Court Opinion

ID: 2673437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-10 03:14:59.919694+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:51.419668
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

N0. 13-97lC

(Filed: January l0, 2014)

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* JAN '@ 2014
STEVEN E. EDWARDS, * U_S_ CO
=1< FEDEHAL%RLQOF
Piainurf, * ""S
*
v. *
*
THE UNITED STATES, *
*
Defendant. *
*

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ORDER OF DISl\/IISSAL

On December 9, 20l3, pro se Plaintiff Steven E. Edwards filed suit in this Court
against the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, a district court
judge, two federal prosecutors, and his defense counsel. On December 11, 2013, Mr.

Edwards filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 19l5(a), the Court may authorize the commencement and
prosecution of a civil action without prepayment of fees and costs by a person who, by
affidavit, demonstrates that he is unable to pay such costs. Mr. Edwards has supplied the
Court with an executed, standard-form application to proceed in forma pauperis.
Accordingly, Mr. Edwards’ application is hereby GRANTED. However, for the reasons
set forth below, his complaint must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

Subject matter jurisdiction is defined as a court’s authority to hear and decide the
case before it. Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env’t, 523 U.S. 83, 89 (l998). Thus, the
existence of subject matter jurisdiction must first be established before a court can
consider the merits of a complaint. I_d. at 94-95. In addition, every court has the duty to
inquire into its authority to hear a case, regardless of whether the issue has been raised by

the parties. Special Devices, Inc. v. OEA, Inc., 269 F.3d l340, 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2001);
Miller v. U.S. Postal Serv., 231 Ct. Cl. 804, 809 (1982). "If` the court determines at any

time that it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action." Rules of
the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ("RCFC") l2(h)(3).

The subject matter of this case is Mr. Edwards’ conviction by plea agreement in
the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina for mail fraud, theft of
health care funds, and attempt to evade and defeat federal taxes. §e_e United States. v.
Edwards, No. l:05CR265-l (M.D.N.C. June 26, 2006). Specifically, Mr. Edwards
argues that his "sentencing was done illegally" and objects to his forfeiture of property,
payment of restitution, and sentencing enhancements. Compl. 2. As relief he requests
that this Court "enforce the contract that was not done under good faith." Compl. l.

These claims cannot be prosecuted in this forum, as "the Supreme Court has made
clear that claims for breach of plea agreements and other agreements unique to the
criminal justice system should be brought in the courts in which they were negotiated and
executed." Sanders v. United States, 252 F.3d 1329, 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (citing
Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257 (l97l)). In fact, Mr. Edwards has already
unsuccessfully challenged his sentence in the proper courts. In the district court, he filed
both a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence and a § 2244
motion for leave to file a second or successive habeas petition. In the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, he filed a notice of appeal. Mr. Edwards’ lack of success
in making those challenges does not entitle him to another opportunity here. Finally,
even if Plaintiff could state a viable claim, this Court lacks the authority to hear claims
against individual Government officials. Brown v. United States, 105 F.3d 621, 624

(Fed. Cir. 1997)(¢11;111,<; 28 U.s.c. § 1491(@1)).

For the reasons set forth above, this Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the
merits of Mr. Edwards’ complaint. Accordingly, this action is hereby DISMISSED

without prejudice. _
zant c @i?»!l

THOMAS C. WHEELER
Judge

IT lS SO ORDERED.