Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-1_16-cv-00143/USCOURTS-ared-1_16-cv-00143-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NORTHERN DIVISION 

SHANIQUA J. BRISCOE PLAINTIFF 

v. No. 1:16-cv-143-DPM 

APRIL STOKES, Case Worker, DRS-Newport; 

SUSAN SIMMONS, Supervisor, DRS-Newport; 

AMBER BAKER, Investigator, DRS-Newport; 

KATIE ADAMS, Transporter, DRS-Newport; 

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 

ORDER 

DEFENDANTS 

1. Shaniqua Briscoe filed this pro se action against the Arkansas 

Department of Human Services and several DHS employees who were 

involved in placing her children in foster care. She wants damages and wants 

her children returned to her custody. As a threshold matter, the Court must 

determine whether it has jurisdiction to resolve Briscoe' s case. 

This Court has no authority to determine parental rights or child 

custody. Lehman v. Lycoming County Children's Services Agency, 458 U.S. 502, 

511 (1982). And to the extent the Arkansas courts have made custody 

decisions about Briscoe' s children, this Court can't overturn those decisions. 

Cf D.C. Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 482 (1983). Finally, Briscoe 

can't create jurisdiction by saying her lawsuit is a§ 1983 action. E.g., Bechtold 

Case 1:16-cv-00143-DPM Document 4 Filed 11/28/16 Page 1 of 2
v. City of Rosemount, 104 F.3d 1062, 1065 (8th Cir.1997). This Court therefore 

lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Briscoe' s case. Briscoe may be able to 

pursue her claims in a state court; but she can't pursue them in a federal 

court. 

2. Briscoe' s complaint will be dismissed without prejudice for lack of 

jurisdiction. Her motion to proceed in forma pauperis, Ng 1, is therefore denied. 

An in forma pauperis appeal from this Order and accompanying Judgment will 

not be taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3). 

So Ordered. 

-2-

I 

D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

Case 1:16-cv-00143-DPM Document 4 Filed 11/28/16 Page 2 of 2