Case Name: Peter HOFFMAN; Susan Hoffman, Plaintiffs-Appellees v. David BAILEY, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2016-09-01
Citations: 668 F. App'x 579
Docket Number: No. 16-30121 Summary Calendar
Parties: Peter HOFFMAN; Susan Hoffman, Plaintiffs-Appellees v. David BAILEY, Defendant-Appellant
Judges: Before JOLLY, SMITH, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 668
Pages: 579–580

Head Matter:
Peter HOFFMAN; Susan Hoffman, Plaintiffs-Appellees v. David BAILEY, Defendant-Appellant
No. 16-30121 Summary Calendar
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Date Filed: 09/01/2016
Peter M. Hoffman, Pro Se
Susan Hoffman, Pro Se
Barry Lee Goldin, Esq., Law Office of Barry L. Goldin, Daniel John Carr, Peiffer Rosca Wolf Abdullah Carr & Kane, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant-Appellant
Before JOLLY, SMITH, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Peter and Susan Hoffman filed suit against David Bailey, asserting claims for defamation under Louisiana law. Bailey filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The district court denied the motion and Bailey appealed. Hoffman filed a motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction because the district court's order is not final and appealable. Bailey argues that this court has appellate jurisdiction under the collateral order doctrine because the district court denied him immunity for reporting the fraudulent misconduct for which the Hoffmans have been criminally convicted. He claims that this "qualified privilege" or "qualified immunity" immunizes him from the defamation action as a matter of law. Alternatively, citing Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994), he contends that the collateral order doctrine applies on the ground that Hoffman's defamation claims impugn the validity of Hoffman's felony convictions for fraudulent tax credit applications as to which Bailey had given notice to Louisiana governmental authorities.
Bailey cites no authority holding that the denial of a motion to dismiss a complaint for defamation is appealable under the collateral order doctrine. This Court does not have appellate jurisdiction and the appeal is therefore DISMISSED.
Hoffman's motion for damages under Rule 38 is DENIED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.