UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

DALLAS DIVISION

CHELSEA NICOLE DUNCAN,

Plaintiff,

VS.

PHILIP WILLIAMS, ET AL.,

Defendants.

)

)

)

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

)

) 3:05-CV-1555-G

)

) ECF

)

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Before the court are 1) the motion of the defendant Richard J. Foy (“Foy”) to

quash service of process, 2) the motions of the defendants Philip Williams

(“Williams”) and Mark Watson (“Watson”) to dismiss the claims against them,

3) the motion of the plaintiff Chelsea Nichole Duncan (“Duncan”) for default

judgment, and 4) the motion of Duncan for pretrial release. For the reasons stated

below, the motions of Foy, Williams, and Watson are granted, and the motions of

Duncan are denied.

 

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I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of the arrest and pretrial detention of Duncan in a state

criminal prosecution. According to the complaint, Duncan made a U-turn on Forth

Worth Avenue in Dallas, Texas when two City of Dallas police officers, Foy and Cory

James Adams (“Adams”), pulled Duncan over and began searching her automobile. 

Complaint ¶¶ 46, 48. Foy and Adams arrested Duncan after discovering drug-like

substances, other paraphernalia and large amounts of cash in the vehicle, learning

that Duncan was on probation, and receiving an offer of bribery from Duncan. Id.

¶¶ 49, 51-53, 56.

After arraignment, at which her bail was set at $110,000, Duncan met with

Watson, her attorney. Id. ¶¶ 56-57. Duncan alleges that Watson stated that, with

his “connections” to Judge Janice L. Warder (“Judge Warder”), he could get Duncan

released from jail if she would pay him $3,500. Id. ¶ 57. This deal allegedly fell

through, however, and Duncan remained in jail. Id. ¶ 60. She then retained her new

attorney, Tom R. Cox (“Cox”). Id. Following multiple proceedings in state court in

which her bail was raised to $240,000, id. ¶ 74, Duncan remains in jail.

Duncan, acting pro se and while incarcerated in the George Allen Detention

Center in Dallas, Texas, filed this suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, complaining of

the arresting officers, the prosecutor, her two defense attorneys, and Judge Warder. 

See generally Complaint; Plaintiff’s Motion for Pre Trial Release and Brief in Support

 

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1 It should be noted that Duncan filed no response to the motions filed by

the defendants.

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Thereof (“Motion for Pretrial Release”) at 1. On August 30, 2005, Foy filed both an

answer and the instant motion to quash service of process. See Docket Sheet. On

September 1, 2005, Judge Warder and Williams both filed motions to dismiss. Id. 

After having her original motion unfiled, Duncan filed the instant motion for default

judgment on September 13, 2005. Id. Two days later, she filed this motion for

pretrial release. Id. On October 5, 2005, Watson filed his motion to dismiss. The

court granted Judge Warder’s motion to dismiss and dismissed her from the case on

November 7, 2005. November 7, 2005 Order.

II. ANALYSIS

Due to the number of motions involved in this case, the court will dispose of

all five in this single order. Thus, the order is subdivided into sections addressing

each motion.1

A. Foy’s Motion to Quash Service of Process

Generally, “[i]t is hornbook law that Rule 12[b] motions must be filed before

filing a responsive pleading.” Jambon Family Markets, Inc. v. Affiliated Foods Southwest,

Inc., No. 02-3361, 2003 WL 22299382, at *1 (E.D. La. Oct. 6, 2003) (quoting Holy

Cross Hospital v. Bankers Life and Casualty Company, No. 01-C-1505, 2002 WL

31319480, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 15, 2002)); see also 5C C. WRIGHT & A. MILLER,

FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE § 1391 (3d ed. 2004) at 501 (stating that “any

 

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time a defendant makes a pre-answer Rule 12 motion, he or she must include, on

penalty of waiver, the defenses set forth in subdivisions (2) through (5) of Rule

12(b)”). “A defense of . . . insufficiency of service of process is waived (A) if omitted

from a motion in the circumstances described in subdivision (g), or (B) if it is neither

made by motion under this rule nor included in the responsive pleading or an

amendment thereof permitted by Rule 15(a) to be made as a matter of course.” FED.

R. CIV. P. 12(h)(1). Thus, to comply with the federal rules, a defendant must raise

insufficiency of service of process either in his answer or by motion prior to it. See

Greene v. Keller, 224 F.R.D. 659, 660-61 (D. Nev. 2004) (finding that defendant

waived defense of insufficiency of service of process by filing his motion to quash one

month after filing his answer, failing to include in his answer a defense of

insufficiency of process, and failing to amend his answer to include such defense

within twenty days of service); MCW, Inc. v. Badbusinessbureau.com, L.L.C., No. 3:02-

CV-2727-G, 2004 WL 833595, at *3 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 19, 2004) (Fish, Chief J.)

(noting that “[d]efendants wishing to object to personal jurisdiction ‘must do so in

their first defensive move, be it in a Rule 12 motion or a responsive pleading’”).

In this instance, Foy filed his motion to quash service of process pursuant to

Rule 12(b)(5) on the same day as his answer. See Docket Sheet (entries 13 (motion

to dismiss) and 14 (answer), both filed on August 30, 2005). Although it could be

 

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argued that Foy waived his defense of insufficiency of service of process by not clearly

filing his Rule 12 motion prior to his answer, the court will consider his motion. 

Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs the service of process. 

Rule 4(e)(1), while not permitting service by mail, does provide that service can be

accomplished “pursuant to the law of the state in which the district court is located.” 

Texas rules provide that, absent prior authorization by the trial court, service must be

accomplished by either personal delivery to the defendant or by registered (or

certified) mail, return receipt requested. TEX. CODE CIV. P. 106(a). Here, Duncan

did not receive court authorization for alternative service. Instead, Foy received a

copy of the summons and complaint via the Dallas Police Department interoffice

mail system. Affidavit of Richard J. Foy ¶ 2, attached to Defendant Richard J. Foy’s

Opposed Motion to Quash the Return of Service for Lack of Proper Service and Brief

in Support. As this method of serving process does not comply with the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, Foy’s motion to quash the return of service is granted.

A defendant must either be served or waive service within 120 days after the

complaint is filed. See FED. R. CIV. P. 4(m). If the plaintiff fails to obtain service

within this period, the court may either “dismiss the action without prejudice . . . or

direct that service be effected within a specified time.” Id. The court may consider

the plaintiff’s pro se status and good faith attempt to obtain service when deciding

whether dismissal is appropriate. Monroe v. Texas Utilities Company, No. 3:01-CV-

 

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1012-D, 2002 WL 413866, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 11, 2002); see, e.g., Kaff v. United

Press International, No. 88 CIV. 2331 (MJL), 1988 WL 130908, at *3 (S.D.N.Y.

Dec. 1, 1988). Therefore, given the fact that Duncan is pro se and that she made a

good faith effort to effect service, the court will not dismiss her claims against Foy but

will grant an extension of time to make service of process in compliance with the

federal rules. However, should Duncan not serve Foy properly within the time as

extended by this order, the court will dismiss Duncan’s claims against him.

B. Williams’ and Watson’s Motions to Dismiss

Also before the court is the motion of Williams, an assistant district attorney

for Dallas County, to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). See Defendant Williams’s

Motion to Dismiss Under FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6) and Brief in Support (“Williams

Motion to Dismiss”). In a separate motion, defendant Watson also seeks dismissal of

the claims against him pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). See Defendant Mark

Watson’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter and for

Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can be Granted and Brief in Support

Thereof (“Watson Motion to Dismiss”).

1. Standard for Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) authorizes dismissal of a complaint

for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” FED. R. CIV. P.

12(b)(6). There are two primary principles that guide the court’s determination of

 

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whether dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) should be granted. First, a motion under Rule

12(b)(6) should be granted only if it appears beyond doubt that the nonmovant

could prove no set of facts in support of her claims that would entitle her to relief. 

Conley v. Gibson, 335 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957); Leffall v. Dallas Independent School District,

28 F.3d 521, 524 (5th Cir. 1994); see also Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Sales, Inc. v.

Avondale Shipyards, Inc., 677 F.2d 1045, 1050 (5th Cir. 1982) (citing WRIGHT &

MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: CIVIL § 1357 at 598 (1969), for the

proposition that “the motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim is viewed with

disfavor and is rarely granted”), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1105 (1983). Second, the court

must accept all well-pleaded facts as true and view them in the light most favorable to

the nonmovant. See Capital Parks, Inc. v. Southeastern Advertising and Sales System, Inc.,

30 F.3d 627, 629 (5th Cir. 1994); Norman v. Apache Corporation, 19 F.3d 1017, 1021

(5th Cir. 1994); Chrissy F. by Medley v. Mississippi Department of Public Welfare, 925

F.2d 844, 846 (5th Cir. 1991). However, conclusory allegations and unwarranted

factual deductions will not suffice to prevent a motion to dismiss. United States ex rel.

Willard v. Humana Health Plan of Texas Inc., 336 F.3d 375, 379 (5th Cir. 2003). 

2. Williams’ Motion

Williams seeks dismissal on three grounds. First, he argues that the complaint

against him should be dismissed because such claims are not actionable under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. Williams Motion to Dismiss at 3-4. Specifically, Williams contends

 

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that Duncan’s complaints against him consist of allegations of wrongful conviction

and incarceration, which are subject to the Supreme Court’s holding in Heck v.

Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). Williams Motion to Dismiss at 3-4. Second,

Williams argues that Duncan’s claims against him in an individual capacity are barred

by prosecutorial immunity. Id. at 4. Finally, Williams contends that Duncan’s claims

against him in an official capacity are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. Id. at 4-5.

Williams is correct in asserting that Duncan essentially claims that she has

been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. Consequently, she cannot recover

damages under § 1983 without proof that her sentence has been reversed on direct

appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to

do so, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. 

See Heck, 512 U.S. at 486-87; Randell v. Johnson, 227 F.3d 300, 301 (5th Cir. 2000)

(per curiam), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 971 (2001). Because Duncan’s case is still

pending and she has offered no proof that any of these events invalidating her

sentence has occurred, her claim is not yet cognizable under § 1983. See Turner v.

Schultz, 130 F. Supp. 2d 1216, 1222 (D. Colo. 2001) (quoting Beck v. City of Muskogee

Police Department, 195 F.3d 553, 557 (10th Cir. 1999) (citations omitted)); see also

Davis v. Zain, 79 F.3d 18, 19-20 (5th Cir. 1996) (per curiam).

Moreover, the Supreme Court has held that “in initiating a prosecution and in

presenting the State’s case, the prosecutor is immune from a civil suit for damages

 

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2 Although argued both under Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), the court

finds it to be sufficient to construe the arguments solely under 12(b)(6).

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under § 1983.” Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431 (1976); Young v. Biggers, 938

F.2d 565, 569 (5th Cir. 1991). Here, Duncan’s claims against Williams are based on

his initiation and prosecution of the criminal case against Duncan. See generally

Complaint ¶¶ 64-67, 70, 73-74, 76-77. Thus the claims against Williams in his

individual capacity must be dismissed on the ground of prosecutorial immunity. In

addition, should the claims against Williams be construed as faulting Williams’

actions in his official capacity, Williams is protected by the Eleventh Amendment

from suit under § 1983 for monetary damages. Esteves v. Brock, 106 F.3d 674, 677

and n.8 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 828 (1997). Therefore, Williams’ motion to

dismiss Duncan’s claims against him is granted.

3. Watson’s Motion

In his motion, Watson essentially argues that Duncan has not stated a

cognizable claim under § 1983 and has not sustained her burden of showing that the

court has subject matter jurisdiction over her claims.2

 See generally Watson Motion to

Dismiss.

To state a claim of deprivation of rights under section 1983, Duncan must

allege “(1) that [s]he has been deprived of a right secured by the Constitution and the

laws of the United States, and (2) that the deprivation was caused by a person or

persons acting under color of state law.” Bass v. Parkwood Hospital, 180 F.3d 234, 241

 

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(5th Cir. 1999) (citing Flagg Brothers v. Brooks, 436 U.S. 149 (1978)) (internal

quotations omitted). Thus, in the instant case, the alleged wrongful activity is not

actionable under section 1983 unless it was taken with state action. George v. PacificCSC Work Furlough, 91 F.3d 1227, 1229 (9th Cir. 1996) (per curiam), cert. denied,

519 U.S. 1081 (1997).

Although characterized by Watson as amounting to “no more than a tort claim

for malpractice,” Watson Motion to Dismiss at 2, Duncan’s claim against Watson

involves Watson’s alleged “connections” with the presiding judge in Duncan’s case

and an assurance of Watson’s ability to get Duncan released on “reasonable bail.” See

Complaint ¶¶ 57-60. The Supreme Court, in Dennis v. Sparks, 449 U.S. 24 (1980),

held that the proper test for determining whether a private party is amenable to suit

under § 1983 is whether the party was “a willful participant in joint action with the

State or its agents.” Id. at 27. Rather than merely alleging malpractice, Duncan

alleges complicity between Watson and other state actors. See Pete v. Metcalfe, 8 F.3d

214, 216 (5th Cir. 1993) (dismissing claims against the plaintiff’s previous attorneys

because there was no allegation of complicity between the attorneys and agents of the

state). A plaintiff’s allegations of complicity can be sufficient to establish that a

private defendant acted under color of law within the meaning of § 1983, even if the

other defendants are protected by judicial or prosecutorial immunity. See Brummett v.

Camble, 946 F.2d 1178, 1185 (5th Cir. 1991) (holding that private actors can be

 

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deemed to have acted under color of law, even if conspiring with absolutely immune

state actors), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 965 (1992); Richardson v. Fleming, 651 F.2d 366,

368 (5th Cir. 1981) (holding that the plaintiff presented an actionable claim under

§ 1983 by alleging that his retained defense attorney conspired with the prosecutor to

deny the plaintiff adequate representation and a fair trial).

In § 1983 cases, however, courts require “the claimant to state specific facts,

not merely conclusory allegations.” Morrison v. City of Baton Rouge, 761 F.2d 242, 244

(5th Cir. 1985) (quoting Elliot v. Perez, 751 F.2d 1472, 1479 (5th Cir. 1985)). “Mere

conclusory allegations of conspiracy cannot, absent reference to material facts,” state

a substantial claim of federal conspiracy under § 1983. Hale v. Harney, 786 F.2d 688,

690 (5th Cir. 1986) (quoting Arsenaux v. Roberts, 726 F.2d 1022, 1024 (5th Cir.

1982)). Here, although Duncan summarily alleges that Watson promised to use his

“connections” with Judge Warder to get Duncan released from jail, she offers no

material facts to show that Judge Warder agreed. In fact, Duncan states that Watson

“renigged (sic)” and “failed to get Plaintif (sic) released on reasonable bail,”

Complaint ¶ 60, thus suggesting that there was no such agreement between Judge

Warder and Watson, a private attorney. Accordingly, Duncan’s claims against

Watson must be dismissed. See Hale, 786 F.2d at 690 (affirming dismissal of § 1983

action against private persons when there was no allegation that a state actor (the

judge) agreed with private conspirators to intimidate a witness).

 

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D. Duncan’s Motion for Default Judgment

Duncan moves for default judgment against all defendants. See Plaintif’s (sic)

Motion for Default Judgement. The defendants Warder, Foy, Williams, and Watson

have filed responses to this motion, all contesting entry of the default judgment

sought by Duncan.

Rule 55 authorizes a default judgment “[w]hen a party against whom a

judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend as

provided by these rules.” FED. R. CIV. P. 55(a). “Generally, the entry of default

judgment is committed to the discretion of the district judge.” Mason v. Lister, 562

F.2d 343, 345 (5th Cir. 1977); see Familia De Boom v. Arosa Mercantil, S.A., 629 F.2d

1134, 1137-38 (5th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 1008 (1981). However, this

discretion is limited: “Default judgments are a drastic remedy, not favored by the

Federal Rules and resorted to by courts only in extreme situations.” Sun Bank of Ocala

v. Pelican Homestead and Savings Association, 874 F.2d 274, 276 (5th Cir. 1989). 

Indeed, default judgment is “ ‘available only when the adversary process has been

halted because of an essentially unresponsive party.’ ” Id. (quoting H.F. Livermore

Corporation v. Aktiengesellschaft Gebruder Loepfe, 432 F.2d 689, 691 (D.C. Cir. 1970)).

Upon review of the record in this case, the court concludes that the motion for

default judgment should be denied. First, defendants Warder, Williams, and

 

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3 The court also notes that defendant Watson voluntarily filed a waiver of

service of summons on August 26, 2005. See Waiver of Service of Summons. In this

document, Watson noted that he would answer or motion under Rule 12 within sixty

days after the date on which the complaint and summons were sent, which was

August 5, 2005. Id. On October 5, 2005, Watson filed his motion to dismiss

pursuant to Rule 12. See Docket Sheet. This was sixty-one days after receiving the

summons and complaint. Although the court could theoretically have granted

Duncan’s motion for default judgment against Watson before Watson was dismissed

from the suit, that course of action would have served no purpose.

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Watson3 have been dismissed from this case. Second, service against defendant Foy

has been quashed, so no default judgment can be entered against him unless, after

proper service, he neglects to answer.

With respect to the final two defendants, Adams and Cox, the court notes that

neither of them has responded to any pleading in this action. In fact, Foy notes in his

response to Duncan’s motion for default judgment that “Adams has not even been

served with summons.” Defendant Richard J. Foy’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion

for Default Judgment, and Brief at 2. Upon investigation, the court discovered that,

due to insufficient addresses, neither Adams nor Cox has been served. See

Track/Confirm Intranet Item Inquiry (noting that items 7004 2890 0000 8448 8866

(to Adams) and 7004 2890 0000 8448 8859 (to Cox) were “undeliverable as

addressed”) attached to Summons in a Civil Action No. 3:05-CV-1555-G to Tom R.

Cox. If neither Adams nor Cox was served, any default judgment granted against

them would be void. 

 

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4 The court notes with some concern that the signature bearing Duncan’s

name on her motion for pretrial release is substantially different from the signatures

on all her other pleadings. See Motion for Pretrial Release at 2. The court chooses,

despite the discrepancies, to address the substance of the motion in this order but

cautions Duncan that she is required to personally sign her pleadings, motions, or

other papers filed in this case. See Rule 11(a), F.R. CIV. P. 

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For these reasons, Duncan’s motion for a default judgment against all

defendants is denied.

E. Duncan’s Motion for Pretrial Release

The remaining motion in this case is Duncan’s motion for pretrial release. 

According to this motion, Duncan is currently being held in the George Allen

Detention Center in Dallas, Texas. Motion for Pretrial Release at 1.4

 Duncan

requests that this court release her from this state detention center “to prepare a

proper defence.” Id. at 2.

Defendant Williams has responded to this motion, essentially stating that,

because Duncan has not exhausted her state remedies, this court has no jurisdiction

to grant any relief. Defendant Williams’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion for Pretrial

Release and Brief in Support at 1. The court agrees. Without any proof that Duncan

has either challenged her bond by filing a motion to reduce bond with the state

district court or filed a pre-conviction writ of habeas corpus challenging her bond, she

cannot seek redress in this court. See id. at 1-2 (citing Ex parte Hunt, 138 S.W.3d

503 (Tex. App.--Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref’d); Perry v. State, No. 14-99-01161-CR,

 

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1999 WL 1267196 (Tex. App.--Houston [14th Dist.] Dec. 30, 1999)). Duncan’s

motion for pretrial release is therefore denied.

III. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, Williams’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED;

Watson’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED; Foy’s motion to quash is GRANTED,

with leave for Duncan to re-serve Foy, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, and to file a return of service within 30 days of this date; Duncan’s

motion for default judgment is DENIED; and Duncan’s motion for pretrial release is

DENIED. Duncan is directed to provide the correct address for defendants Cox and

Adams so that they be properly served, in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. If Foy, Cox, and Adams are not served according to the federal rules, and

a return of service filed within 30 days of this date, all claims against these defendants

will be dismissed without further notice.

SO ORDERED.

January 5, 2006.

 

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