Filed: Aug. 10, 2020
Latest Update: Aug. 10, 2020
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 10, 2020 _ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court ALAN HEADMAN, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 20-4035 (D.C. No. 2:19-CV-00592-DB) ROYAL I. HANSEN, (D. Utah) Defendant - Appellee, and JOANNA SAGERS; MATTHEW B. DURRANT; THOMAS REX LEE; CONSTANTINOS HIMONAS; JOHN A. PIERCE; PAIGE PETERSEN, Consolidated Defendants - Appellees. _ ORDER AND JUDGMENT * _ Before BRISCOE, BALDOCK, and CARSON, Cir
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 10, 2020 _ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court ALAN HEADMAN, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 20-4035 (D.C. No. 2:19-CV-00592-DB) ROYAL I. HANSEN, (D. Utah) Defendant - Appellee, and JOANNA SAGERS; MATTHEW B. DURRANT; THOMAS REX LEE; CONSTANTINOS HIMONAS; JOHN A. PIERCE; PAIGE PETERSEN, Consolidated Defendants - Appellees. _ ORDER AND JUDGMENT * _ Before BRISCOE, BALDOCK, and CARSON, Circ..
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FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT August 10, 2020
_________________________________
Christopher M. Wolpert
Clerk of Court
ALAN HEADMAN,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v. No. 20-4035
(D.C. No. 2:19-CV-00592-DB)
ROYAL I. HANSEN, (D. Utah)
Defendant - Appellee,
and
JOANNA SAGERS; MATTHEW B.
DURRANT; THOMAS REX LEE;
CONSTANTINOS HIMONAS; JOHN A.
PIERCE; PAIGE PETERSEN,
Consolidated Defendants -
Appellees.
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
_________________________________
Before BRISCOE, BALDOCK, and CARSON, Circuit Judges. **
_________________________________
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law
of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Plaintiff - Appellant Alan Headman filed three § 1983 actions in the United
States District Court for the District of Utah: one against Judge Royal I. Hansen, the
state court trial judge who presided over his divorce case; a second against
Commissioner Joanna Sagers, who made recommendations to the court regarding
alimony and other matters; and a third against all five justices of the Utah Supreme
Court. The claims in each of the actions stemmed from Plaintiff’s divorce proceedings
in state court. The district court consolidated the actions, and thereafter, Defendants
filed motions to dismiss. The district court granted the motions, concluding four
separate grounds supported dismissal: (1) lack of jurisdiction under the Rooker-
Feldman doctrine; (2) Younger abstention barred the relief Plaintiff sought; (3)
Defendants are entitled to judicial immunity; and (4) Plaintiff failed to state a plausible
claim for relief under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8. The district court therefore
dismissed the consolidated action with prejudice.
Plaintiff now appeals the final judgment, asserting the district court erred in
dismissing his claims. But Plaintiff fails to present any legally or factually adequate
basis for reversal. In a well-reasoned order, the district court competently explained
why Plaintiff’s allegations—even under a liberal interpretation—fail to support any
viable legal claim for relief. For the purpose of resolving this appeal, we have
thoroughly reviewed the district court record, Plaintiff’s appellate brief, and
Defendants’ response brief. We discern no reversible error. Where the district court
accurately analyzes an issue, we see no useful purpose in writing at length. Therefore,
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exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we AFFIRM for substantially the same
reasons set forth in the district court’s order dismissing Plaintiff’s complaint.
Entered for the Court
Bobby R. Baldock
Circuit Judge
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