Court Opinion

ID: 4089703
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-14 17:00:38.223536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:25.835562
License: Public Domain

CLD-416                                                         NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                       No. 15-4002
                                       ___________

                                  DAVID S. JOHNSON,
                                                 Appellant
                                          v.

               ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS;
                    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
                 THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    ____________________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Pennsylvania
                           (W.D. Pa. Civ. No. 2:15-cv-00713)
                       District Judge: Honorable Nora B. Fischer
                      ____________________________________

                        Submitted for Possible Summary Action
                  Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                 September 22, 2016
              Before: FISHER, JORDAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges

                            (Opinion filed: October 14, 2016)
                                       _________

                                        OPINION*
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
       David Johnson appeals from an order of the District Court dismissing his civil

rights action against the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (the “ACCCP”) and

the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “WDPA”).

Johnson’s complaint charged each of those courts with having previously misconstrued

certain of his applications for post-conviction relief, to such a degree that Johnson

suffered constitutional injury. He requested approximately $1.5 million in damages.

       Pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), Johnson’s complaint was

screened by the Magistrate Judge. She recommended that the action be dismissed

because both the ACCCP and the WDPA are absolutely immune from suits, like

Johnson’s, seeking monetary relief. Johnson filed objections, primarily arguing—in

contradiction of the caption to his complaint—that he had sued particular judges of the

ACCCP and the WCPA, not the courts themselves. The District Court overruled

Johnson’s objections, adopted the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation, and dismissed

Johnson’s complaint—without leave to amend—under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii)

(providing that “the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that

the action or appeal seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such

relief.”). 1 Johnson timely appealed.

1
  Johnson was incarcerated at the time he filed the complaint below, but was released a
few months later. The PLRA applied below notwithstanding Johnson’s post-suit release.
See Ahmed v. Dragovich, 297 F.3d 201, 210 (3d Cir. 2002); see also Harris v. City of
New York, 607 F.3d 18, 24 (2d Cir. 2010). We note that, according to his filings in this
Court, Johnson appears to have been re-incarcerated during the pendency of his appeal.
                                              2
       We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. A district court is permitted to

dismiss an action under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii), sua sponte, where it is clear on the face of

the complaint that the defendant is immune from suit. See Walker v. Thompson, 288
F.3d 1005, 1010 (7th Cir. 2002) (explaining that “[a]ppropriate caution in [exercising the

authority to dismiss under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii)] is assured by the requirement that the

validity of the defense be both apparent from the complaint itself, and unmistakable, so

that the suit is fairly describable as frivolous.”). Whether a defendant is entitled to

absolute immunity is a question of law that requires de novo review. See Figueroa v.

Blackburn, 208 F.3d 435, 439 (3d Cir. 2000).

       On appeal, the WDPA has moved for summary affirmance pursuant to Third

Circuit L.A.R. 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6, arguing that the District Court properly dismissed

Johnson’s suit for the reasons given in the Magistrate Judge’s report. We may summarily

affirm the judgment of a district court on motion of a party, or sua sponte. See id.2 We

may do so if the appeal presents no substantial question. Furthermore, we may affirm on

any ground supported by the record. Tourscher v. McCullough, 184 F.3d 236, 240 (3d

Cir. 1999).

       Insofar as Johnson sued the ACCCP and WDPA for money damages, those

entities were entitled to immunity from suit. See FDIC v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475

(1994); P.R. Aqueduct and Sewer Auth. v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 144

2
 On August 29, 2016, the Clerk notified the parties that the Court would “consider the
possibility of summary action as to all appellees.” All parties were invited to respond to
                                              3
(1993); Haybarger v. Lawrence Cty. Adult Prob. & Parole, 551 F.3d 193, 198 (3d Cir.

2008). Insofar as Johnson instead meant to sue particular judges of those courts based on

rulings adverse to Johnson, those judges, too, would be immune from suit. See Mireles v.

Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 11 (1991) (per curiam); Briscoe v. LaHue, 460 U.S. 325, 334 (1983).

Either way, Johnson’s suit was plainly barred on immunity grounds, and the District

Court thus properly dismissed his complaint under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii). Leave to amend

would have been futile given the aforementioned immunity defenses. See Grayson v.

Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 108 (3d Cir. 2002). Therefore, we will grant the

WDPA’s motion and summarily affirm the judgment of the District Court as to all

defendant-appellees. Johnson’s motion “for a speedy response to his appeal” is denied as

moot.

the Clerk’s notice; none did within the 21 days allotted.
                                             4