Opinion ID: 884154
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: dphhs

Text: Further, although we need not do so in light of our determination that Blackburn's § 1983 claim against DPHHS is barred by the statute of limitation, we additionally note that, in any event, she has failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted as against DPHHS. Pursuant to the explicit terms of § 1983, a plaintiff may only bring a § 1983 claim against a person. In Will v. Michigan Dep't of State Police (1989), 491 U.S. 58, 71, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 2312, 105 L.Ed.2d 45, 58, the United States Supreme Court held that neither a state nor a state agency is a person within the meaning of § 1983. DPHHS is a state agency, and Blackburn's claim against it therefore fails as a matter of law. Based on the foregoing, we hold the District Court correctly concluded that Blackburn failed to allege a violation of her substantive rights and that each of her § 1983 claims, including those against Blue Mountain Clinic and its counselor, must fail as a matter of law. Based on the foregoing, we conclude that, as a matter of law, Blackburn has not stated a claim for which relief may be granted pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and we affirm the District Court's order dismissing each and every one of her civil rights claims.