Opinion ID: 626472
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the district court err in dismissing ACS and FKI's claim against Judith Griffin?

Text: ACS and FKI argue that the district court erroneously dismissed their claim against Judith Griffin and abused its discretion in denying their motion for a default judgment against her, as she never filed an answer despite being properly served. Judith Griffin has never filed anything in the district court or this court. Despite Judith Griffin's failure to appear, a party cannot waive subject matter jurisdiction by its silence. Forsythe v. Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., 885 F.2d 285, 289 n. 6 (5th Cir.1989) (per curiam). We may affirm on any basis supported by the record, United States v. Taylor, 482 F.3d 315, 318 (5th Cir.2007), and we must review our own jurisdiction sua sponte. Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83, 94, 118 S.Ct. 1003, 140 L.Ed.2d 210 (1998). In doing so, we conclude that we lack subject matter jurisdiction over ACS and FKI's claims against Judith Griffin and, therefore, the district court's decision to dismiss the claim against Judith Griffin should be affirmed. The second element of Bombardier 's three-part test requires that the Plan seek to recover funds that belong in good conscience to the Plan. 354 F.3d at 356. ACS and FKI cannot show that the money in Judith Griffin's possession belongs in good conscience to the Plan, as the money awarded to Judith Griffin was not compensation for Larry Griffin's injury. The Order approving the settlement agreement awarded Judith Griffin $40,000.00 per the terms of the Decree of Divorce, which ordered that [she] receive $40,000.00 in regard to her claims for loss of consortium. In re Marriage of Larry Griffin & Judith Griffin, No.2007-1807-DR, Final Decree of Divorce (307th Dist.Tex. Dec. 3, 2007). Although a loss of consortium claim is derivative of the injured party's claim, it is a separate cause of action. McGovern v. Williams, 741 S.W.2d 373, 374 (Tex.1987). Absent a term in the Plan Agreement specifying that the Plan can seek reimbursement out of an award for loss of consortium or out of an award made separately to a beneficiary's spouse  as is the case here  the Plan cannot seek to recover from money awarded to a member's spouse for such claims. This money was compensation paid separately to Judith Griffin for the loss of her husband's society and companionship, not as compensation to Larry Griffin for his injury. Because there is no evidence that Judith Griffin was a party to the Plan Agreement, we hold that under these facts, the Plan cannot recover from Judith Griffin; therefore, we affirm the district court's decision to dismiss the claim for equitable relief against Judith Griffin. We find it unnecessary to address ACS and FKI's claim that the district court erred in denying their motion for a default judgment against her, since absence of jurisdiction altogether deprives a federal court of the power to adjudicate the rights of the parties. Gonzalez v. Crosby, 545 U.S. 524, 534, 125 S.Ct. 2641, 162 L.Ed.2d 480 (2005). [5] Because we affirm the district court's decision to dismiss ACS and FKI's claims against Larry Griffin, the Trust, the Trustee, and Judith Griffin, we find it unnecessary to address FKI and ACS's additional arguments. AFFIRMED.