Opinion ID: 381285
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Claim Against the Federal Defendants

Text: 17 Judge Gasch dismissed the Bivens claim against the federal defendants on the ground that the count is precisely the same as a count pending in a related case (Zerilli v. Civiletti, Civ. No. 77-0546 (D.D.C. filed Mar. 28, 1977)) between the same parties before this Court. Zerilli v. Detroit News, Civ. No. 78-0766, at 4 (D.D.C. Jan. 25, 1979) (memorandum and order) (hereinafter cited as District Court Memorandum), reprinted in Joint Appendix (J.A.) at 12, 15. Judge Gasch did not err in dismissing this claim, for a plaintiff has no right to maintain two separate actions involving the same subject matter at the same time in the same court and against the same defendant. Walton v. Eaton Corp., 563 F.2d 66, 70 (3d Cir. 1977) (en banc). See also Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority v. Ragonese, 617 F.2d 828 (D.C.Cir. 1980).