Court Opinion

ID: 2659039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-01 05:29:34.362309+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:01:18.323158
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-30667      Document: 00512579292         Page: 1    Date Filed: 03/31/2014

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                             United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                      Fifth Circuit

                                                                                    FILED
                                      No. 13-30667                             March 31, 2014
                                                                               Lyle W. Cayce
IVAN WEBB,                                                                          Clerk

                                                 Plaintiff–Appellant

v.

TOWN OF ST. JOSEPH; EDWARD L. BROWN,

                                                 Defendants–Appellees

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Louisiana
                             USDC No. 3:12-CV-2644

Before REAVLEY, PRADO, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       In this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action, Plaintiff–Appellant Ivan Webb appeals
the district court’s dismissal of his state and federal constitutional claims as
barred under the doctrine of res judicata. For the reasons below, we vacate
and remand.
           I.     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       The following facts are drawn from Webb’s allegations and available
state court decisions. Webb’s father owned a tract of land in St. Joseph,

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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. 13-30667
Louisiana. In November 2006, Webb successfully petitioned the St. Joseph
Board of Aldermen (“the Board”) for a permit to place a mobile home on his
father’s property. He subsequently sought permission to place more mobile
homes on the property, which request the Board denied. Without permission,
Webb placed a second mobile home on the property.
      On February 7, 2007, the Town of St. Joseph (“St. Joseph” or “the Town”)
issued Webb a ticket alleging a violation of Section 19-13 of the Town’s
ordinances, which states in pertinent part that “no building or other structure
shall be built or constructed in the Town of St. Joseph without there being
obtained a permit from the Mayor and Board authorizing or approving the
construction of such building or other structure.” The Town executed a sworn
complaint, and a trial took place before the Mayor’s Court of the Town of St.
Joseph on October 25, 2007. In a written judgment, the Mayor’s Court found
that the defendant violated the ordinance and that the sanction for the
violation was $100 for every day the trailer remained on the property.
      Webb appealed the decision of the Mayor’s Court to the state district
court. A judge of the Sixth Judicial District Court of Louisiana conducted a
trial de novo, finding that Webb had violated the ordinance and rendering
judgment against Webb in the amount of $58,200. That amount represented
a $100 fine for each of the 582 days between February 14, 2007, and September
18, 2008, the date on which trial before the state district court began. Webb
appealed the judgment to the state appellate court, but his appeal was
dismissed due to Webb’s failure to pay fees for his appeal.
      The Town proceeded to execute the judgment against Webb. The Town
seized Webb’s entire salary as a member of the the Board, from his election in

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October 2010 until October 2012. The Town also secured a writ of fieri facias
from the Sixth Judicial District Court, which authorized the Town to seize and
sell two lots in St. Joseph belonging to Webb.
       In December 2010, Webb filed a Motion to Annul Judgment and Stay
Proceedings in the Sixth Judicial District Court of Louisiana. He alleged that
the judgment was an absolute nullity because it exceeded the court’s
jurisdictional limits: the action originated in the Mayor’s Court, and the
Mayor’s Court can issue no more than a $500 fine. The Sixth Judicial District
Court denied the motion, but in March 2012, the Second Circuit Court of
Appeal reversed the district court, annulling the judgment and reducing
Webb’s fine to $100. Town of St. Joseph v. Webb, 46,923, p. 1 (La. App. 2 Cir.
3/14/12); 87 So. 3d 958, 959, reh’g denied (Apr. 5, 2012), writ denied, 2012-1029
(La. 6/22/12); 91 So. 3d 976.
       The Second Circuit held that the district court’s fine was illegal based on
the charging instrument, which gave notice for only one offense. Id. at 962–
63.    Citing a state appellate court case ruling on a matter of Louisiana
constitutional law, the court stated, “Constitutional due process requires that
a defendant being prosecuted in a mayor’s court be afforded reasonable notice
of the charge against him.” Id. (citation omitted). The court further found that
the case was a criminal proceeding, and, as such, it could amend the illegal
sentence at any time. Id. at 963.
       Webb alleges that the Town continued to enforce the now-illegal
sentence, retained the proceeds that resulted from the sale of one of Webb’s
properties seized by the Town pursuant to the writ of fieri facias, and withheld

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Webb’s salary until October 2012, in contravention of the Second Circuit’s
decision.
      In October 2012, Webb filed the present suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983,
seeking damages for the alleged violation of his federal and state constitutional
rights by the Town and by the Town’s Mayor Edward Brown (together,
“Defendants”). Webb’s original complaint alleged (1) a violation of due process
under the Fourteenth Amendment and Article I, Section 2 of the Louisiana
Constitution and (2) a violation of his right to be free from involuntary
servitude under the Thirteenth Amendment and Louisiana Constitution,
Article I, Section 3. Webb’s complaint alleged that he had argued in his motion
to annul that he had been “deprived of due process of law” and that the Second
Circuit had found that his fine was a “violation of the due process clauses of
the Fourteenth Amendment . . .              and the [Louisiana Constitution].”
Defendants filed a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6).    Webb filed an amended complaint removing his
allegations regarding the Thirteenth Amendment and adding a claim for
violations of his Eighth Amendment right to be free from excessive fines.
      The Defendants filed a supplemental motion to dismiss, arguing that
Webb’s new Eighth Amendment claims failed to allege facts on which relief
could be granted and were barred under the doctrine of res judicata.            In
particular, Defendants contended that the Second Circuit’s adjudication of
Webb’s motion to annul should preclude Webb’s federal claims.              Webb’s
memorandum in opposition to the motion to dismiss argued that the Second
Circuit’s decision had settled the issue that there was a constitutional violation
and therefore should be given issue-preclusive effect under the doctrine of

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collateral estoppel. Furthermore, Webb argued that the Defendants had not
met their burden of proof in establishing the presence of all of the necessary
elements for the application of claim preclusion. In particular, Webb argued
that the parties were not identical for purpose of establishing res judicata
because they were appearing in different capacities. Finally, Webb argued that
claim preclusion could not be applied to his civil claim before the federal
district court when—as the Second Circuit had found—the prior proceeding
was criminal.
      The district court granted the Defendants’ motion to dismiss on the
ground that Webb’s claims were barred by the doctrine of res judicata or claim
preclusion. The district court determined that the Second Circuit’s ruling
amending Webb’s judgment satisfied all four prerequisites for the application
of claim preclusion: (1) the parties in the prior action were identical; (2) the
judgment was made by a court of competent jurisdiction; (3) the prior action
concluded with a final judgment on the merits; and (4) the same claims or cause
of action were involved.
      Webb timely appealed.
                              II. DISCUSSION
      Webb seeks review of a final judgment of the district court. Accordingly,
this Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The district court
had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
      “The res judicata effect of a prior judgment is a question of law that this
court reviews de novo.” Test Masters Educ. Servs., Inc. v. Singh, 428 F.3d 559,
571 (5th Cir. 2005). We also review de novo a district court’s dismissal under

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                                       No. 13-30667
Rule 12(b)(6). 1 In re Katrina Canal Breaches Litig., 495 F.3d 191, 205 (5th Cir.
2007).
       Claim preclusion, or res judicata, bars the litigation of claims that either
have been litigated or should have been raised in an earlier suit. Test Masters,
428 F.3d at 571. 2 In determining the preclusive effect of an earlier state court
judgment, federal courts apply the preclusion law of the state that rendered
the judgment. Weaver v. Tex. Capital Bank N.A., 660 F.3d 900, 906 (5th Cir.
2011) (citing Marrese v. Am. Acad. of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 470 U.S. 373, 380
(1985)); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1738. As the judgment at issue is from a Louisiana
state court, Louisiana preclusion law applies. Under Louisiana law, based on
Louisiana Revised Statutes § 13:4231, there are five prerequisites for the
application of res judicata:
       (1) the judgment is valid; (2) the judgment is final; (3) the parties
       are the same; (4) the cause or causes of action asserted in the
       second suit existed at the time of final judgment in the first
       litigation; and (5) the cause or causes of action asserted in the
       second suit arose out of the transaction or occurrence that was the
       subject matter of the first litigation.
Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. State, 07-2469, p. 10 (La. 9/08/08); 993 So. 2d 187, 194
(quoting Burguieres v. Pollingue, 02-1385, p. 7 (La. 2/25/03); 843 So. 2d 1049,

       1  Although the district court does not state explicitly that it is dismissing the suit
under Rule 12(b)(6) in either its memorandum opinion or judgment, we construe the
dismissal as one under 12(b)(6). See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
        2 “The rule of res judicata encompasses two separate but linked preclusive doctrines:

(1) true res judicata or claim preclusion and (2) collateral estoppel or issue preclusion.” Test
Masters, 428 F.3d at 571 (citation omitted). This case only concerns “true” res judicata.

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1053); but see Sosebee v. Steadfast Ins., 701 F.3d 1012, 1026 (5th Cir. 2012)
(listing four elements).
       The doctrine of res judicata is stricti juris; that is, any doubt concerning
application of the principle of res judicata must be resolved against its
application. Kelty v. Brumfield, 93-1142, p. _ (La. 2/25/94); 633 So. 2d 1210,
1215; see also St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co. v. Williamson, 224 F.3d 425, 437 (5th
Cir. 2000) (“Any doubt as to compliance with the requirements of res judicata
is to be resolved in favor of maintaining the second action.” (citation omitted)).
Further, “the party urging res judicata has the burden of proving each
essential element by a preponderance of the evidence.” St. Paul Mercury, 224
F.3d at 437 (citing Greer v. State, 616 So. 2d 811, 815 (La. Ct. App. 1993)); see
also Kelty, 633 So. 2d at 1215 (“The doctrine of res judicata cannot be invoked
unless all its essential elements are present.”).
       Based on the record before us, we hold that there is insufficient evidence
that the state court judgment satisfies the fourth element. 3                     Because
Defendants have not met their burden of proving each element by a
preponderance, we vacate and remand.
       The fourth element requires proof that the cause or causes of action
asserted in the second suit existed at the time of final judgment in the first
litigation. A “cause” is “the juridical or material fact which is the basis for the
right claimed or the defense pleaded” and “may be likened to grounds, theory

       3We make no judgment on whether any of the other elements could be established by
a preponderance. We only hold that the record before us cannot establish at least the fourth
element.

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                                        No. 13-30667
of recovery, or the principle upon which a specific demand is grounded.” St.
Paul Mercury, 224 F.3d at 437 (citations omitted).
         It is not clear that the causes that Webb asserts in his current lawsuit
“existed” at the time of the state court’s judgment in Webb’s motion to annul.
Instead of conducting this analysis, the district court echoed the Defendants’
summary assertion that “the same claims that plaintiff asserted in the
previous matter (that the fine was improper and/or illegal) are the same claims
he asserts in this case.” In fact, the district court had scant evidence before it,
because, in ruling on a motion to dismiss, the court could only consider the
parties’ pleadings—here, Webb’s amended complaint. 4 See Fed. R. Civ. P.
12(d).
         Even taking judicial notice of the state appellate court decision at issue,
we do not find sufficient information to determine whether that prior decision
should preclude the present lawsuit.               The state appellate court decision
contains some language referring to what “constitutional due process”
requires. See Webb, 87 So. 3d at 962–63. However, this statement does not
necessarily mean that federal constitutional claims could have been or were

         Indeed, it is not clear that the district court was even correct to consider Defendants’
         4

res judicata defense in the motion to dismiss. As this Court has previously noted, “[g]enerally
a res judicata contention cannot be brought in a motion to dismiss; it must be pleaded as an
affirmative defense.” Test Masters, 428 F.3d at 570 n.2 (citing 5 Charles Alan Wright &
Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1357 (3d ed. 2002)). Yet, “if the trial court
has treated the 12(b)(6) motion [based on res judicata] as one for summary judgment, its
dismissal under 12(b)(6) is not reversible error.” Moch v. E. Baton Rouge Parish Sch., 548
F.2d 594, 596 n.3 (5th Cir. 1977) (citing Larter & Sons, Inc. v. Dinkler Hotels Co., 199 F.2d
854, 855 (5th Cir.1952)). Nevertheless, in at least one case, a Fifth Circuit panel affirmed a
dismissal based on res judicata grounds. Dean v. Teeuwissen, 479 F. App’x 629, 631 (5th Cir.
2012) (per curiam) (unpublished), cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 548 (2012).

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asserted in this prior case. The opinion cites a case discussing due process
under state constitutional law. See id. (citing City of Kenner v. Marquis, 98-
418 (La. App. 5th Cir. 6/4/98), 715 So. 2d 85, writ denied, 98–1806 (La.
10/16/98), 726 So. 2d 907. Nor is it clear that all of Webb’s claims “existed” at
the time of the state appellate decision.       To the contrary, Webb alleges
violations of his rights based on conduct that necessarily occurred after the
appellate decision. See Burguieres, 843 So. 2d at 1056 (“[P]laintiffs’ claims
against the [defendants] for breach of their fiduciary duties while they acted
as trustee, curator, and undercurator did not arise until the will was declared
null and the judgment of the court of appeal affirming the trial court's
judgment of nullity became final.”). For example, Webb alleges that the Town
continued to enforce the illegal sentence, retained the proceeds that resulted
from the sale of one of Webb’s properties seized by the Town pursuant to the
writ of fieri facias, and withheld Webb’s salary until October 2012. These
grounds for recovery could not exist until the Second Circuit had already
declared the judgment illegal.
      Therefore, we hold that the Defendants have failed to meet the strict
burden of establishing each element of the defense of res judicata, and the
district court improperly dismissed the suit on that basis. See Chevron, 993
So. 2d at 197 (finding reversible error when “[n]othing in the record addresse[d]
the existence of a cause of action.”); Hugel v. Se. La. Flood Prot. Auth.-E., 429
F. App’x 364, 368–69 (5th Cir. 2011) (“On this limited record, we do not find
sufficient information to determine whether [appellant’s] takings claim
‘existed’ at the time of final judgment in Adams; or whether, as [appellant]
argues, the claim came to ‘exist’ with the commencement of [appellant’s post-

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judgment] lease.”). We remand to allow the district court to further consider
the preclusive effect of the state court judgment in light of the principles stated
here.
                              III. CONCLUSION
        For these reasons, we VACATE and REMAND the district court’s
dismissal on res judicata grounds.

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