Opinion ID: 884154
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Under Color of State Law

Text: To properly state a claim for relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Blackburn must additionally allege that any deprivation of a federal right was proximately caused by a defendant who was exercising some right or privilege created by the State, by a rule of conduct imposed by the State, or by a person for whom the State is responsible. Lugar, 457 U.S. at 937, 102 S.Ct. at 2753. Blackburn must allege facts to demonstrate Blue Mountain Clinic was a state actor. Review of the record indicates Blackburn has failed to do so. She alleges no facts that would sufficiently show Blue Mountain Clinic, or its employees, were state actors, acted under color of state law, or acted in concert with state officials in counseling and treating her.
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.