Filed: Jul. 11, 2018
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: Case: 17-20466 Document: 00514550001 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/11/2018 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED No. 17-20466 July 11, 2018 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk COLLINS O. NYABWA, Plaintiff-Appellant v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellee Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 4:16-CV-783 Before JOLLY, OWEN, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Collins
Summary: Case: 17-20466 Document: 00514550001 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/11/2018 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED No. 17-20466 July 11, 2018 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk COLLINS O. NYABWA, Plaintiff-Appellant v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellee Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 4:16-CV-783 Before JOLLY, OWEN, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Collins ..
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Case: 17-20466 Document: 00514550001 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/11/2018
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
No. 17-20466 July 11, 2018
Summary Calendar
Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
COLLINS O. NYABWA,
Plaintiff-Appellant
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant-Appellee
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 4:16-CV-783
Before JOLLY, OWEN, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
Collins O. Nyabwa appeals from the district court’s dismissal with
prejudice of his Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) complaint, in which he alleged
that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials wrongfully
investigated and detained him based on his three prior Texas convictions for
improper photography, which were subsequently vacated. We review de novo
the district court’s dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH
CIR. R. 47.5.4.
Case: 17-20466 Document: 00514550001 Page: 2 Date Filed: 07/11/2018
No. 17-20466
12(b)(1). United States v. Renda Marine, Inc.,
667 F.3d 651, 655 (5th Cir.
2012). As the party asserting jurisdiction, Nyabwa had the burden of proof for
purposes of the Rule 12(b)(1) motion. See Ramming v. United States,
281 F.3d
158, 161 (5th Cir. 2001).
The FTCA is a limited waiver of the Government’s sovereign immunity
and permits suits against it for certain tort claims “in the same manner and to
the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 2674. However, there are certain exceptions set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2680
that block the FTCA’s waiver of the Government’s sovereign immunity. See
Tsolmon v. United States,
841 F.3d 378, 382 (5th Cir. 2016). Because waiver
of sovereign immunity is strictly construed, any uncertainty is decided in favor
of the Government. See
id.
To the extent that Nyabwa alleged that ICE officials committed a tort in
violation of his federal constitutional rights, the FTCA does not provide a cause
of action for such a claim. See F.D.I.C. v. Meyer,
510 U.S. 471, 477-78 (1994).
As held by the district court, it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the
remainder of Nyabwa’s claims pursuant to the due care and discretionary
function exceptions, set forth in § 2680(a). See
Tsolmon, 841 F.3d at 382-83;
Lively v. United States,
870 F.2d 296, 297 (5th Cir. 1989). Moreover, the
district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Nyabwa’s discovery
requests, especially in light of the greater burden applicable to a party
attempting to prevent application of an immunity bar. See Davila v. United
States,
713 F.3d 248, 264 (5th Cir. 2013); Freeman v. United States,
556 F.3d
326, 341-42 (5th Cir. 2009). Accordingly, the district court’s dismissal of
Nyabwa’s FTCA complaint is AFFIRMED.
Although this appeal is not frivolous overall, Nyabwa has included in
this complaint and appeal many of the same arguments and claims that have
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Case: 17-20466 Document: 00514550001 Page: 3 Date Filed: 07/11/2018
No. 17-20466
already been dismissed as frivolous in various other contexts by the district
courts and this court. Nyabwa is CAUTIONED that future frivolous,
repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings will result in the imposition of
sanctions, including dismissal, monetary sanctions, and restrictions on his
ability to file pleadings in this court or any court subject to this court’s
jurisdiction. He should review any pending appeals and actions and move to
dismiss any that are frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive.
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