KATHLEEN KAY, Magistrate Judge.
Before the court is a Motion to Limit Ad Damnum Clause filed by the United States of America ("U.S."). Doc. 8. The motion is unopposed. For the following reasons, the motion is GRANTED.
Plaintiffs, James Franklin and his wife Frances Franklin, on their own behalf and on behalf of their three minor children, filed suit on November 17, 2014 against the U.S. under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Doc. 1. Plaintiffs claim to have suffered damages arising out of an automobile accident involving military personnel that occurred on Fort Polk, Louisiana. Id. In their complaint they seek an award for property damage, medical expenses, general damages, and loss of consortium. Id. The prayer for relief, paragraph 25 of the complaint, reads in part as follows:
Doc. 1, p. 7.
Prior to filing suit in this court, in order to initiate the administrative proceeding and in accordance with the Federal Tort Claims Act, plaintiffs James and Frances Franklin presented their claims on a Standard Form 95 ("SF-95") to the Claims Office of the Army Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Polk, Louisiana. On his SF-95 James Franklin described his various injuries and asked for the sum of $500,000.00 in damages for his personal injuries. He did not assert any claim for loss of consortium on behalf of any of his minor children. Doc. 8, att. 2, p. 3. On her SF-95 Frances Franklin made a claim for property damages and rental fees totaling $6,504.83. She did not assert a claim for personal injuries on her behalf or a loss of consortium claim for any of her minor children. Doc. 8, att. 2, p. 5. Neither James nor Frances Franklin amended their SF-95 at any time prior to the final agency action. Doc. 8, att. 2, p. 1(affidavit of Craig N. Jenkins, Chief, Claims Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana).
In its motion before the court the U.S. argues that plaintiffs' ad damnum clause in their complaint should be limited to the quantum of damages demanded in their administrative claim. As previously stated, plaintiffs have not opposed this motion.
To establish jurisdiction under the Federal Tort Claims Act a plaintiff must first exhaust his administrative remedies by notifying the appropriate agency in writing within two years after the action accrues. 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b); Martinez v. United States, 728 F.2d 694, 695 (5th Cir. 1984). The notice must state a "claim for money damages in a
The plaintiff bears the burden of showing that the increase in the amount of damages above the amount requested in the administrative proceeding meets one of the exceptions outlined above. D'Antoni v. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008 WL 417701 *3 (E.D.La. Feb. 13, 2008) citing Lebron v. United States, 279 F.3d 321, 330 (5th Cir.2002). Since plaintiffs have not filed any memorandum in opposition this motion no evidence has been submitted that would show that there is newly discovered evidence or intervening facts within the meaning of § 2675(b). either of these exceptions are applicable. We thus find that plaintiffs have not met their burden of showing that their claims exceeds the amount demanded in the administrative claim and we find that the defendant's motion should be granted.
Accordingly,