Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-5_07-cv-01355/USCOURTS-alnd-5_07-cv-01355-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHEASTERN DIVISION

SHAUN SHAPLEY, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. ) Case No. 5:07-cv-1355-JHH

)

STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF )

CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, )

)

Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This is an action by an Alabama resident seeking damages from an agency of the State of

Florida, which is clearly barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity. The non-prisoner plaintiff has

filed a motion for leave to commence this action without the prepayment of fees, which is

GRANTED. The Clerk is DIRECTED to file this action without the prepayment of fees. 

Eleventh Amendment immunity raises a question about the subject matter jurisdiction of the

court. As the court of appeals has explained:

An assertion of Eleventh Amendment immunity essentially challenges a court's

subject matter jurisdiction: “The Eleventh Amendment restricts the judicial power

under Article III, and Article I cannot be used to circumvent the constitutional

limitations placed on federal jurisdiction.” Seminole Tribe v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44,

72-73, 116 S. Ct. 1114, 1131-32, 134 L. Ed. 2d 252 (1996).... Furthermore, an

assertion of Eleventh Amendment immunity must be resolved before a court may

address the merits of the underlying claim(s). Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better

Environment, 523 U.S. 83, 118 S. Ct. 1003, 1012-1016, 140 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1998).

Seaborn v. State of Florida Department of Corrections, 143 F.3d 1405, 1407 (11 Cir. 1998), cert.

th

denied, 525 U.S. 1144, 119 S. Ct. 1038, 143 L. Ed. 2d 46 (1999).

Although it appears that venue for this action is incorrectly asserted here, the clear absence

FILED

 2007 Sep-04 PM 03:53

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 5:07-cv-01355-JHH Document 4 Filed 09/04/07 Page 1 of 2
of subject-matter jurisdiction in this action inclines the court toward dismissal of the action, rather

than transferring it the Northern District of Florida. For this reason, by separate order, the court will

dismiss this action as barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity.

The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail a copy of the foregoing to the plaintiff.

DONE this the 4th day of September, 2007.

 

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 5:07-cv-01355-JHH Document 4 Filed 09/04/07 Page 2 of 2