EVELYN J. FURSE, Magistrate Judge.
On October 27, 2017, Plaintiff Harshad Desai initiated this case against the State of Utah/Utah State Tax Commission and various employees and officials—Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, and Barry Conover. (Compl., ECF No. 1.) The Utah State Tax Commission ("Commission")—the only state defendant Mr. Desai served
After Mr. Desai filed his Amended Complaint (Am. Compl., ECF No. 34), the State Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint on the same Eleventh Amendment immunity grounds. (State Defs.' Mot. to Dismiss 1st Am. Compl. & Mem. in Supp. ("Mot. to Dismiss 1st Am. Compl."), ECF No. 35.) The State Defendants' Motion to Dismiss asks the Court to dismiss Mr. Desai's claims against them in the Amended Complaint for the same reasons set forth in their original Motion to Dismiss and incorporates the arguments and legal authorities from their earlier Motion into their new Motion to Dismiss. (
Mr. Desai subsequently filed two Motions, apparently seeking leave to file a supplement of some kind to his Amended Complaint and to file a separate "claim for relief." (Mot. to Leave Am. Compl. Filed on June 04, 2018 ("Mot. to Leave Am. Compl."), ECF No. 48; Mot. to Leave Claim & Relief Filed on August 20, 2018 ("Mot. to Leave Claim & Relief"), ECF No. 47.) Confusingly, Mr. Desai states that he "moves this court to leave amended complaint filed on June 04, 2018 and the addendum filed on August 14, 2018 (dated August 13, 2018)," and attaches a document called "Motion to Enter Amended Complaint," with exhibits, to his Motion to Leave. (Mot. to Leave Am. Compl., ECF No. 48; Mot. to Enter Am. Compl. and Exs. 1-13, ECF Nos. 48-1-48-14.) The Court already indicated in a prior order that the Amended Complaint is the operative pleading in this case, and the Court would not consider the August 14, 2018 "addendum" to the Amended Complaint that Mr. Desai filed because he had not obtained leave of court to amend his complaint. (Order, ECF No. 45.) Therefore, while Mr. Desai's intentions with respect to his Motion to Leave and the attached "Motion to Enter Amended Complaint" are not clear, the undersigned interprets them as an attempt to supplement his existing Amended Complaint given that the document he seeks to file is not identified as a proposed second amended complaint, and it contains certain allegations that the existing Amended Complaint does not and vice versa. The State Defendants opposed the Motions—which they construe together "as an attempt to file a second amended complaint"—because the State Defendants "are immune from suit in federal court under the Eleventh Amendment of the United States Constitution" and are still immune "[e]ven if the Court considered Plaintiff's proposed second amended complaint. . . ." (Opp'n to Pl.'s Mot. to Leave to Am. Compl., Mot. to Enter Am. Compl., & Mot. for Leave Claim & Relief ("Opp'n to Supplements"), ECF No. 51.)
As addressed below, having considered the State Defendants' arguments, Mr. Desai's Opposition, and the parties' arguments at the May 15, 2018 hearing, the undersigned RECOMMENDS the District Judge DISMISS Mr. Desai's claims against the State Defendants because the Eleventh Amendment bars his claims, and the Court therefore lacks subject matter jurisdiction over those claims.
Further, the Court ORDERS Mr. Desai to show cause why the District Court should not dismiss Utah State Tax Commission employees and officials Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, and Barry Conover, and Garfield County employees Joseph Thompson and Kade Fulmer from this case since Mr. Desai has not served them
Finally, the Court DENIES Mr. Desai's requests to supplement his Amended Complaint. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not permit piecemeal pleading. Each case must have one operative complaint—not a separate Amended Complaint, supplement, and claim for relief. Piecemeal pleading confuses all parties and the Court and makes an answer or other response impossible.
Mr. Desai appears to assert that the State Defendants violated certain of his constitutional rights, and specifically invokes 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1988. (Am. Compl. 2-5, ECF No. 34). He also appears to allege that the State Defendants violated certain state laws relating to property appraisals, including Utah Code Ann. § 61-2g-301 (License or certification required), Utah Code Ann. § 61-2b-3, renumbered as Utah Code Ann. § 61-2g-301 (License or certification required), Utah Code Ann. § 61-2b-27, renumbered as Utah Code Ann. § 61-2g-403 (Professional conduct—Uniform standards), Utah Code Ann. § 59-2-701(1) (Appraisal by certified or licensed appraisers —Appraiser trainees), and Utah Admin. Code R884-24P-19(16) (Appraiser Designation Program Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Sections 59-2-701 and 59-2-702). (
While the Amended Complaint's allegations lack clarity, Mr. Desai seems to claim that the Utah State Tax Commission assessors who assessed his properties lacked proper qualifications, that Utah State Tax Commission employees "created bogus reports" with respect to his properties, and that the Utah State Tax Commission refuses to provide requested information or meet with him. (Am. Compl. 12-14, 27-38, 45, ECF No. 34.) In essence, Mr. Desai appears to allege that Utah State Tax Commission employees (along with certain County employees) did not have the qualifications to and did not properly value his properties and purposefully valued his wife's and daughter's properties higher than they valued other similar properties owned by "local white" people with personal and/or political connections. (
Under Rule 12(b)(1), the Court may dismiss a claim for "lack of subject matter jurisdiction." Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1). "[A]n assertion of Eleventh Amendment immunity concerns the subject matter jurisdiction of the district court. . . ."
While a court construes the filings of a pro se plaintiff liberally and holds them "to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers,"
The State Defendants move to dismiss Mr. Desai's claims against them for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), arguing that the Eleventh Amendment bars his claims and that Mr. Desai cannot sue them under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Mot. to Dismiss 1st Am. Compl. 2-3, ECF No. 35.) Mr. Desai counters that the Eleventh Amendment is "of different era" and "flaw[ed]," and that the Court should "override" the State Defendants'"claim of Amendment 11 and apply Bill of right / Amendment 9 (uniqueness of the case and court's discretionary powers), Amendment 14, Title III, etc." (Pl.'s Obj. 3-4, 9, ECF No. 18.) Mr. Desai's response does not address the substance of the State Defendants' argument. The undersigned RECOMMENDS the District Judge find the State Defendants immune from Mr. Desai's claims in this case.
"With certain limited exceptions, the Eleventh Amendment prohibits a citizen from filing suit against a state in federal court."
Because Eleventh Amendment immunity implicates the Court's subject matter jurisdiction,
As to the merits of the State Defendants' argument, the undersigned agrees that the Eleventh Amendment bars Mr. Desai's claims against them. First, the Utah State Tax Commission unquestionably functions as an arm of the state entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity.
Because the Eleventh Amendment bars Mr. Desai's claims against the State Defendants, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over those claims. Accordingly, the undersigned RECOMMENDS that the District Judge GRANT the State Defendants' Motion and DISMISS without prejudice Mr. Desai's claims against them for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Mr. Desai's Complaint and Amended Complaint name numerous Utah State Tax Commission employees and officials—Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, and Barry Conover— and two Garfield County employees—Joseph Thompson and Kade Fulmer—as defendants in this case. However, Mr. Desai has never served these defendants with a copy of the Summons and Complaint. (
"A summons must be served with a copy of the complaint. The plaintiff is responsible for having the summons and complaint served within the time allowed by Rule 4(m). . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(1). "If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court—on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff— must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time." Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) required Mr. Desai to serve these individuals with the Summons and Complaint within ninety (90) days after filing the Complaint. Mr. Desai filed his Complaint on October 27, 2017, so this ninety day period expired on January 25, 2018, and Mr. Desai made no apparent efforts to serve any of these individuals, despite numerous references in the State Defendants' filings to his failure to serve at least the Utah State Tax Commission employees and officials. (
Accordingly, the undersigned ORDERS Mr. Desai to show cause why the Court should not dismiss Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, Barry Conover, Joseph Thompson, and Kade Fulmer from this case because of Mr. Desai's failure to serve process. Mr. Desai has until January 4, 2019 to respond in writing to this Order to Show Cause. Failure to do so will result in a recommendation that the District Judge dismiss Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, Barry Conover, Joseph Thompson, and Kade Fulmer from this case.
Mr. Desai apparently seeks leave to file supplements to his Amended Complaint, specifically stating that he "moves this court to leave amended complaint filed on June 04, 2018 and the addendum filed on August 14, 2018 (dated August 13, 2018)," and attaches a document called "Motion to Enter Amended Complaint," with exhibits, to his Motion. (Mot. to Leave Am. Compl., ECF No. 48; Mot. to Enter Am. Compl. & Exs. 1-13, ECF Nos. 48-1-48-14.) He also seeks leave to file a "claim for relief," which he admits is "part of a Complaint." (Mot. to Leave Claim & Relief, ECF No. 47.) The State Defendants opposed the Motions insofar as they continue to maintain that the Eleventh Amendment bars Mr. Desai's claims against them. (Opp'n to Supplements, ECF No. 51.) The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not permit piecemeal pleading. Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(a).
"An amended complaint supersedes the original complaint and renders the original complaint of no legal effect."
While the Court cannot discern Mr. Desai's intent in filing the Motion to Leave, he does not appear to seek leave to file an entirely new Second Amended Complaint. Mr. Desai's Motion references the "addendum" to the Amended Complaint he improperly filed, as well as the operative Amended Complaint, asking the Court to "leave" them. Moreover, he does not title the document he seeks to file "Second Amended Complaint" or "Proposed Second Amended Complaint"—instead he titles it "Motion to Enter Amended Complaint." Additionally, some of the allegations in the current operative Amended Complaint do not appear in the proposed supplement and vice versa. Therefore, the Court interprets Mr. Desai's Motion to Leave as an attempt to supplement the Amended Complaint, not replace it. In addition, Mr. Desai clearly seeks to supplement the Amended Complaint with a "claim for relief," which he admits appropriately forms "part of a Complaint." The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not allow piecemeal pleading because it confuses the Court and the parties, and it makes responding meaningfully to the complaint impossible.
If Mr. Desai wishes to amend his Amended Complaint, he must either obtain consent from the Defendants or file a motion for leave to amend that complies with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15 and DUCivR. 15-1. The proposed second amended complaint must contain all allegations, claims for relief, and exhibits that Mr. Desai seeks to have as the operative complaint in this case.
Finally, the Court warns Mr. Desai that it will not tolerate his use of inflammatory language in any further amended pleadings or filings in this case or at oral argument. Mr. Desai uses the n-word repeatedly throughout the Amended Complaint (ECF No. 34 at 2, 21, 46, 57, 60, 61) and proposed supplement (ECF No. 48-1 at 2, 8, 10, 11, 38 and 42). When asked at the hearing if any of the Defendants ever called him the n-word and if that formed part of his case, Mr. Desai said no. In fact, at that time, Mr. Desai said he made no claim of racial or national origin discrimination. Mr. Desai uses the term in an inflammatory, gratuitous, and confusing manner. Unless Mr. Desai can truthfully allege that one of the defendants called him the n-word and this bears on his claims in this case, the Court will strike any further inflammatory language and references from pleadings and filings in this case.
The Eleventh Amendment bars the present suit against the State Defendants, and the Court therefore lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted against them. Accordingly, the undersigned RECOMMENDS the District Judge dismiss without prejudice the claims against the State Defendants for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The Court will send copies of this Report and Recommendation to the parties and hereby notifies them of their right to object to the same. The Court further notifies the parties that they must file any objection to this Report and Recommendation with the clerk of the district court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C § 636(b) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b), within fourteen (14) days of service. Failure to file objections may constitute waiver of objections upon subsequent review.
1. The undersigned ORDERS Mr. Desai TO SHOW CAUSE why the Court should not dismiss Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, Barry Conover, Joseph Thompson, and Kade Fulmer from this case because he failed to serve them. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) required Mr. Desai to serve these individuals with the Summons or Complaint within ninety (90) days after filing the Complaint, but he has not done so. Mr. Desai has until January 4, 2019 to respond in writing to this Order to Show Cause. Failure to do so will result in a recommendation that the Court dismiss Danny Lytle, Gerald Osborne, Benjamin Hulet, John Valentine, Michael Cragun, Robert Pero, Rebecca Rockwell, Barry Conover, Joseph Thompson, and Kade Fulmer from this case.
2. The Court DENIES Mr. Desai's Motion to Leave Amended Complaint Filed on June 04, 2018 (ECF No. 48) and DENIES Mr. Desai's Motion to Leave Claim & Relief Filed on August 20, 2018 (ECF No. 47). The Court will not allow Mr. Desai to engage in piecemeal pleading in this case by supplementing his Amended Complaint with various other filings. If Mr. Desai wishes to seek leave to file a standalone second amended complaint containing all allegations, claims for relief, and exhibits that form the basis for his claims in this case, he may do so. However, if Mr. Desai chooses to seek leave to file a second amended complaint, he must comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15 and DUCivR 15-1 and the instructions set forth in Section C of the Discussion section above.