FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT AUGUST 12, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 08- 11378 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 7 - 0 1 1 3 2 - CV - J - 1 6 - J RK M A R V I N D . M O B L E Y , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s S . L . H I C K S , in a n in d iv id u a l c ap a c ity , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( A u gu s t 12, 2008) B e f o r e B I R C H , C A N E S a n d P R Y O R , C ir c u it J u d g e s . P E R C U R I A M: M a rvi n D . M obl e y , pr oc e e di ng pr o s e , appe a l s the s uas pont e di s m i s s a l of2

hi s 42 U . S . C . § 1983 c om pl a i nta l l e gi ng vi ol a t i ons of hi s r i ghtt o pr oc e dur a l due proces s a s w el l as hi s r i gh tt o equ al prot ec t i on un der the l aw . T he di stri ctcourt di s m i s s e d M obl e y ’ s c om pl a i ntf orf a i l ur e t o s t a t e ac l a i m on w hi c h r e l i e f m a ybe gr a nt e d pur s ua ntt o 28 U . S . C . § 1915( e ) ( 2) ( B ) ( i i ) . U pon c a r e f ul r e vi e w of

the c om pl a i nt , the pl e a di ngs , a nd the di s tr i c tc ourtor de r , a nd upon c ons i de r a t i on of M o b le y ’s b r ie f

, w e d is c e rn n o r e v e r s ib le e rr o ra n d th e r e f o r e A F F I R M . I . B AC KG RO UN D M a rv in M o b le y is ar e s id e n t o f F lo r id aa n d , h e h a s b e e n r e c e iv in g d is ab ility benefi t s and m edi care i nsurance. O n 2 N ov em ber 200 7, M ob l eyre ce i ved a N ot i ce o f C o n t i n u i n g D i sab i l i ty R ev i ew an d sev eral A u th o ri zat i o n s t o D i scl o se Inform at i on t o the S oci al S ec uri ty A dm i ni stra t i on (S S A ). R 1-8 at1. A ft er c o m p le tin g th e f

o rm s , h e h a n d d e liv e r e d th e m to th e lo c a l S S A o f f ic e . W h ile the r e , M obl e y a s ke d f

orhi s m e di c a l r e c or ds a nd adoc um e nti ndi c a t i ng tha tthe S S A h a d r e c e iv e d h is c o m p le te d f o rm s . H is r e q u e s t w a s d e n ie d . I d . a t 1 - 2 . A f e w da y s l a t e r , S . L . H i c ks , aM e di c a l D i s abi l i tyA dj udi c a t orw orki ng M ob l ey ’ s r evi ew , l ef

ta m es sa ge for M ob l eyi nstruct i ng hi m t o cal l her back as s o o n a s p o s s ib le . I d . M o b le y c a lle d H ic k s s e v e r a l tim e s b u t d id n o t s u c c e e d in r e a c hi ng he ra s s he w a s outof the of f i c e . I d. W he n H i c ks c a l l e d M obl e yba c k, s he w as ho st i l e, i nd i ca t i ng thatM ob l eyw as a di agno se d schi zoph re ni c, w hi ch w as3

u n tru e . I d . H ic k s a ls o in d ic a te d th a t a n ap p o in tm e n t w o u ld b e s e t f o rM o b le yto se e ado ct or, t o w hi ch he obj ec t ed because he w as af ra i d o f doct ors. M ob l ey de s c r i be d H i c ks a s “ w a nt i ng t o a r gue f r om the be gi nni ng of

ourc onve r s a t i on” a nd as l augh i ng af

t erhe di sc l osed hi s f

ear of doct ors. Id. at3. L at er , M ob l eyre ce i ved al e tt e rf r om H i c ks i nf

orm i ng hi m tha ti f

he f a i l e d t o pr ovi de the S S A w i th the n e c e s s a ry in f

o rm a tio n , th e S S A c o u ld te rm in a te h is b e n e f its . I d . I n hi s c om pl a i nt , M obl e y a l l e ge d tha tH i c ks ’ s be ha vi ordur i ng the i rphone conv er sa t i on , her pre m ature deci si on t o o rdera doct or’ s e xam i nat i on , and h er threa t s t o st op hi s benef i t s am ou nt ed t o h ost i l e, un fa i r, and u nequ al tre atm entthat vi ol at ed hi s r i gh tt o p roce du ra l du e proces s and equal prot ec t i on of the l aw . Id. at 5, 7-8. H e a dd ed thatH i cks vi ol at ed hi s r i gh tt o p roce du ra l du e proces s and equal p r o te c tio n b y f

a ilin g to s e n d h im aL e tte ro f D u e P r o c e s s D e te rm in a tio n N o tic e , in v io la tio n o f

S S A p o lic ie s . I d . a t 9 - 1 0 . T he m agi stra t e j ud ge i ss ued a R eportand R ec om m endat i on (“ R & R ”) fi nd i ng thatM ob l ey(1) f ai l ed t o al l ege thatH i cks has depri ved h i m of a c ons t i tut i ona l l y - pr ot e c t e d l i be rty orpr ope rtyi nt e r e s t ; a nd ( 2) f a i l e d t o pr ovi de e v id e n c e th a t H ic k s a c te d w ith ad is c r im in a to rym o tiv e o rp u rp o s e . R 1 - 9 a t 7 - 8 . T h e m a g is tr a te ju d g e r e c o m m e n d e d th a t h is c o m p la in t b e d is m is s e d f o rf a ilu r e to s t a t e ac l a i m o n w h i c h r e l i e f ma y b e g r a n t e d p u r s u a n tt o 2 8 U . S. C.4

§ 1 9 1 5 ( e ) ( 2 ) ( B) ( i i ) . I d . a t5 , 9 . M o b l e yo b j e c t e d t o th e ma g i s tr a t e j u d g e ’ s R & R, a r gui ng tha tthe m a gi s tr a t e w a s unl a w f ul l ytry i ng t o r e pr e s e ntH i c ks , a nd he s ubs e que nt l y r e que s t e d a n e vi de nt i a ryhe a r i ng. R 1- 10 a t2, 4. A f t e rr e vi e w , the di s tr i c tc ourtf

ound tha tM obl e y ’ s obj e c t i ons t o the R & R f a i l e d t o c ur e a nyof

the de f i c i e nc i e s i n hi s c om pl a i nt . T he r e f or e , the di s tr i c tc ourta dopt e d, c onf i rm e d, a nd r a t i f i e d the m a gi s tr a t e j udge ’ s R & R . R 1- 11. M obl e yf i l e d at i m e l ynot i c e of ap p e a l. R 1 - 1 2 . I I . DI S CUS S I ON A d is tr ic t c o u rt’s s u as p o n te d is m is s a l f o rf a ilu r e to s ta te ac la im p u r s u a n t to 2 8 U .S .C . § 1 9 1 5 ( e ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( ii) is r e v ie w e d d e n o v o , ta k in g th e a lle g a tio n s a n d f a c ts in th e c o m p la in t a s tru e . H u g h e s v . L o tt, 3 5 0 F .3 d 1 1 5 7 , 1 1 5 9 - 6 0 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 3 ) . O n ap p e a l, M o b le y a r g u e s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u rt s h o u ld n o t h a v e d is m is s e d h is c om pl a i ntbe c aus e i tc ont a i ne d s uf f i c i e nta l l e ga t i ons t o s upporthi s due pr oc e s s a nd e q u a l p r o te c tio n c la im s . A d d itio n a lly , h e a r g u e s th a t b yim p r o p e r lyd is m is s in g h is c om pl a i nt , the di s tr i c tc ourtvi ol a t e d hi s due pr oc e s s r i ght s byde pr i vi ng hi m of the e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng he r e que s t e d a nd the r i ghtt o r e c e i ve a n a ns w e rf r om the d e f e n d a n t. A . D u e P ro cess A su ccessfu l § 1 9 8 3 cl ai m “ al l eg i n g a d en i al o f p ro ced u ral d u e p ro cess5

re qu i re s proof of three el em ent s: (1) adepri vat i on of a c on st i tut i on al l y- prot ec t ed lib e rtyo rp r o p e rtyin te r e s t; ( 2 ) s ta te a c tio n ; a n d ( 3 ) c o n s titu tio n a lly - in a d e q u a te p r o c e s s .” G r a y d e n v . R h o d e s , 3 4 5 F .3 d 1 2 2 5 , 1 2 3 2 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 3 ) . I n o r d e rto s a t i s f y the f i r s te l e m e ntof

the G r a y de n t e s t , apl a i nt i f f m us t“ a l l e ge ade pr i va t i on of a c on st i tut i on al l y- prot ec t ed i nt er es t , no tm er el y ari sk of depri vat i on . ” A rr i ng t on v. H el m s, 43 8 F . 3d 13 36 , 13 48 n. 12 (11th C i r. 20 06 ). M oreover, there i s no due pr oc e s s vi ol a t i on w he n, pr i ort o di s m i s s a l unde r§1915( e ) ( 2) ( B ) ( i i ) , the di s tr i c tc ourtc onduc t s ade novo r e vi e w of the m a gi s tr a t e j udge ’ s r e port , a nd the p la in tif f is g iv e n th e o p p o rtu n ityto o b je c t to th e m a g is tr a te ju d g e ’s r e p o rt, e v e n if the pl a i nt i f

f i s nota f f or de d af orm a l he a r i ng. V a nde rbe r g v. D ona l ds on, 259 F . 3d 13 21 , 13 24 (11th C i r. 20 01 ). M ob l eyal l eges thatH i cks w as ar gu m ent at i ve and h ost i l e on the ph on e, that H i cks s enta l ett ersayi ng thatM ob l eyw as i n j eopardy of l osi ng hi s benef i t s, that H i c ks or de r e d adoc t or ’ s e xa m , a nd tha tH i c ks di d nots e nd M obl e yaL e tt e rof D ue P r oc e s s P r e de t e rm i na t i on N ot i c e . H ow e ve r , the s e a l l e ga t i ons do nota m ountt o a depri vat i on of any c on st i tut i on al l y- prot ec t ed l i berty or property i nt er es t . R 1-8 at 2 -3 , 1 0 . T h ese av erm en t s can n o tsat i sfy th e fi rstp ro n g o f th e G rayd en t estb ecau se M o b le y ’s d is ab ilityb e n e f its w e r e n e v e rte rm in a te d . T h e r e f o r e , h e h a s f

a ile d to s ta te ad u e p r o c e s s c la im o n w h ic h r e lie f m a yb e g r a n te d .6

In hi s app el l at e bri ef

, M ob l eyar gu ed thatthe di stri ctcourt ’ s i m prop er di sm i ss al of hi s c as e c on st i tut ed a vi ol at i on of hi s due proces s r i gh t s t o rec ei ve an a ns w e ra nd ha ve ahe a r i ng. T he di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s di s m i s s a l of M obl e y ’ s c om pl a i nt unde r§1915( e ) ( 2) ( B ) ( i i ) , w i thouta n e vi de nt i a ryhe a r i ng , di d notvi ol a t e hi s due proces s r i gh t s. P ri or t o d i sm i ss i ng M ob l ey ’ s c om pl ai nt , the di stri ctcourt c onduc t e d a n i nde pe nde ntr e vi e w of the r e c or d, a nd M obl e yw a s gi ve n the opportuni ty t o obj e c tt o the m a gi s tr a t e ’ s r e port . V a nde rbe r g, 259 F . 3d a t1324; R 1 - 1 0 , 1 1 . T h e d is m is s a l w a s p r o p e r , a n d th u s th e d e f e n d a n t h a s n o o b lig a tio n to a n s w e ru n d e rR u le 1 2 o f th e F e d e r a l R u le s o f

C iv il P r o c e d u r e . B . E q u alP r ot e c t i on T he S upr e m e C ourtha s i nt e rpr e t e d the E qua l P r ot e c t i on C l aus e of the F ourt e e nth A m e ndm e nta s “ adi r e c t i on tha ta l l pe r s ons s i m i l a r l ys i tua t e d s houl d be tr e a t e d a l i ke . ” C i ty of

C l e burne , T e x. V . C l e burne L i vi ng C tr . , 473 U . S . 432, 439 ( 1985) . O ne m us ts how tha tthe yw e r e tr e a t e d di f f e r e nt l ya nd tha ts uc h tr e a tm e nt w as the re sul tof a di sc ri m i nat ory m ot i ve or pu rpose. C ross v. D ept . of M ent al H ea l th & M ent al R et ar dat i on , 49 F . 3d 14 90 , 15 07 (11th C i r. 19 95 ). W hi l e M ob l ey a lle g e s th a t H ic k ’s a c tio n s w e r e u n f a ira n d u n e q u a l, h e d id n o t o f f e ra n yf a c ts show i ng thathe w as tre at ed di ff er ent l y f rom others i n a si m i l arsi tuat i on or that th e r e w a s ad is c r im in a to rym o tiv e o rp u rp o s e o n H ic k s ’s p a rt. I d . A t 6 , 9 .7

A l l egat i on s of unequ al tre atm entand d i sc ri m i nat ory m ot i ve or pu rpose are es se nt i al t o an equ al prot ec t i on cl ai m , and w i tho utthem , M ob l ey ’ s c om pl ai ntw as p r o p e r lyd is m is s e d . I I I . CONCL US I ON T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt d id n o t e rrin d is m is s in g M o b le y ’s c o m p la in t f o rf a ilu r e to s ta te ac la im u n d e r§ 1 9 1 5 ( e ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( ii) . M o b le yf a ile d to a lle g e f

a c ts s u f f ic ie n t to s h o w h e w a s d e p r iv e d o f ac o n s titu tio n a lly - p r o te c te d lib e rtyo rp r o p e rtyin te r e s t. M or e ove r , the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s l a w f ul di s m i s s a l of

M obl e y ’ s c l a i m , w i thout affo rd i n g h i m an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g , d i d n o tv i o l at e h i s ri g h tt o d u e p ro cess be c aus e the di s tr i c tc ourtc onduc t e d a n i nde pe nde ntr e vi e w of the r e c or d, a nd M obl e y w a s gi ve n the opportuni tyt o obj e c tt o the m a gi s tr a t e ’ s r e portbe f or e the di s tr i c tc ourtdi s m i s s e d hi s c om pl a i nt . M obl e y ’ s e qua l pr ot e c t i on c l a i m i s not pr ope r l y s t a t e d be c aus e he di d nota l l e ge f a c t s s uf f i c i e ntt o s how une qua l tr e a tm e nt a nd di s c r i m i na t ory m ot i ve . W e di s c e rn no r e ve r s i bl e e rr ora nd f orthe above r e a s ons , w e a f

f i rm the di s tr i c tc ourt ’ s di s m i s s a l of M obl e y ’ s 42 U . S . C . § 1983 a c tio n p u r s u a n t to 2 8 U .S .C . § 1 9 1 5 ( e ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( ii) . AF F I RME D.