G.R. v. SMITH, 1:15CV67 SNLJ. (2015)
Court: District Court, E.D. Missouri
Number: infdco20150623b28
Visitors: 17
Filed: Jun. 22, 2015
Latest Update: Jun. 22, 2015
Summary: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, Jr. , District Judge . This matter is before the Court on defendant Brandon Smith's motion to dismiss. The motion has been fully briefed and the matter is ripe for disposition. Defendant Smith seeks dismissal under the Eleventh Amendment of the claim in count I against him in his official capacity. Since plaintiff sued defendant Smith in his individual and official capacities, Smith argues that the claim must be dismissed against him in his offici
Summary: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, Jr. , District Judge . This matter is before the Court on defendant Brandon Smith's motion to dismiss. The motion has been fully briefed and the matter is ripe for disposition. Defendant Smith seeks dismissal under the Eleventh Amendment of the claim in count I against him in his official capacity. Since plaintiff sued defendant Smith in his individual and official capacities, Smith argues that the claim must be dismissed against him in his officia..
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, Jr., District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on defendant Brandon Smith's motion to dismiss. The motion has been fully briefed and the matter is ripe for disposition.
Defendant Smith seeks dismissal under the Eleventh Amendment of the claim in count I against him in his official capacity. Since plaintiff sued defendant Smith in his individual and official capacities, Smith argues that the claim must be dismissed against him in his official capacity because plaintiff is seeking an award of monetary damages. "Defendant is correct in his argument." Brown v. Hancock, 4:10CV2045, 2011 WL 4528459, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 29, 2011). "A suit against a state actor in his official capacity is `tantamount to a lawsuit against the state.'" Id. (citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165-66 (1985)). "The Eleventh Amendment immunizes the states from suit, thus, neither a state nor its officials acting in their official capacities are `persons' under § 1983 when sued for damages." Id. (citing Will v. Michigan Dept. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 70-71 (1989)). Plaintiff's claim against defendant Smith in his official capacity must be dismissed.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defendant Brandon Smith's motion to dismiss the claim in count I against him in his official capacity (ECF # 7) is GRANTED.
Source: Leagle
