Opinion ID: 6984715
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Supplemental Issue

Text: Because of our lack of subject matter jurisdiction over this action, we do not proceed to the claim-for-relief question posed by the possible application to the District of Columbia of United States ex rel. Long v. SCS Business & Technical Inst., 173 F.3d 870 (D.C.Cir.) (holding that a state is not a “person” subject to suit under the FCA), supplemented by, 173 F.3d 890 (D.C.Cir.), petition for cert. filed, 68 U.S.L.W. 3116 (U.S.Dist.Col. Aug. 2, 1999) (No. 99-213). We had ordered additional briefing sua sponte on the relevance of Long, but now have no occasion to address that issue and express no opinion on its merits. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 118 S.Ct. 1003, 1012-16, 140 L.Ed.2d 210 (1998); United States ex rel. Kreindler & Kreindler v. United Technologies Corp., 985 F.2d 1148, 1155-56 (2d Cir.1993) (holding that court should consider 12(b)(1) jurisdictional challenges before 12(b)(6) challenges). 3