Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_06-cv-02846/USCOURTS-azd-3_06-cv-02846-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:2671 Federal Tort Claims Act

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Eli Francis, et al. ) No. CV 06-2846-PHX-PGR

)

Plaintiffs, )

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vs. ) ORDER

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the Navajo Nation, et al. )

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Defendants. )

____________________________)

 On November 27, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Complaint with this Court alleging

jurisdiction pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA"), 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). The

Defendants named in the Complaint include Joan Shonie, individually and in her capacity

as 

an employee of the Navajo Nation, along with the Navajo Nation itself. However, due to

lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the Court must dismiss the Complaint.

According to section 1346(b) of the FTCA, 

the district courts . . . shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civil

actions on claims against the United States for money damages

. . . or personal injury or death caused by the negligent wrongful

act or omission of any employee of the Government while acting

within the scope of his office or employment, under

circumstances where the United States, if a private person,

would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the

place where the act or omission occurred.

Case 3:06-cv-02846-PGR Document 7 Filed 12/06/06 Page 1 of 2
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Furthermore, 28 U.S.C. § 2671 states that a federal agency, as used in the act, includes "the

executive departments, the judicial and legislative branches, the military departments,

independent establishments of the United States, and corporations primarily acting as

instrumentalities or agencies of the United States . . ." Accordingly, a cause of action under

the FTCA properly lies only against the United States, and the Navajo Nation and its

employee are not proper Defendants. The Plaintiffs have not alleged that the tribal

Defendants were acting as federal officers or under color of federal law. Facially, this

Complaint does not adequately allege a jurisdictional basis. Therefore,

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiffs' Complaint (Doc. 1) is dismissed for lack of subject

matter jurisdiction, and the Plaintiffs shall file an Amended Complaint properly alleging a

jurisdictional basis for this action, if one exists, no later than January 5, 2007. The Plaintiffs

are hereby advised that failure to timely comply with this order will result in the dismissal

of this action without further notice.

DATED this 5th day of December, 2006.

Case 3:06-cv-02846-PGR Document 7 Filed 12/06/06 Page 2 of 2