, 1022 (9th Cir.

2008) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff

pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the

defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (2009) (citing

Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).

B. Analysis

1. Count 6: Racketeering

Count 6 is a claim for racketeering violations under 18 U.S.C. § 1961 and A.R.S. §

13-2301. (Doc. 32 at ¶¶153–60). Plaintiff fails to allege facts which make it plausible that

the Defendants have engaged in “racketeering activity.”

The federal racketeering statute “provides a private civil action to recover treble

damages for injury ‘by reason of a violation of’ its substantive provisions.” Sedima, S.P.R.L.

v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 481 (1985). To bring a racketeering violation under federal law,

Plaintiff must allege “(1) conduct (2) of an enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering

activity.” Sanford v. Memberworks, Inc., 625 F.3d 550, 557 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting Odom

v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541, 547 (9th Cir. 2007)). Racketeering activity under federal

law is defined as:

[A]ny act or threat involving murder, kidnaping, gambling, arson, robbery,

bribery, extortion, dealing in obscene matter, or dealing in a controlled

substance or listed chemical . . . which is chargeable under State law and

punishable by imprisonment for more than one year . . . [or] any act which is

indictable under any [federal criminal statute].

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Such acts include homicide, robbery, kidnapping, forgery, theft, bribery, gambling,

usury, extortion, prohibited drug use, trafficking in weapons, false claims for arson, attempt

to defraud, obscenity, sexual exploitation of a minor, prostitution, human smuggling, etc.

A.R.S. § 13-2301(D)(4)(b)(i)-(xxx).

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18 U.S.C. § 1961(A)-(B). 

Under Arizona law, racketeering is defined as:

[A]ny act, including any prepatory or completed offense, that is chargeable or

indictable under the laws of the state or country . . . and that would be

punishable by imprisonment for more than one year under the laws of this state

. . . and the act involves either: (a) Terrorism . . . that results or is intended to

result in a risk of serious physical injury or death. (b) Any of the following

[criminal] acts if committed for financial gain.7

A.R.S. § 13-2301(D)(4). To be liable for racketeering under either federal or Arizona law,

one must have committed a criminal offense. See Sanford, 625 F.3d at 557.

Plaintiff has not alleged that SBE’s actions against him were criminal. Plaintiff only

alleges that Defendants “engaged in a pattern of unlawful activity in order to obtain political,

retaliatory, or retributive gains that have resulted in harm and injury to Plaintiff.” (Doc. 36

at ¶154). The alleged unlawful activities include “baseless administrative decisions,

malicious prosecutions, abuses of process, assertions of patently false claims, fraudulent

schemes, and extortions.” (Id. at ¶155). Only extortion is a punishable criminal offense from

this list, and Plaintiff has not plead any facts to show that Defendants obtained financial gain

by abusing their authority as board members. The other alleged actions might, if properly

plead, be grounds for a civil tort suit, but they are not criminal actions punishable by

imprisonment. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim under the federal racketeering statute that

the Defendants were involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. Plaintiff has also failed

to state a claim under the Arizona racketeering statute, because he has failed to allege that

Defendants committed terrorism or criminal offenses for financial gain.

2. Count 12: Whistle-blowing

Count 12 is a claim for violating the rights of whistle-blowers against retaliation under

5 U.S.C. § 2302 and A.R.S. § 23-1501. Plaintiff lacks standing to bring these claims. 

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a. 5 U.S.C. § 2302

Title 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8)(A) prohibits federal personnel from retaliating against

employees for disclosing violations of law by the employer. An “employee” is defined by 5

U.S.C. § 2105(a)(1)-(3) as an officer “appointed in the civil service,” a person “engaged in

the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act,” and

persons subject to the supervision of “the President; [a Congressperson]; a member of a

uniformed service; the head of a Government controlled corporation; or an adjutant general

designated by the Secretary [of Defense].” Also, under A.R.S. § 23-1501(3)(c)(ii) “an

employee has a claim against an employer for termination of employment” when “[t]he

employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in retaliation for” an

employee’s disclosure of the employer’s unconstitutional actions.

Plaintiff argues that “Defendants intentionally or recklessly violated protections and

rights afforded to [him] for his whistle-blowing while an employee of the state in which a

portion of his income was federal monies received by the state.” (Doc. 32 at ¶202). Plaintiff

refers to his whistle-blowing against NAU when he was an employee and graduate student

at NAU. Plaintiff, however, is not and never was an employee of Defendant SBE or an

employee of the individual Defendant board members of the SBE. (Doc. 36 at 13:6–10).

Plaintiff alleges that the retaliation against his whistle-blowing was the denial of his teaching

certificate. (Doc. 44 at 18:19–25, 19:1–12). Moreover, Plaintiff is not a federal employee

under the federal statute because a federal employee must be appointed and engaged in

federal functions. 5 U.S.C. § 2105(a). Receiving part of one’s income through federal

funding is therefore insufficient to afford one the status of being a federal employee. Plaintiff

has no standing under the federal whistle-blower statute. 

b. A.R.S. § 23-1501

Under A.R.S. § 23-1501(3)(c)(ii) “an employee has a claim against an employer for

termination of employment” when “[t]he employer has terminated the employment

relationship of an employee in retaliation for” an employee’s disclosure of the employer’s

unconstitutional actions.There is, however, no employment relationship between Defendants

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SBE and board members and the Plaintiff. Moreover, Plaintiff does not allege that he was

terminated by the State or by Defendants. 

Because there was no employment relationship and no termination, Plaintiff has failed

to state a claim under the state whistle-blowing statute.

3. Count 13: Americans with Disabilities Act

Count 13 is a claim of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act

(“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101. (Doc. 32 at ¶206–10). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants unfairly

discriminated against him on the basis of his status as an alcoholic. (Id. at ¶88). There are

several different titles of the ADA under which plaintiffs may bring a claim. Title I, which

has broad applicability to workplace discrimination, and Title II, which applies to

discrimination by public entities. Both seem relevant to Plaintiff’s claim. 42 U.S.C. §

12111–17, 12131–34. Because Plaintiff does not specify his claim under the ADA, this Court

evaluates his claim under both Title I and Title II.

To be liable under Title I of the ADA, a “covered entity” must have “discriminate[d]

against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to job application

procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation,

job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.” 42 U.S.C. § 12112.

A “covered entity” is defined as “an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or

joint labor-management committee.” 42 U.S.C. § 12111(2). Because “Title I of the ADA is

governed by the procedures of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . . . Before bringing

suit . . . the plaintiff must file a discrimination charge with the EEOC within 180 days of the

alleged unlawful practice.” Madden-Tyler, 189 Ariz. at 470.

Title II of the ADA prohibits public entities from discriminating against qualified

individuals with disabilities by “exclud[ing] from participation in or . . . den[ying] the

benefits of the services, programs, or activities” of that public entity. 42 U.S.C. § 12132. A

public entity is defined as “any State or local government” or “any department, agency . . .

or instrumentality of a State or States or local government.” Id. § 12131. For purposes of

statute of limitations, claims under Title II are treated like the personal injury claims of

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§1983 and are thereby subject to Arizona’s two year statute of limitations under A.R.S. § 12-

542. Madden-Tyler, 189 Ariz. at 469.

Plaintiff has failed to bring a viable claim under either Title. With respect to Title I,

Plaintiff has not alleged that he”file[d] a discrimination charge with the EEOC within 180

days of the alleged unlawful practice.” Madden-Tyler, 189 Ariz. at 470. Even if Plaintiff had

filed a discrimination claim with the EEOC and thereby obtained a right to sue letter,

Defendants SBE and the board members are not covered entities under the ADA. See 42

U.S.C. § 12111(2) (defining a “covered entity” as “an employer, employment agency, labor

organization, or joint labor-management committee”). The SBE is not Plaintiff’s employer

because it does not employ teachers, but rather authorizes teaching certifications. (Doc. 36

at 14:6–7). Nor is the SBE an employment agency, labor organization, or joint labormanagement committee. Because Plaintiff has not alleged that there was either an existing

employment relationship between SBE and Plaintiff or a prospective employment

relationship, Plaintiff has failed to state a claim under Title I.

Under Title II, Defendant SBE qualifies as a public entity that is prohibited from

discriminating in their programs and services against those with disabilities. In an analogous

case, the Ninth Circuit has ruled that “medical licensing is an output of a public agency” and

therefore medical licensing by a Medical Board is a service by a public entity. Hason v.

Medical Bd. of Cal., 279 F.3d 1167, 1172 (9th Cir. 2002). Regardless of whether a parallel

argument can be made that the Arizona SBE’s licensing services is like California Medical

Board’s licensing services, the statue of limitations has run. The two year statute of

limitations accrued on May 18, 2008 and the facts that gave rise to Plaintiff’s §1983

constitutional claims are the same facts that gave rise to the ADA Title II claim. Like the

§1983 claims, Plaintiff filed the same ADA claim arising out of the first SBE hearing in the

District Court of Oregon. (Doc. 20, Ex. 1). Plaintiff knew or should have known of his ADA

claims arising out of both hearings by the second SBE hearing in May 2008.

III. Count 7: Abuse of Process

Count 7 is dismissed because of failure to state a claim under 12(b)(6). 

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A. Legal Standard

The two “essential elements of the [abuse of process] tort include (1) a willful act in

the use of judicial process (2) for an ulterior purpose not proper in the regular conduct of the

proceeding.” Nienstedt v. Wetzel, 133 Ariz. 348, 353, 651 P.2d 876, 881 (App. 1982).

Arizona law defines “process” as “a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial

proceedings.” A.R.S. § 1-215(32). An “ulterior purpose” requires showing that the process

is “used primarily to accomplish a purpose for which the process was not designed.”

Nienstedt, 133 Ariz. at 354. There is, however, “no liability when the defendant has done

nothing more than legitimately utilize the process for its authorized purposes, even though

with bad intentions.” Id. In other words, “when the process is used for the purpose for which

it is intended, but there is an incidental motive of spite or an ulterior purpose of benefit to the

defendant,” the defendant is not liable. Id.

B. Analysis

Plaintiff argues that Defendants used his criminal history of DUIs and phone

harassment to terminate his substitute teaching license in Arizona. (Doc. 32 at ¶87). Plaintiff

argues this is an abuse of process because Defendants knew of Plaintiff’s criminal history in

2006 when he first submitted his application for reciprocity but Defendants waited to revoke

the license until 2010 in retaliation for his suit against Defendants. (Id.; Doc. 44 at 14:9–15).

Under Arizona law, abuse of process means an abuse of judicial process. See

Nienstedt, 133 Ariz. at 354. Plaintiff’s allegations refer to the administrative process of

revoking his substitute teaching license, a disciplinary proceeding controlled by the SBE.

Defendant SBE is authorized under A.R.S. § 15-203(A)(27) to regulate reciprocity

certification and regulate procedures for complaints of immoral conduct by certified teachers

or impose disciplinary actions on teachers under §15-203(B). Plaintiff fails to meet the first

element for an abuse of process claim under Nienstedt because there was no judicial process.

IV. Counts 8-11: Negligence, Defamation, Emotional Distress

Counts 8–11 are brought for infliction of emotional distress, defamation/libel/false

light invasion of privacy, negligence, and gross negligence. (Doc. 32 at ¶¶165–200).

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Defendants assert that these claims are precluded. (Doc. 46 at 2:1–6). Because Plaintiff has

already brought these same claims in Arizona state court, and the state superior court has

already ruled in favor of Defendants on a motion for summary judgment, claim preclusion

bars Plaintiff from bringing the same counts in federal court. (Doc. 20, Ex 2; Doc. 46, Ex.

1).

A. Legal Standard

Claim preclusion bars subsequent litigations of the same claim. Taylor v. Sturgell, 553

U.S. 880, 892 (citing New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 748–49 (2001)). The Supreme

Court has held that plaintiffs may not relitigate the same issues that have already been

decided:

A final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties or their

privies from relitigating issues that were or could have been raised in that

action. Nor are the res judicata consequences of a final, unappealed judgment

on the merits altered by the fact that the judgment may have been wrong or

rested on a legal principle subsequently overruled in another case.

Federated Dept. Stores, Inc. v. Moitie, 452 U.S. 394, 398 (1981) (internal citations omitted).

B. Analysis

Counts 8–11 are identical to the counts brought in state court which are: defamation

by libel, defamation by slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent

infliction of emotional distress, and false light invasion of privacy. (Doc. 20, Ex. 2 at

¶¶52–72). These are the same claims based upon the same facts addressed in the Amended

Complaint, filed in this Court. (Doc. 46 at 2:1–6). Plaintiff does not dispute that these are the

same claims arising from the same facts, and previously stated that it washis intention to

consolidate the two cases in federal court. (Doc. 44 at 4:15–17). The issues in state court

were fully litigated because the claims were dismissed on the merits after a motion for

summary judgment. (Doc. 46, Ex. 1). The Defendants need not wait for the final judgment

on appeal to exercise their right to claim preclusion. Tripati v. Henman, 857 F.2d 1366, 1367

(9th Cir. 1988). Plaintiff’s state tort claims are barred by res judicata.

CONCLUSION

Counts 1–5 are dismissed based on statute of limitations, Counts 6–7 and 12–13 are

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dismissed for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), and Counts 8–11 are dismissed

based on claim preclusion. Because this Court has previously granted the Plaintiff’s request

to amend his complaint, it need not do so again–especially when there is no indication that

any such attempt would or could be successful. Flowers v. First Hawaiian Bank, 295 F.3d

966, 978 (9th Cir. 2002).

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 36) is

GRANTED and the Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate this action.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court provide Judge Susan R.

Bolton a copy of this ruling in light of case No. CV-11-1974-PHX-SRB.

DATED this 14th day of February, 2012.

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