Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_24-cv-00792/USCOURTS-ared-4_24-cv-00792-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

CENTRAL DIVISION 

JOHN MICHAEL CARNEY 

v. No. 4:24-cv-792-DPM 

MORGAN E. WELCH, in his capacity as 

Circuit Judge for Pulaski County 

Arkansas, Sixteenth Division; CENTRAL 

ARKANSAS RADIATION THERAPY 

INSTITUTE, INC. dfb/a CARTI; 

DOCTORS COMP ANY; BRENT DAVID 

CAMERON, M.D.; MATTHEW EMERY 

HARDEE, M.D. 

JOHN MICHAEL CARNEY 

v. No. 4:24-cv-809-DPM 

MORGAN E. WELCH, in his capacity as 

Circuit Judge for Pulaski County 

Arkansas, Sixteenth Division; CENTRAL 

ARKANSAS RADIATION THERAPY 

INSTITUTE, INC. d/b/a CARTI; 

DOCTORS COMPANY; BRENT DAVID 

CAMERONr M.D.; MATTHEW EMERY 

HARDEE, M.D. 

ORDER 

PLAINTIFF 

DEFENDANTS 

PLAINTIFF 

DEFENDANTS 

Carney filed two identical cases five days apart. The Court 

consolidated them. In essence, he's asking this Court to enjoin the 

Case 4:24-cv-00792-DPM Document 10 Filed 12/03/24 Page 1 of 3
Pulaski County Circuit Court from ordering the execution of a blank 

medical authorization. The defendants have moved to dismiss. 

Those motions are granted. 

First, Judge Welch is entitled to Eleventh Amendment sovereign 

immunity. Lewis v. Clarke, 581 U.S. 155, 162-63 (2017). He was only 

sued in his official capacity; and Ex parte Young's narrow exception for 

prospective injunctive relief doesn't apply to state court judges. 

209 U.S. 123, 163 (1908); Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson, 595 U.S. 30, 

39 (2021). 

Second, the CARTI defendants. The Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars 

this Court from interfering with the state court's ruling on the parties' 

discovery dispute. Carney lost on that issue there. This Court lacks 

subject matter jurisdiction to redress his injury. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. 

Saudi Basic Industries Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 283-84 (2005). This is true even 

though Carney is seeking relief from an interlocutory order, not a final 

judgment. Keene Corp. v. Cass, 908 F.2d 293, 297 (8th Cir. 1990). 

Carney did style parts of the complaint as a general constitutional 

challenge. But the core of the claim is inextricably intertwined with the 

state court's rulings. Ibid. 

* * * 

Motions to dismiss in 4:24-cv-809-DPM, Doc. 11 & Doc. 26, 

granted. Motion to dismiss 1n 4:24-cv-792-DPM, Doc. 3, granted. 

Judgment in each case will issue. 

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Case 4:24-cv-00792-DPM Document 10 Filed 12/03/24 Page 2 of 3
So Ordered. 

?/ D.P. Marshall Jr. 

United States District Judge 

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Case 4:24-cv-00792-DPM Document 10 Filed 12/03/24 Page 3 of 3