Opinion ID: 1983886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: esd's counterclaim

Text: ESD counterclaimed against the Council pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Section 2825 deprives ESD of its First Amendment rights. The Court of Chancery dismissed ESD's counterclaim for lack of ripeness. A dismissal based upon pleadings is subject to de novo review. Desert Equities v. Morgan Stanley Lever. Equity Fund, Del.Supr., 624 A.2d 1199, 1204 (1993). To support a Section 1983 claim, ESD must show that the Council has taken action under color of law that deprives it of a constitutional right. Gomez v. Toledo, 446 U.S. 635, 640, 100 S.Ct. 1920, 1923-24, 64 L.Ed.2d 572 (1980). The Council has merely sought a judicial determination and requested injunctive relief. This Court's opinion holds that Section 2825 does not apply to ESD on the record below. Thus, ESD may not face any permissible opposition from the Council to the use of its name on this record. The counterclaim by ESD against the Council therefore is moot. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the order of the Court of Chancery dismissing the counterclaim.