Court Opinion

ID: 625140
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-03-12 20:26:01+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:10.159661
License: Public Domain

ALD-123                                                    NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                             ___________

                                  No. 11-4632
                                  ___________

               MARC ANTWAIN X. RIVERS MUHAMMAD, SR.,
                                         Appellant
                                 v.

         YVETTE DAVIS; THE LUZERNE COUNTY DEPARTMENT
    OF PUBLIC WELFARE; THE LUZERNE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON
   PLEAS DOMESTIC RELATIONS SECTION; DONALD T. ROGERS, Esquire;
             MRS. PAULA DEJOSEPH, Esquire, Hearing Officer;
                  JOHN LEIGHTON, Conference Officer
                ____________________________________

                 On Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                         (D.C. Civil No. 3-11-cv-01292)
                  District Judge: Honorable A. Richard Caputo
                  ____________________________________

                     Submitted for Possible Summary Action
                Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                  March 1, 2012

              Before: SLOVITER, FISHER and WEIS, Circuit Judges

                         (Opinion filed: March 12, 2012)

                                   _________

                                   OPINION
                                   _________

PER CURIAM.
                                        1
       Marc Antwain X. Rivers Muhammad, Sr., appeals, pro se, the District Court’s

order dismissing his complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Because we

conclude that this appeal presents no substantial question, we will summarily affirm. See

3d Cir. LAR 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

                                             I.

       Plaintiff Marc Antwain X. Rivers Muhammad, Sr., had a son with defendant

Yvette Davis in February 2009. In June 2009, the Luzerne Court of Common Pleas

Domestic Relations Section ordered Muhammad to make monthly child support

payments. Muhammad challenged the order on constitutional grounds and was given a

new trial. The hearing officer adjusted his payments, but determined that his

constitutional claims were beyond her jurisdiction. The Superior Court denied his second

appeal. In July 2011, Muhammad filed a pro se complaint against Davis and the

remaining defendants. He claims, under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(2) and (3) and § 1983, that the

order that he pay child support to Davis violates his Fourteenth Amendment right to

privacy. He also asserts that the defendants used the administrative and judicial process

in furtherance of their conspiracy to deprive him of his rights.

       The Magistrate Judge reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1915(e)(2)(B), and recommended that it be dismissed. After considering Muhammad’s

objections, the District Court adopted the Report and Recommendation, including its

recommendation that leave to amend be denied for futility, and dismissed the case.

Muhammad filed a timely notice of appeal.
                                              2
                                               II.

       We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We exercise plenary review

over the District Court’s dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B). Allah v. Seiverling, 229 F.3d

220, 223 (3d Cir. 2000). Summary action is warranted if an appeal presents no

substantial question. 3d Cir. LAR 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

                                               III.

       As the District Court noted, to state a claim for conspiracy under 42 U.S.C. §

1985(2) or (3), Muhammad must allege that the conspirators intended to deny him equal

protection of the laws. See § 1985; see also Lake v. Arnold, 112 F.3d 682, 685 (3d Cir.

1997). Muhammad alleged in his complaint that the defendants conspired to deprive him

of equal protection of the laws by forcing him to pay child support in violation of his

right to privacy.

       The District Court correctly found there is no legal basis to extend the definition of

privacy in the way Muhammad seeks. Rather, the state’s interest in child welfare is

sufficiently compelling to overcome a claim challenging a support order on privacy

grounds. See N.E. v. Hedges, 391 F.3d 832, 836 (6th Cir. 2004). Accordingly, the child

support order is not unconstitutional, and Muhammad’s complaint does not allege a

deprivation of equal protection of the laws.

       Finally, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in

determining that it would be futile to allow Muhammad to file an amended complaint.

See Shane v. Fauver, 213 F.3d 113, 116 (3d Cir. 2000).
                                                3
                                            IV.

       Because the appeal does not present a substantial question, we will summarily

affirm the District Court’s order. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

                                             4