Opinion ID: 3021406
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: This matter comes on before the court on appeal by plaintiff Deanna Turner from an order of the district court entered March 22, 2005, granting summary judgment in favor of Crawford Square Apartments III, L.P. (“Crawford Square”) and McCormack Baron Management Services, Inc. (“McCormack Baron”) (sometimes together called “defendants”). The district court concluded that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred Turner’s complaint alleging violations of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the “Fair Housing Act” or “FHA”). On appeal, we first consider whether the district court erred in concluding that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred Turner’s action, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s recent opinion in Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 125 S.Ct. 1517 (2005), decided after the district court decided this case. As we shall explain, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine in certain limited circumstances deprives a district court of jurisdiction following a state-court adjudication in a related case. In Exxon Mobil the Court clarified the scope of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine and made clear that courts have applied it beyond its appropriate boundaries. If we conclude that application of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not bar Turner’s action, we then must determine whether application of 2 principles of res judicata bars this action.1 For the reasons set forth below, we find that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine is not applicable in this case, but we will affirm the grant of summary judgment on res judicata grounds.