Court Opinion

ID: 9466010
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:02:52.383478+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:29.675053
License: Public Domain

WARRINER, District Judge,
dissenting:
The statute under which plaintiff seeks relief, 28 U.S.C. §.2409a 1 is perfectly suited to his complaint. It may be that for any number of reasons defendant United States will prevail in the suit, but on a motion to dismiss we must recognize that plaintiff alleges he is “the owner and seized in fee simple” of the real property in question. He alleges further that the United States “claims an interest in the said lands adverse to the plaintiff.” Finally, he alleges and shows how the claim of the United States constitutes a cloud on his title.
When Congress enacted the legislation permitting such suits it could not have envisioned more apt allegations than those set forth by plaintiff in the complaint. Yet the majority would affirm a dismissal because the United States obtained title by means of condemnation. I am unable to concur.
Within § 2409a(a) are listed eight distinct statutory exceptions to the general rule that the United States is subject to suit to remove a cloud on title.2 Had Congress intended to exempt from suit lands acquired for the United States by condemnation, a not uncommon means of acquisition, Congress would have listed the condemnation statute among the other exemptions. Congress did not do so, and I am unable to read the condemnation statute into the list by judicial interpretation.
*299The majority in holding that condemnation titles are exempt, seeks to refute plaintiff’s claim to the contrary by distinguishing United States v. Chatham, 323 F.2d 95 (4th Cir. 1963). Chatham was decided in 1963 while § 2409a was adopted in 1972. The limited rights a claimant had under Chatham are no longer of consequence. Congress, by enacting § 2409a, created a new cause of action. Pocono Pines Corp. v. Pennsylvania Game Comm’n., 464 Pa. 17, 345 A.2d 709, 712 (1975). Plaintiff’s rights now must be analyzed in light of the language of the statute. That the facts of Chatham are distinguished is of small moment when it is manifest that the allegations of the complaint fit the statute.
I believe the complaint cannot be dismissed on defendant’s motion and therefore I would reverse and remand for further proceedings.

. 28 U.S.C. § 2409a(a) reads in pertinent part: The United States may be named as a party defendant in a civil action under this section to adjudicate a disputed title to real property in which the United States claims an interest

. In addition to trust or restricted Indian lands, § 2409a(a) does not apply to or affect actions which may be brought under the following statutory provisions: 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) (claims against the U.S. for injury or loss of property caused by the negligent or wrongful act of a government employee); 28 U.S.C. § 1347 (civil action for partition commenced by a tenant in common or joint tenant when the U.S. is one of the tenants in common or joint tenants); 28 U.S.C. § 1491 (Court of Claims empowered to hear claims against the U.S.); 28 U.S.C. § 2410(a)(1) (U.S. may be named a party in a civil-action or suit to quiet title to real property on which the U.S. has a mortgage or other lien); l.R.C. § 7424 (U.S. may intervene to assert a lien on the property subject to a suit); l.R.C. § 7425(a)(1). (If U.S. is not joined as a party, a judgment with respect to property on which the U.S. has a lien shall be made without disturbing that lien); l.R.C. § 7426(a)(1) (Plaintiff claiming an interest in property subject to wrongful levy may bring action against U.S.); 43 U.S.C. § 666(a) (U.S. may be joined as defendant in suits for adjudication of water rights).