Opinion ID: 2351666
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Federal Court Proceedings

Text: On August 7, 1998, petitioner first filed suit, based on the same facts and cause of action as the case sub judice, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. While petitioner's original complaint in the federal court action contained six counts, all but the count concerning WMATA's alleged violation of the FMLA were voluntarily dismissed by petitioner. The federal district court granted summary judgment on the remaining FMLA count in favor of WMATA, but allowed the suit to continue as against the named defendant supervisors in their individual capacities. On appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the federal appellate court affirmed the dismissal of WMATA but reversed with respect to the individual defendant supervisors, ordering that the supervisors be dismissed from the suit as well. Lizzi v. Alexander, 255 F.3d at 138. The Fourth Circuit stated that [b]ecause sovereign immunity extends to WMATA, and because the claims against the WMATA employees are in reality claims against the agency itself, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with directions to dismiss the action. Id. at 130. Petitioner thereafter petitioned for a rehearing/rehearing en banc, both of which were denied by the Fourth Circuit on July 17, 2001. On January 7, 2002, the United States Supreme Court denied petitioner's Petition for Writ of Certiorari. Lizzi v. WMATA, 534 U.S. 1081, 122 S.Ct. 812, 151 L.Ed.2d 697, reh'g denied, 535 U.S. 952, 122 S.Ct. 1352, 152 L.Ed.2d 254 (2002).