Court Opinion

ID: 2747792
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-04 06:01:04.993368+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:25:26.515081
License: Public Domain

Case: 14-30247      Document: 00512823745         Page: 1    Date Filed: 11/03/2014

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                     FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                    No. 14-30247
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                         United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                                FILED
                                                                         November 3, 2014
BRANDON SCOTT LAVERGNE,
                                                                           Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk
                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

TIFFANY MICHELLE LEJUENE,

                                                 Defendant-Appellee

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Western District of Louisiana
                              USDC No. 6:13-CV-2196

Before REAVLEY, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
        Brandon Scott Lavergne, Louisiana prisoner # 424229, pled guilty to two
counts of first degree murder for the murders of Michaela Shunick and Lisa
Pate.       Thereafter, Lavergne filed a civil rights complaint against Tiffany
Michelle Lejuene. The district court treated Lavergne’s complaint as arising
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and dismissed his claims for failure to state a claim
because Lejuene was not a state actor and, in the alternative, as barred by

        *Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH
CIR. R. 47.5.4.
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                                  No. 14-30247

Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994).           Additionally, the district court
dismissed Lavergne’s Louisiana state law claims without prejudice.
      This court reviews a dismissal for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) de novo, applying the same standard that is used to review
a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Black v. Warren,
134 F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th Cir. 1998). Questions of federal jurisdiction are
likewise reviewed de novo. Davoodi v. Austin Indep. Sch. Dist., 755 F.3d 307,
309 (5th Cir. 2014).
      Lavergne’s motion for leave to file a supplemental brief is GRANTED.
In the briefs, Lavergne disavows any intent to file a Section 1983 complaint
against Lejuene. He contends that the district court had jurisdiction over his
claims of libel and slander because he satisfied the federal diversity
requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
      Under Section 1332, a district court has jurisdiction over civil matters
“where the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $75,000,
exclusive of interest and costs, and is between . . . citizens of different States.”
A federal diversity action requires complete diversity. See Stiftung v. Plains
Mktg., L.P., 603 F.3d 295, 297 (5th Cir. 2010). Both Lavergne and Lejuene are
citizens of Louisiana. Lavergne’s contention that, although Lejuene is a citizen
of Louisiana, she frequently resides in Texas and made the alleged false
statements in Texas does not support diversity jurisdiction. Lejuene’s periodic
stays in Texas are insufficient to establish a bona fide intention to change
residence. See Stine v. Moore, 213 F.2d 446, 448 (5th Cir. 1954). As complete
diversity was lacking, Lavergne has failed to show that the district court erred
in refusing to exercise jurisdiction over his libel and slander claims. See Phelan
v. Norville, 460 F. App’x 376 (5th Cir. 2012) (upholding the district court’s
decision not to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over claims of libel and

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                                 No. 14-30247

slander). In this same vein, the district court did not abuse its discretion in
denying his motions to amend his complaint because the amendments were
futile. See Leal v. McHugh, 731 F.3d 405, 417 (5th Cir. 2013). To the extent
Lavergne raises new claims on appeal, we do not address them. See Williams
v. Ballard, 466 F.3d 330, 335 (5th Cir. 2006).
      Lavergne’s motion to appoint counsel is DENIED, and the district court’s
judgment is AFFIRMED.

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