Court Opinion

ID: 183633
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-01-26 18:07:04+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:26:04.379792
License: Public Domain

ALD-083                                                         NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                ___________

                                     No. 10-2751
                                     ___________

                           UNULA BOO-SHAWN ABEBE,
                                                             Appellant
                                           v.

                          EMMANUEL OBUNDU ABEBE
                      ____________________________________

                   On Appeal from the United States District Court
                              for the District of New Jersey
                              (D.C. Civil No. 10-cv-00011)
                   District Judge: Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh
                     ____________________________________

        Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)
        or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                   January 6, 2011

            Before: SCIRICA, HARDIMAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges

                               (Filed: January 26, 2011)
                                       _________

                              OPINION OF THE COURT
                                    _________

PER CURIAM.

      Unula Boo-Shawn Abebe appeals the District Court’s order dismissing his

complaint. For the reasons below, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s

judgment.
       In his complaint dated December 2009, Abebe alleged that his father kidnapped

his older brother and took him to Africa over 24 years ago. He contended that this caused

Abebe and his mother emotional distress. He requested that criminal charges be brought

against his father and that his father be compelled to pay for Abebe’s brother to come to

the United States for a visit. The District Court dismissed the complaint before service.

Abebe filed a timely notice of appeal.

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The District Court concluded

that Abebe lacked standing to bring claims on behalf of his mother or brother. On appeal,

Abebe contends that he does not seek to sue on behalf of his mother or brother; rather, he

argues that he alleged that his father violated his constitutional rights. However, as

explained by the District Court, Abebe’s father, the only defendant, is not a state actor.

Thus, his father could not violate Abebe’s rights to due process and protection from cruel

and unusual punishment. We agree with the District Court that Abebe has no federal

right to require the government to initiate criminal proceedings against his father for

kidnapping. Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619 (1973). We also agree with

the District Court that Abebe’s claims of intentional or negligent infliction of emotional

distress are barred by the statute of limitations.

       Summary action is appropriate if there is no substantial question presented in the

appeal. See Third Circuit LAR 27.4. For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by

the District Court, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s order. See Third Circuit

I.O.P. 10.6.

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