Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150413_0000281.SCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-03-25 16:09:19
Document Index: 472541132

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1983', '§ 1331', '§ 1331', '§ 1332', '§ 1983', '§ 1983', '§ 1983']

| Fashion v. Pritzker
Fashion v. Pritzker
GINO FASHION, Plaintiff,v.PENNY PRITZKER, et al., Defendants.
The Court considers whether subject matter jurisdiction exists over this action.
This case arises from Plaintiff Gino Fashion's experience at a Hyatt hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Plaintiff used Travelocity to reserve a room at the Hyatt from November 26 to November 29, 2013. (Amended Complaint ("AC") ¶ 9.) During his stay there, Plaintiff used the hotel's paper copy machine. (AC ¶ 11.) Plaintiff expected the expense of the copy machine to be much less than it turned out to be. (AC ¶¶ 12-13.) Upon seeing the over $300 copy bill, Plaintiff told hotel staff that he would not pay it. (AC ¶ 14.) Some time later, on November 28, 2013, Plaintiff was escorted off of the premises by law enforcement. (AC ¶ 24.) Plaintiff claims he suffers from anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, among other mental illnesses, as a result of the incident. (AC ¶¶ 28-32.)
Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed an Amended Complaint, alleging breach of contract and violations of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff named the following six Defendants: (1) Hyatt Hotels Corporation ("HHC"); (2) Tom Pritzker; (3) Penny Pritzker; (4) Travelocity.com LP;[2] (5) Sabre GLBL, Inc.;[3] and (6) Tom Klein.
Tom Pritzker is the Executive Chairman of the Board of HHC. (Docket No. 35, Mot. 3.) Penny Pritzker is a shareholder of HHC and United States Secretary of Commerce. (Docket No. 33, Mot. 2-3.) Plaintiff sues Ms. Pritzker in "her professional Hyatt' role." (AC at 1.) Tom Klein is the Chief Executive Officer of Sabre GLBL, Inc. (Docket No. 32, Mot. 2.) Sabre GLBL, Inc. is the alleged parent company of Travelocity. (Docket No. 34, Mot. 2 n.2). Travelocity.com LP, or any other entity named "Travelocity, " is no longer affiliated with Sabre. (Id. )
Defendants separately[4] filed motions to dismiss for: (1) lack of subject matter jurisdiction; (2) lack of personal jurisdiction; (3) improper venue; (4) failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; and (5) Plaintiff's failure to comply with a court order. (Docket Nos. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.) In addition, Defendants HHC, Travelocity.com LP, and Sabre GLBL, Inc. also ask this Court to dismiss this action for insufficient service of process. (Docket Nos. 34, 36.) Plaintiff filed an Opposition addressing all of Defendants' motions. (Docket No. 40.)
"Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction." Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). Federal courts may hear cases that involve a federal question or are based in diversity. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332; see Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Servs., Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 552 (2005). Federal question jurisdiction exists if a case arises "under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Courts have diversity jurisdiction over civil actions between citizens of different states, where the amount in controversy exceeds $75, 000. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). "If the court determines at any time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action." Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3).
This Court does not have federal question jurisdiction over this matter. Plaintiff's Counts 3-13 are based upon 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which would ordinarily invoke federal question jurisdiction. However, to maintain a suit under section 1983, Plaintiff must allege that the violation of a federal right was committed by a person acting under color of state law. See Am. Mfrs. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 49-50 (1999). "[T]he under-color-of-state-law element of § 1983 excludes from its reach merely private conduct, no matter how discriminatory or wrongful.'" Id. at 50 (quoting Blum v. Yaretsky, 457 U.S. 991, 1002 (1982)). "A private party may be considered to have acted under color of state law when it engages in a conspiracy or acts in concert with state agents to deprive one's constitutional rights." Fonda v. Gray, 707 F.2d 435, 437 (9th Cir. 1983) (citations omitted). "To prove a conspiracy between private parties and the government under § 1983, an agreement or meeting of the minds' to violate constitutional rights must be shown." Id. at 438 (citations omitted). The mere furnishing of information to state actors does not constitute joint action under color of state law which renders a private citizen liable under section 1983. Benavidez v. Gunnell, 722 F.2d 615, 618 (10th Cir. 1983); Butler v. Goldblatt Bros., Inc., 589 F.2d 323, 327 (7th Cir. 1978).
Here, Plaintiff sues three private companies and three private individuals in their official capacities related to the named companies. Plaintiff makes conclusory allegations that Defendants acted under color of state law. Plaintiff claims Defendants conspired and acted in concert with police to violate his constitutional rights. But, Plaintiff presents no facts to support these allegations. Plaintiff does not claim that Defendants called the police. However, assuming Defendants did do so, their request for police assistance is insufficient to support a claim under section 1983. See Benavidez, 722 F.2d at 618; Butler, 589 F.2d at 327. Although courts must liberally construe pleadings filed by parties proceeding pro se, Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 & n.7 (9th Cir. 2010), courts must not "supply essential elements of claims that were not initially pled." Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).
It is apparent that Plaintiff cannot proceed with his claims under section 1983. The Court therefore does not have federal ...