Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-6_06-cv-01591/USCOURTS-alnd-6_06-cv-01591-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Personal Injury

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42.U.S.C. § 1983. 1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

JASPER DIVISION

STANLEY DIXON; SADIE DIXON, )

as administrator of the Estate of Andrew )

Dixon, )

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

vs. )

)

TOWN OF PARISH, ALABAMA; ) Civil Action Number

THE ESTATE OF OSCAR “SONNY” ) 6:06-cv-1424-UWC

GRAYSON SORRELL, deceased; ) 6:06-cv-1591-UWC

WILFORD CAGLE; JAMES SMITH, )

CHARLES DEAN; LLOYD HITT; )

JACK SMITH; BILLY J. DUNN, etc., )

et al., )

)

Defendants. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS

Amidst all the confusion generated by the pleadings in these cases in this court,

certain facts are undeniable. 

The operative events which gave rise to these Section 1983 lawsuits occurred

1

in July 2004. These are tort actions seeking compensatory and punitive damages for

alleged violations of various federal constitutional rights, and state law claims of

FILED

 2006 Dec-29 PM 09:38

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 6:06-cv-01591-UWC Document 15 Filed 12/29/06 Page 1 of 3
 (Doc. 1, pp. 4-11.) 2

 On December 2, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for leave to Amend Complaint, to allege 3

“that the conduct of the defendants was the cause of death of the plaintiff-decedent Andrew

Dixon.” (Doc. 10). 

wantonness, negligence, carelessness or unskillfulness, negligent supervision

negligent retention, false arrest and false imprisonment, and assault and battery.2

Andrew Dixon died on April 4, 2005. At the time of Andrew Dixon’s death, no

lawsuit had been filed against these Defendants based on the occurrences of July

2004.

Under these facts, the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss (Doc. 18 in 06-1424;

Doc. 9 in 06-1591) are due to be granted. Under Alabama law, tort claims, including

those brought under Section 1983, do not survive the death of the alleged victim;

rather they die with him. The causes of action set forth in both complaints expired on

April 4, 2005 - more than a year prior to the filing of the earliest of the complaints.

While the Administratrix Plaintiff is free to bring an action for wrongful death,

she has not done so. The Court notes, however, that in neither of the original or 3

amended complaints filed in this Court is an allegation that the Defendants’ actions

caused the death of the Plaintiff decedent. 

Accordingly, the Motion to Dismiss will be granted, and these actions will be

dismissed, without prejudice to the right of the Administratrix Plaintiff to initiate an

action for wrongful death.

Case 6:06-cv-01591-UWC Document 15 Filed 12/29/06 Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3

______________________________

 U.W. Clemon

 United States District Judge

Case 6:06-cv-01591-UWC Document 15 Filed 12/29/06 Page 3 of 3