JOHN D. BATES, District Judge.
Gregory English is a patient involuntarily committed at Saint Elizabeths, a public psychiatric institution. English alleges due process violations, as well as an array of state and common law claims that all stem from the hospital's allegedly unlawful withdrawal of $2150.00 from his patient account and its application toward the costs of his treatment. The claims are brought against the District of Columbia and several individuals, all named in their official capacities—Adrian Fenty, as mayor of D.C., Stephen Baron, Director of the D.C. Department of Mental Health ("DMH"), Michael Neff, Chief of Administrative Operations of DMH, Anne Weiss, Deputy Director of the Office of Accountability of DMH, Joyce Jeter, Fiscal Officer for DMH, Dr. Patrick Canavan, CEO of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Anthea Seymour, COO of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, and Walter Valliere, Chief Administrative Officer of Saint Elizabeths Hospital ("Defendants"). Defendants have moved to dismiss all the claims pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). For the reasons explained below, the motion to dismiss is granted.
English alleges the following facts. Saint Elizabeths is a public psychiatric institution run by the District of Columbia's Department of Mental Health ("DMH"). Compl. ¶ 1. The hospital was established in 1855 as a federal institution, but control over it was transferred to the District of Columbia in 1987. Id. ¶ 23. English was adjudged not guilty by reason of insanity, and has been involuntarily committed to Saint Elizabeths since 1982. Id. ¶¶ 11, 23. Patients who were housed in maximum security wards, which included English, were not permitted to hold personal funds. Instead, Saint Elizabeths established and managed accounts in order to allow patients to access funds for their personal use. English had maintained such a patient account since at least 1988. Patients could access the funds in their accounts by making a request to their assigned social worker, although the number and frequency of such requests, as well as the maximum allowable withdrawal amounts, were restricted by the hospital. Id. ¶¶ 19-20 & 22. For instance, English claims that patients were only allowed to withdraw funds once every two weeks in increments of $100 for on-ward use, $300 for off-site group visits, and $500 to be sent to a relative. He further alleges that the fulfillment of fund requests could take up to three weeks. Id. ¶ 22. Moreover, English states that no social worker had been located on his ward for at least a month. Id.
Sometime in 2004, English participated in "Stamps for a Living," an occupational therapy program run by Saint Elizabeths. As part of that program, English removed stamps from envelopes received by or donated to the hospital for later sale or distribution to collectors, and earned wages for his work. Id. ¶ 18. English earned around $6.55 an hour in 2008 and 2009. Id. ¶ 19. He deposited these wages into his patient account. By July 28, 2009, his account contained $2250.00. Id. ¶ 19. English alleges that, at all times, he believed that he was the only one who could remove funds from his account, and was never told that Saint Elizabeths could remove his funds without his permission. Id. ¶ 28.
English alleges that this was the first invoice he had received during his entire commitment at Saint Elizabeths. Id. ¶ 32. The invoice provided a phone number that English could call for any questions he had with respect to the bill. Id. Ex. 1. It also stated that English could submit a written appeal within seven days of receiving the bill, which English did by mailing a letter to the address provided two days after he received the bill. He did not receive a response. Id. ¶ 33. Subsequently, in early August 2009, Saint Elizabeths removed $2150.00 from English's account. English alleges that he was informed of this removal by his social worker. Id. ¶ 34.
English then challenged the removal of the funds through DMH's grievance process. On September 14, 2009, he filed a Form C—a Consumer's Form for Filing a Grievance. He described his grievance as relating to "get[ting] my money back & keeping it." Id. ¶ 35 & Ex. 3. On September 29, 2009, DMH responded through a Form D, which attached a September 15, 2009 letter from Walter Valliere, Chief Administrative Officer of DMH, determining that Saint Elizabeths properly took the funds to "extinguish [English's] debt," and stating that "D.C. law specifically requires that [English] pay for the costs of [his] care at Saint Elizabeths." Id. ¶ 36 & Ex. 4. English then requested an external hearing before an independent reviewer pursuant to D.C.Code § 7-1231.12(b) and D.C. Mun. Regs. 22-A § 300 et seq. That hearing was held on November 19, 2009, and included testimony by English, Valliere, and other witnesses, though English's social worker, who was listed as a "required attendee," did not appear. Id. ¶¶ 37-40. English testified that he did not read the Administrative Consent Form before signing it, but that his understanding—based on statements made by hospital staff—was that the form discussed the hospital's right to apply for Medicaid benefits on his behalf. Id. ¶ 47 & Ex. 5.
On November 27, 2009, the independent reviewer issued a non-binding Advisory Opinion concluding that English's grievance had some merit and that the hospital lacked clear policies and guidelines in administering the program of charging patients
On January 29, 2010, English filed a Notice of Claim pursuant to D.C.Code § 12-309 with the District of Columbia's Office of Risk Management stating English's intent to file a claim against the District and DMH. Id. ¶ 53. English then filed his complaint in this Court on September 8, 2010 against the District of Columbia and several individuals, all named in their official capacities—Adrian Fenty, as mayor of D.C., Stephen Baron, Director of DMH, Michael Neff, Chief of Administrative Operations of DMH, Anne Weiss, Deputy Director of the Office of Accountability of DMH, Joyce Jeter, Fiscal Officer for DMH, Dr. Patrick Canavan, CEO of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Anthea Seymour, COO of Saint Elizabeths Hospital, and Walter Valliere, Chief Administrative Officer of Saint Elizabeths Hospital.
The complaint asserts nine counts against the defendants: (1) deprivation of English's right to property without due process in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments; (2) breach of fiduciary duty; (3) violation of the trust or bailment relationship; (4) violation of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act ("DCAPA"), D.C.Code § 2-510; (5) violation of D.C. debtor laws; (6) unlawful pre-judgment garnishment of wages; (7) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (8) conversion; and (9) declaratory relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201. Defendants subsequently moved to dismiss all counts and English has opposed the motion. On June 30, 2011, the Court held oral argument on the pending motion to dismiss.
All that the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require of a complaint is that it contain "`a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,' in order to `give the defendant fair notice of what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.'" Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)); accord Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007) (per curiam). Although "detailed factual allegations" are not necessary to withstand a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, to provide the "grounds" of "entitle[ment] to relief," a plaintiff must furnish "more than labels and conclusions" or "a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555-56, 127 S.Ct. 1955; see also Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986). "To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955);
The notice pleading rules are not meant to impose a great burden on a plaintiff. Dura Pharm., Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 347, 125 S.Ct. 1627, 161 L.Ed.2d 577 (2005); see also Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512-13, 122 S.Ct. 992, 152 L.Ed.2d 1 (2002). When the sufficiency of a complaint is challenged by a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the plaintiff's factual allegations must be presumed true and should be liberally construed in his or her favor. Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics & Coordination Unit, 507 U.S. 163, 164, 113 S.Ct. 1160, 122 L.Ed.2d 517 (1993); Phillips v. Bureau of Prisons, 591 F.2d 966, 968 (D.C.Cir.1979); see also Erickson, 551 U.S. at 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555-56, 127 S.Ct. 1955). The plaintiff must be given every favorable inference that may be drawn from the allegations of fact. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974); Sparrow v. United Air Lines, Inc., 216 F.3d 1111, 1113 (D.C.Cir.2000). However, "the court need not accept inferences drawn by plaintiffs if such inferences are unsupported by the facts set out in the complaint." Kowal v. MCI Commc'ns Corp., 16 F.3d 1271, 1276 (D.C.Cir.1994). Nor does the court accept "a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation," or "naked assertions [of unlawful misconduct] devoid of further factual enhancement." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949-50 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Aktieselskabet AF 21. November 2001 v. Fame Jeans Inc., 525 F.3d 8, 17 n. 4 (D.C.Cir.2008) (explaining that the court has "never accepted legal conclusions cast in the form of factual allegations").
In considering a motion to dismiss, the Court considers "the facts alleged in the complaint, any documents either attached to or incorporated by reference in the complaint, matters of which the court may take judicial notice, and matters of public record." Felder v. Johanns, 595 F.Supp.2d 46, 58-59 (D.D.C.2009) (citing EEOC v. St. Francis Xavier Parochial Sch., 117 F.3d 621, 624 (D.C.Cir.1997)). Defendants urge this Court to dismiss all of English's claims, but the gravamen of the parties' arguments focus on English's claim that defendants violated his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983—specifically, English asserts that defendants unlawfully withdrew $2150.00 from his account, depriving him of this property without due process of law in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
As a threshold matter, defendants argue that English's claims should be dismissed because they have not been exhausted. They claim that English "had an available pre-deprivation appeal process, but does not plead or assert that he availed himself of that process." Mot. to Dismiss at 19. Instead, defendants suggest that English only alleged that he "attempted to challenge the bill" through the appeals process, but did not successfully do so. Id. (emphasis added).
There is no general requirement that a plaintiff alleging a section 1983 claim must exhaust his available administrative remedies before seeking relief in federal court. See, e.g., Dist. Properties Assocs. v. Dist. of Columbia, 743 F.2d 21, 27 n. 3 (D.C.Cir.1984) (stating that exhaustion of administrative remedies is inapplicable in § 1983 cases). However, defendants argue that an exception to this principle applies when the rights sought to be vindicated are procedural due process rights, and suggest that administrative exhaustion is required whenever procedural due process rights are at issue. See Mot. to Dismiss at 18-19. In support of this contention, defendants rely on Johnson v. Dist. of Columbia, 368 F.Supp.2d 30, 36 (D.D.C.2005), and Hoey v. Dist. of Columbia, 540 F.Supp.2d 218 (D.D.C.2008).
However, defendants' reliance on such cases is unavailing. Both Johnson and Hoey involved procedural due process claims brought by District of Columbia employees whose employment-based claims were subject to the procedures provided by the Comprehensive Merit Protection Act (CMPA), an established administrative framework employees are required to utilize in order to seek relief. See Johnson, 368 F.Supp.2d at 44 ("If the CMPA provides a remedy for such claims, then exhaustion is required."); Hoey, 540 F.Supp.2d at 227, 229 (dismissing § 1983 claim because the CMPA provided a remedy for plaintiff's claim that he was deprived of his constitutionally-protected property interest in his employment at the rank of Commander without due process); see also Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Am. v. Weinberger, 795 F.2d 90, 104 (D.C.Cir.1986) ("[T]he policy of exhaustion `is particularly viable where an established scheme of decision making might be undermined by permitting circumvention of administrative procedures.'") (citing Wallace
Here, although D.C. law does provide for a post-deprivation grievance procedure for consumers of mental health services from providers such as Saint Elizabeths, see Pl.'s Opp'n. at 19-20, that law specifically states that the grievance process is not the exclusive means by which consumers can obtain relief. See D.C. Mun. Regs. 22-A § 304.3 ("Consumers are not required to utilize the Grievance Procedure. Consumers may pursue other legal, administrative, or informal relief in lieu of or concurrently with filing a grievance."); see also Randolph-Sheppard, 795 F.2d at 104. In any event, English's complaint states that he did submit a written appeal, and even though the hospital claims to have no record of it, this allegation must be accepted as true. See Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949 (internal citation omitted). English also availed himself of the voluntary grievance procedures provided for under D.C. law, as well as the external review procedures. See Compl. ¶¶ 35, 37; D.C.Code § 7-1231.12(b); D.C. Mun. Regs. 22-A § 300 et. seq.
The Court now considers English's constitutional claim, which is predicated upon an alleged deprivation of English's property without due process of law. In order to state a procedural due process claim, English must allege a deprivation of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. See U.S. Const. amend. V. The "fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard `at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.'" Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976) (internal citation omitted); see also Propert v. Dist. of Columbia, 948 F.2d 1327, 1331 (D.C.Cir. 1991) (stating the three basic elements to a procedural due process claim as (1) a deprivation, (2) of life, liberty, or property, (3) without due process of law). However, due process is not a concept that is "unrelated to time, place and circumstances" but instead is "flexible and calls for such procedural protections as the particular situation demands." Mathews, 424 U.S. at 334, 96 S.Ct. 893.
Hence, the form of notice and hearing required in a given circumstance requires a balancing of the competing public and private interests involved. Propert, 948 F.2d at 1332. In assessing what kind of process is due, a court considers three factors as enumerated by the Supreme Court in Mathews: 1) the nature of the private interest that will be affected by the official action, 2) the risk of erroneous deprivation of such an interest through the procedures used, and (3) the government's interest, including any burdens that additional
Although the parties spend a substantial amount of time in their briefings discussing the Mathews factors, they agree that English was entitled to some process before the funds were taken out of his account, and that a post-deprivation (as opposed to a pre-deprivation) hearing was sufficient for due process purposes. See Tr. 18:8-10, 45:15-24. In addition, the parties do not disagree that the District was entitled to assess and recoup its costs from English for his treatment. See Pl.'s Opp'n at 22. Nevertheless, the Court considers what process English was due, and whether the process he alleges he received was constitutionally sufficient.
With respect to the first factor under Mathews, defendants acknowledge that English has a property right in the funds. See Compl. ¶ 55; Tr. 9:7, 23:25.
Tr. 45:15-24.
Moreover, although English suggests in his opposition to defendants' motion to dismiss that he should have received a pre-deprivation evidentiary hearing, at the
Under the second Mathews factor, the risk of erroneous deprivation, defendants claim that because English had the ability to challenge the accuracy of the bill, the risk of error was minimalized; additionally, defendants argue that there is little risk of error because Saint Elizabeths was required by statute to charge English for the costs of his care. Mot. to Dismiss at 13; see also D.C.Code § 24-501(f)(1).
Finally, with respect to the third Mathews factor, defendants claim that the District's
As courts have acknowledged, although due process does require that the Government provide notice and some kind of opportunity to be heard before final deprivation of a property interest, see Propert, 948 F.2d at 1331 (citing Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 433, 102 S.Ct. 1148, 71 L.Ed.2d 265 (1982)), the nature of that notice and hearing is flexible. In considering all the Mathews factors together, the Court agrees that English was entitled to some pre-deprivation notice, and to an opportunity to contest the seizure of his funds at some form of a post-deprivation hearing. However, the Court stops short of concluding that in balancing these factors a full blown evidentiary hearing was required. "[I]n having his `grievance heard and redressed' ... plaintiff is not entitled to perfect procedure or the procedures of his choice." Bagenstose v. Dist. of Columbia, 503 F.Supp.2d 247, 257 (D.D.C.2007). In any event, it appears that English received a hearing in which he was entitled to request documents, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and present his grievance before an independent reviewer. Accordingly, in considering the nature of the property interest, the risk of erroneous deprivation, and the government's interest weighed against English's interest, the Court concludes that a post-deprivation hearing is sufficient to satisfy constitutional due process.
English concedes that no pre-deprivation hearing was required; instead, he complains that the process he did receive was not "meaningful" process under Mathews. He attacks both the sufficiency of the notice and the meaningfulness of his opportunity to be heard with respect to the alleged deprivation. Specifically, English claims that because the notice was unclear, it was not reasonably calculated to give him actual notice that the funds would be removed from his account. He also claims that because his initial appeal was not received by the hospital, because certain documents and witnesses were not produced during his external review hearing, and because of DMH's delay in transmitting the independent reviewer's findings and the delay of DMH's own response to the external reviewer's recommendations, his opportunity to be heard was constitutionally infirm. See Compl. ¶¶ 30-33, 46-47, 57; Tr. 26:13-15.
But even taking all of English's factual allegations as true, and viewing his complaint in the light most favorable to him, the Court concludes that English nonetheless has failed to state a procedural due process claim. While English asserts that the notice he received was inadequate to provide actual notice, he nevertheless admits that after receiving the invoice, he followed the procedures listed on it advising him that he had seven days in which to challenge the invoice, and he concedes that he did, in fact, avail himself of this appeals process—even though Saint Elizabeths ultimately claims it did not receive his appeal. Compl. ¶¶ 35-41;
Moreover, English availed himself of the post-deprivation procedures that were available. See Chang, 604 F.Supp.2d at 63-64 (dismissing procedural due process claim because "[t]he allegations in plaintiff's complaint show that she received notice... and the opportunity to be heard through a multi-level appeals process"). In Tillman v. Lebanon County Correctional Facility, 221 F.3d 410, 413, 422 (3d Cir.2000), the court found that post-deprivation hearings were constitutionally sufficient where inmates were assessed a $10 per day fee for housing costs incurred while incarcerated.
Similarly here, English alleges that he availed himself of the grievance program. Compl. ¶ 35 ("Mr. English challenged the taking of his funds through DMH's grievance process."). He alleges that he "described his grievance as relating to this `patient account' and requested to `get my money back & keeping [sic] it." Id. He then received a response two weeks later from the Chief Administrative Officer of DMH. Id. ¶ 36. Moreover, he requested and received an external review where he was able to interview and cross-examine witnesses, introduce and examine evidence, and receive a written opinion—albeit, a
Hence, English has not plausibly stated a procedural due process claim, since his own factual allegations confirm that he received all the process he was due.
In addition, English has not plausibly alleged that the state remedies afforded to him either pursuant to the DCAPA or under the voluntary grievance procedures pursuant to D.C.Code § 7-1231.12(b) and D.C. Mun. Regs. 22-A § 300 et. seq., were, on their face, deficient or otherwise inadequate to remedy his claim; indeed, he acknowledged that he could have sought relief pursuant to the DCAPA, but that he attempted to seek relief on his constitutional claim in a federal forum instead. Tr. 39:11-13; see also Medina, 517 F.Supp.2d at 285 ("Plaintiff still has avenues of relief open to him in the D.C. Court of Appeals through a ... DCAPA proceeding. These procedures afforded plaintiff all the process he was due under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth
The Court is certainly mindful of and sympathetic to English's circumstances. To be sure, Saint Elizabeths' missteps and failure to respond to English's grievance in a more timely manner exacerbated the situation. And while the notice English received was constitutionally sufficient, it certainly could have been clearer, and Saint Elizabeths could have provided for a longer period for English to respond than the seven days afforded him. However, "[a]lthough the procedure provided was not as extensive as plaintiff would have liked," due process only requires that English receive sufficient notice and an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and manner. See Am. Towers, Inc., 146 F.Supp.2d at 33.
English also brings an action for declaratory relief pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201. He seeks a declaration "adjudging null and void any policies, procedures, practices, or acts by which Saint Elizabeths patient accounts are depleted without notice and a hearing." Compl. ¶ 113.
To issue declaratory relief, the court must determine "whether the facts alleged, under all the circumstances, show that there is a substantial controversy, between parties having adverse legal interests, of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of a declaratory judgment." Gibson v. Liberty Mut. Group, Inc., 778 F.Supp.2d 75, 78 (D.D.C.2011) (citing Maryland Cas. Co. v. Pacific Coal & Oil Co., 312 U.S. 270, 273, 61 S.Ct. 510, 85 L.Ed. 826 (1941)). "In a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction ... any court of the United States, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought. Any such declaration shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and shall be reviewable as such." 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). The Declaratory Judgment Act gives the district courts "unique and substantial discretion in deciding whether to declare the rights of litigants." Wilton v. Seven Falls Co., 515 U.S. 277, 286, 115 S.Ct. 2137, 132 L.Ed.2d 214 (1995); see also Larry Flynt & L.F.P., Inc. v. Rumsfeld, 355 F.3d 697, 701, 705 (D.C.Cir.2004). "[T]he propriety of declaratory relief in a particular case will depend upon a circumspect sense of its fitness informed by the teachings and experience concerning the functions and extent of federal judicial power." Public Serv. Comm'n of Utah v. Wycoff Co., 344 U.S. 237, 241, 73 S.Ct. 236, 97 L.Ed. 291 (1952).
Because the Court has concluded that English has failed to state a due process claim, the Court finds that he is not entitled to declaratory relief for this claim. See Hatfill v. Ashcroft, 404 F.Supp.2d 104, 121 (D.D.C.2005) ("Having concluded that [plaintiff] has failed to state claims upon which relief can be granted, he is not entitled to any relief—including injunctive and declaratory—on these claims."). In any event, although English has raised the possibility that Saint Elizabeths could seize funds from his patient account in the future and apply them to his treatment costs, English has not plausibly stated a claim that his procedural due process rights are imminently endangered. See Curry v. Bank of Am. Home Loans Servicing, Civ. Action No. 10-1651, 802 F.Supp.2d 105, 109-10, 2011 WL 3489306, at *4 (D.D.C. Aug. 10, 2011) ("Courts may not make wide-ranging declarations about the relative rights of parties; instead, `the question in each case is whether the facts alleged, under all the circumstances, show that there is a substantial controversy, between parties having adverse legal interests, of sufficient immediacy and reality to
"When the federal law claims on which a court's jurisdiction is based have been dismissed, the court has discretion in deciding whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims." Terrell v. Dist. of Columbia, 703 F.Supp.2d 17, 23 (D.D.C.2010). However, the Court bears in mind that once all federal law claims have been dismissed prior to trial, factors such as "judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity—will point toward declining to exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims." Shekoyan v. Sibley Int'l, 409 F.3d 414, 424 (D.C.Cir.2005) (internal quotations omitted); see also Holland v. Freeman United Coal Mining Co., 574 F.Supp.2d 116, 135-36 (D.D.C.2008) (concluding "that the balance of factors favors declining jurisdiction of the state law agency claim"). Here, English alleges only two counts of federal law claims, which have been dismissed by the Court; the remaining claims—breach of fiduciary duty, violation of the trust or bailment relationship, violation of the DCAPA, violation of DC debtor laws, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and conversion, are all claims governed by District of Columbia law. These claims would require the Court to consider and resolve questions of DC law—a task that this Court concludes is best left to the District of Columbia courts absent any federal claims.
Additionally, it is not even certain whether this Court could exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the DCAPA claim. See Lightfoot, 448 F.3d at 399 (stating that "DCAPA's judicial review provision placed exclusive jurisdiction in the D.C. Court of Appeals to review District agency action"); see also Fair Care Found. v. Dist. of Columbia Dep't of Ins. & Sec. Reg., 716 A.2d 987, 997 (D.C.1998) (stating that "one of the key purposes of [DCAPA] was to reform and systemize the channels of judicial review of administrative actions."). Although the Lightfoot court nevertheless remanded to the district court to "reconsider" its exercise of supplemental jurisdiction, it strongly suggested that the district court should decline to do so.
At the very least, these concerns must be factored into the Court's determination that considerations of judicial economy and convenience would not be served by retaining jurisdiction over the state law claims, and English has not provided the Court with any compelling reason for the Court to consider such claims. Because the Court has concluded that English's federal law claims should be dismissed, it declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over English's state law claims.
For the reasons stated above, the Court dismisses Counts one (1) and nine (9) for failing to state a claim, and declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the