Opinion ID: 4535513
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lack of State Action

Text: The district court also dismissed the claims against the bank, MERS, Castle, and Hopp for lack of state action under § 1983. To state a cause of action against private individuals under § 1983, the challenged conduct must be “fairly attributable to the state.” Scott v. Hern, 216 F.3d 897, 906 (10th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted). Ms. Silva relied strictly on these private defendants’ use of state processes to support her theory of state action, which is not enough for the conduct to be fairly attributable to the state. See id. (“A private individual does not engage in state action simply by availing herself of a state procedure.”). Likewise, Ms. Silva’s claim against defendant Duffy, a public trustee, fails because “the mere acquiescence of a state official in the actions of a private party is not sufficient” to state a § 1983 claim, Gallagher v. Neil Young Freedom Concert, 49 F.3d 1442, 1453 (10th Cir. 1995). Nor did Ms. Silva allege a plausible conspiracy claim under § 1983. “When a plaintiff in a § 1983 action attempts to assert the necessary state action by implicating state officials or judges in a conspiracy with private defendants, mere conclusory allegations with no supporting 8 factual averments are insufficient; the pleadings must specifically present facts tending to show agreement and concerted action.” Scott, 216 F.3d at 907 (internal quotation marks omitted). Ms. Silva alleged that Castle and Hopp engaged in a financial conspiracy by drafting legislation to amend Colorado’s foreclosure laws; the bank and the public trustee knew of this legislative effort to make the foreclosure process easier; MERS joined the conspiracy by assigning the deed of trust securing the property; and the state court judges participated in the conspiracy by presiding over the foreclosure proceedings. These conclusory allegations contain no facts from which we may infer an agreement among or between the alleged conspirators, or even concerted action among or between them to violate her constitutional rights. Accordingly, the district court correctly dismissed the § 1983 claims.5