Opinion ID: 72165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Independent Federal Appellate Review--ADA.

Text: 19 Without citing any authority, Dale argues that the ADA provides an independent source of federal court jurisdiction. In response, the state contends that the ADA provides no such exception to the application of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Defendant Moore contends that whether the Rooker-Feldman doctrine applies to civil actions filed under the ADA is academic as it pertains to him, because this court has held that the ADA does not provide for individual liability, only for employer liability. See Mason v. Stallings, 82 F.3d 1007, 1009 (11th Cir.1996) ([T]he Disabilities Act does not provide for individual liability, only for employer liability.). 20 An exception to the Rooker-Feldman doctrine exists where a federal statute authorizes federal appellate review of final state court decisions. See, e.g., Young v. Murphy, 90 F.3d 1225, 1230 (7th Cir.1996). For example, Congress has authorized federal district courts to review state court decisions in habeas corpus proceedings. See id.; see also Sumner v. Mata, 449 U.S. 539, 543-44, 101 S.Ct. 764, 767, 66 L.Ed.2d 722 (1981). 21 There have been relatively few cases involving bar applicants who filed civil actions under the ADA relating to bar admission procedures and decisions. These cases, however, have uniformly held that the ADA does not provide an independent source of federal court jurisdiction that overrides the application of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. See Johnson, 888 F.Supp. at 1080 (Subjecting public entities to the terms of the ADA is not the same as giving federal district courts appellate jurisdiction over state court judgments.); McCready v. Michigan State Bar Standing Comm. on Character and Fitness, 926 F.Supp. 618, 620 (W.D.Mich.1995) (plaintiff alleged that defendants might discriminate against him by conducting a hearing on his fitness and considering evidence of his alcoholism and personality disorders; court dismissed plaintiff's amended complaint, holding that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred all claims arising from the ADA), aff'd, 100 F.3d 957 (6th Cir.1996) (Table). We agree with these cases that the ADA does not authorize federal appellate review of final state court decisions. 22 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court's judgment of dismissal. 23 AFFIRMED.