Filed: Sep. 25, 1996
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Filed 9/25/96 TENTH CIRCUIT CHARLES D. KINKADE, Plaintiff, and DAVID NELSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. No. 95-1438 (D.C. No. 95-WY-2135-CB) BARRY SHARER, SERGEANT NOBIS, (D. Colo.) OFFICER JONES, OFFICER THOMPSON, OFFICER REEVES, JAMES L. WELSCH, BILL GOODMAN, officially and individually; ART KETTELL, officially; OFFICER TURNER, OFFICER WHITAKER, OFFICER GOODWIN, officially and individually; CITY OF BLOOMFIELD, purported and pretended and is being sued as a person; B
Summary: UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Filed 9/25/96 TENTH CIRCUIT CHARLES D. KINKADE, Plaintiff, and DAVID NELSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. No. 95-1438 (D.C. No. 95-WY-2135-CB) BARRY SHARER, SERGEANT NOBIS, (D. Colo.) OFFICER JONES, OFFICER THOMPSON, OFFICER REEVES, JAMES L. WELSCH, BILL GOODMAN, officially and individually; ART KETTELL, officially; OFFICER TURNER, OFFICER WHITAKER, OFFICER GOODWIN, officially and individually; CITY OF BLOOMFIELD, purported and pretended and is being sued as a person; BL..
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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 9/25/96
TENTH CIRCUIT
CHARLES D. KINKADE,
Plaintiff,
and
DAVID NELSON,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 95-1438
(D.C. No. 95-WY-2135-CB)
BARRY SHARER, SERGEANT NOBIS, (D. Colo.)
OFFICER JONES, OFFICER
THOMPSON, OFFICER REEVES,
JAMES L. WELSCH, BILL GOODMAN,
officially and individually; ART
KETTELL, officially; OFFICER
TURNER, OFFICER WHITAKER,
OFFICER GOODWIN, officially and
individually; CITY OF BLOOMFIELD,
purported and pretended and is being sued
as a person; BLOOMFIELD
MUNICIPAL COURT, being sued as a
person; BILLY F. HILLGARTNER,
ERVIN CHAVEZ, GORDON N.
CRANE, SHERRY L. GALLOWAY,
JOHN A. DEAN, JR., PAUL ONUSKA,
officially and individually; CURTIS
GURLEY, officially and individually, and
JOHN DOES 1 through 100,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
Before TACHA, BALDOCK, and BRISCOE, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. Therefore, the case is ordered
submitted without oral argument.
Plaintiff David Nelson, appearing pro se, appeals the dismissal of a civil action for
damages brought by Nelson and Charles Kinkade. Plaintiffs brought their action pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1332, and 28 U.S.C. § 2201. The numerous
claims alleged arise out of a drunk driving arrest of Kinkade and the related arrest of
Nelson in San Juan County, New Mexico. We affirm the district court's dismissal of this
action for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Defendants moved to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction and
improper venue. The district court found plaintiffs had failed to allege any facts
demonstrating jurisdiction over defendants, all of whom were residents of New Mexico,
and that none of the alleged acts took place in Colorado. The only relationship between
any aspect of the case and Colorado was that plaintiffs were Colorado residents at the
time the action was filed.
When contested, the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing that the court has
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the
citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under
the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
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personal jurisdiction over the defendant. See Wenz v. Memery Crystal,
55 F.3d 1503,
1505 (10th Cir. 1995). In the absence of an evidentiary hearing, a plaintiff need make
only a prima facie showing of jurisdiction, and the well-pleaded facts of the complaint
must be taken as true insofar as defendant's affidavits, if any, do not controvert them. On
appeal, we review the district court's decision de novo and consider only those written
submissions before the court when it rendered its decision.
Id. Thus, we must determine
whether the written submissions before the district court make a prima facie showing of
personal jurisdiction.
Nelson asserts no cognizable theory of personal jurisdiction. He alleges no actions
on the part of defendants which involved the state of Colorado, and he alleges no facts
under which the Colorado long-arm statute could confer jurisdiction. See Colo. Rev. Stat.
§ 13-1-124 (West Supp. 1995). Nelson presents no minimum contacts required by
constitutional due process before defendants can be made to answer in a court situated in
Colorado. See International Shoe Co. v. Washington,
326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945);
American Land Program v. Bonaventura Uitgevers Maatschappij,
710 F.2d 1449, 1452
(10th Cir. 1983). Nelson has made no prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction.
In light of our determination that Nelson has failed to invoke the jurisdiction of the
court, we need not consider the remaining issues raised on appeal.
AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.
Entered for the Court
Mary Beck Briscoe
Circuit Judge
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