Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00406/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00406-3/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RICHARD E. WILMSHURST, THE )

49er LEASE, AND ALAN H. )

CORELL, )

)

)

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

vs. )

)

)

THE DEPARTMENT OF )

TRANSPORTATION, an agency of )

the State of California, THE )

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF )

TRANSPORTATION, JOY PINE, )

AND MIKE HUTCHINSON, )

)

)

Defendants . )

)

)

No. CV-F-07-406 OWW/WMW

MEMORANDUM DECISION GRANTING

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION'S MOTION TO

DISMISS (Doc. 30)

Before the Court is the motion to dismiss filed by the

United States Department of Transportation (DOT) under Rules

4(m), 12(b)(5) and 12(b)(6), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Plaintiffs have filed no written opposition to this motion

to dismiss and did not appear at the hearing on February 25,

2008.

Case 1:07-cv-00406-OWW -LJO Document 32 Filed 02/26/08 Page 1 of 3
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DOT is named as a Defendant in Plaintiff's Amended Complaint

filed on June 6, 2007. The only allegation in the Amended

Complaint pertaining to DOT is that "Cal-Trans and DOT have a

contract wherein DOT provides Cal-Trans funds to assist in the

building of Highway # 4." None of the four claims for relief in

the Amended Complaint seek any relief from DOT or even mention

DOT. Although a summons for DOT was issued by the Clerk's Office

on June 6, 2007, no Return of Service has been filed in this

action. Kimberly Gaab, one of the persons in the United States

Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of California

designated as a civil process clerk to receive copies of

summonses, complaints and other process served upon the United

States, avers:

Both the Fresno and Sacramento U.S.

Attorney's Offices maintain a log that

identifies all documents served upon the

United States pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 4(i). I have verified that

the First Amended Complaint in this action

was not served upon either the Fresno or

Sacramento U.S. Attorney's Office in

compliance with Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 4(i).

By Memorandum Decision and Order filed on August 14, 2007, the

motion to dismiss filed by the California Department of

Transportation, Joy Pine and Mike Hutchinson was granted without

leave to amend:

Plaintiffs' have adequate remedies in the

state court. Land use matters are inherently

of local concern. No immediately protectable

interest has been identified requiring

exercise of federal jurisdiction. Even if a

federal claim could be stated, abstention is

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appropriate to enable the presentation of any

such issues in the already pending state

court eminent domain lawsuits and based on

other state remedies available to Plaintiffs.

CONCLUSION

1. DOT's motion to dismiss is GRANTED. Plaintiffs have not

served DOT and no claim upon which relief can be granted against

DOT is stated in the Amended Complaint.

2. Counsel for DOT shall prepare and lodge a form of order

and judgment reflecting the ruling in this Memorandum Decision

within 5 days of the filing date of this Memorandum Decision.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 26, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

668554 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00406-OWW -LJO Document 32 Filed 02/26/08 Page 3 of 3