United States District Court 

Eastern District of Michigan 

Denise Marks and 

LaVince Marks, Jr., Individually, 

 Plaintiffs, 

v. 

St. Johns Hospital and Medical Center, 

Charlene V. Williams, M.D., 

Charlene V. Williams, M.D., P.C., and 

Richard Thigpen, M.D., 

 Defendants. 

Civil No. 

Honorable 

Mag. Judge 

Notice of Removal 

Federal defendant, Charlene V. Williams, M.D., petitioner herein, by her 

attorneys, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441, 2679(d) and 42 U.S.C. § 233 and, hereby 

removes this action (Case No. 14-012391-NH), which is now pending in the Third 

Judicial Circuit for the State of Michigan from said state court to the United States 

District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division. 

This action is removable because the federal defendant, Charlene V. 

Williams, M.D., at all times relevant to this matter, was an employee of Detroit 

Healthcare for the Homeless d/b/a Advantage Health Centers (“DHH”) which has 

been deemed eligible for coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 

28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), pursuant to the Federally Supported Health Centers 

Assistance Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-501), 42 U.S.C. § 233(g). Accordingly, 

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DHH is an “entity” within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 233(g), and Charlene V. 

Williams, M.D., was an employee of an entity within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 

233(g), and therefore deemed to be an employee of the United States Public Health 

Service covered by 42 U.S.C. § 233(a) and (c). (Ex. A – Deeming Letters). 

Because she is deemed to be an employee of the U.S. Public Health Service, 

defendant Charlene V. Williams, M.D. is eligible for coverage under the FTCA 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 233(a) and (g). Under 42 U.S.C. § 233(a) and (g), a claim 

against the United States pursuant to the FTCA is the exclusive remedy available 

to the plaintiffs in this case with respect to the alleged acts or omissions of federal 

defendant Charlene V. Williams, M.D.. Removal of an FTCA action to federal 

court under these circumstances is authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 233(c). 

The Attorney General, through her designee, Elizabeth J. Larin, Chief of the 

Civil Division of the United States Attorney=s Office for the Eastern District of 

Michigan, has certified that defendants Charlene V. Williams, M.D., who has been 

deemed to be an employee of the U.S. Public Health Service, was acting within the 

scope of her employment at the time of the incident out of which this suit arose. 

(Ex. B – Certificate of Scope of Employment). 

This removal is timely because an action may be removed under 28 U.S.C. 

2679(d) or 42 U.S.C. 233(c) “at any time before trial.” The action shall then be 

“deemed a tort action brought against the United States.” 42 U.S.C. § 233(c). The 

United States respectfully requests that it be substituted in the caption for the party 

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“Charlene V. Williams, M.D.” This notice of removal is not being filed on behalf 

of “Charlene V. Williams, M.D., P.C.” A copy of the complaint that was filed in 

the Third Judicial Circuit is attached. 

BARBARA L. McQUADE 

United States Attorney 

/s/Laura Anne Sagolla 

LAURA ANNE SAGOLLA (P63951) 

Assistant U.S. Attorney 

211 W. Fort St., Ste. 2001 

Detroit, MI 48226 

(313) 226-9774 

Email: laura.sagolla@usdoj.gov 

Date: May 26, 2015 

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Certificate of Service 

I hereby certify that on May 26, 2015, I electronically filed the foregoing 

paper with the Clerk of the Court using the ECF. 

I further certify that I have mailed by U.S. mail the foregoing paper to the 

following non-ECF participants: 

Kenneth T. Watkins 

Sommers Schwartz, PC 

1 Towne Square, 17th Floor 

Southfield, MI 48076 

Julia K McNelis 

Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook 

10 S. Main St., Suite 200 

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043 

Jeanette Williams White 

Law Offices JW White, PLLC 

19785 W. 12 Mile Rd., Suite 486 

Southfield, MI 48076 

/s/Laura Anne Sagolla 

LAURA ANNE SAGOLLA (P63951) 

Assistant U.S. Attorney 

211 W. Fort St., Ste. 2001 

Detroit, MI 48226 

(313) 226-9774 

Email: laura.sagolla@usdoj.gov 

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