Opinion ID: 557202
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Proceedings Leading to the Dismissal of the Complaint

Text: 11 In December 1989, defendants moved alternatively (1) for dismissal of the complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted, (2) for a more definite statement pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a), or (3) for summary judgment. In support of their Rule 8(a) and 12(b)(6) motions, defendants argued that Branum had failed to specify the alleged acts of wrongdoing on the part of each defendant. In support of their motion for summary judgment, they argued (1) that exhibits 8 and 9 to the complaint overwhelmingly suggest that plaintiff was offered an opportunity for a hearing before his dismissal, and indicate that it was he who refused to pursue these remedies because he did not like the arrangements; (2) that Branum was let ... go for academic reasons, and his allegations of racial discrimination were not factually supported; (3) that Branum had failed to identify any acts of defendants indicating bad faith, and (4) that Branum has made no factual showing even as to the racial minority of which he is supposedly a member. 12 Branum requested and received an extension of time to oppose the motions or to prepare an amended complaint. In March 1990, he received another extension due to the death of his father. Pursuant to the latter request, the hearing on defendants' motion to dismiss was adjourned to April 27, 1990. 13 On April 17, however, the district court changed the date for the hearing, advancing it to April 20. Not having a telephone number for Branum, the court sent him notice of the changed date by certified mail. It is undisputed that Branum did not receive the notice until April 21. He had been away earlier in the month and had returned home on April 17; but he had failed to check his mailbox until April 21. Accordingly, he did not receive notice of the changed date of the hearing until after the hearing had been held. He had not submitted any opposition to defendants' motions. 14 At the April 20 hearing, the district court stated that notice of the changed hearing date had been mailed to Branum by certified mail with a return receipt requested, and that nothing has come back, indicating that the letter was properly delivered to the plaintiff. (April 20, 1990 Transcript at 3.) The court proceeded to describe the complaint briefly as one that appeared to assert some sort of a property or liberty interest in continuing on in the doctoral program and states that [Branum] believes that he wasn't afforded due process in connection with the interest he is attempting to assert he had in the continuation of his education. (Id. at 4.) The court stated that it would shortly issue a decision dismissing the complaint, possibly disposing of the matter pursuant to Rule 56. 15 In a Memorandum-Decision and Order dated April 20, 1990, 1990 WL 49294 the court again construed Branum's complaint solely as one for lack of procedural due process: 16 sifting through plaintiff's papers, the court discerns what appears to be a claim that plaintiff was denied continuation in the doctoral program without due process of law, i.e., that he was not accorded a fair hearing prior to his dematriculation in violation of the 14th amendment. 17 The court found this claim insufficient on the grounds (1) that a graduate student has no property interest in continuing in the doctoral program beyond the semester for which he has paid tuition, (2) that the grievance procedures adopted by the SUNYBinghamton mathematics department are not State law, and (3) that the court believe[d] that plaintiff was afforded all the process that was due him, stating that the record shows, based upon exhibits 8 and 9 submitted by plaintiff, that a grievance committee was formed thereby affording plaintiff the opportunity to present his case. The court concluded that the complaint should be dismissed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) and 56. Judgment was entered dismissing the case the same day. 18