Darr v. Carter

• Citation: 487 F. Supp. 526
• Decision Date: 31 March 1980
• Docket Number: No. LR-C-79-119.,LR-C-79-119.
• Parties: Mrs. Donna DARR and Captain Charles E. Darr, by his wife and next friend, Donna Darr, Plaintiffs, v. James E. CARTER, Jr., President of the United States; Harold S. Brown, Secretary of Defense, and John C. Stetson, Secretary of the Air Force, Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Arkansas

487 F. Supp. 526

Mrs. Donna DARR and Captain Charles E. Darr, by his wife and next friend, Donna Darr, Plaintiffs, v. James E. CARTER, Jr., President of the United States; Harold S. Brown, Secretary of Defense, and John C. Stetson, Secretary of the Air Force, Defendants.

No. LR-C-79-119.

United States District Court, E. D. Arkansas, W. D.

March 31, 1980.

Andrew P. Johnson, III, Rowe, Hay & Young, Houston, Tex., James Bruce McMath, McMath, Leatherman & Woods, Little Rock, Ark., for plaintiffs.

George W. Proctor, U. S. Atty., Gale Stewart, A. Doug Chavis, Asst. U. S. Attys., Little Rock, Ark., for defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

HARRIS, District Judge.

Complaint herein was filed March 15, 1979, jurisdiction being alleged pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331(a), in that a "Federal question" is involved. Jurisdiction is also alleged pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, and, presumably, the Administrative Procedure Act.

Plaintiff is the spouse of Captain Charles E. Darr, who is one of those listed as "missing in action" during the hostilities in Indochina. He was a member of a crew of a B-52 bomber which was shot down while in flight over North Vietnam by a surface to air missile, on December 21, 1972. He was initially listed as "missing in action" and the Air Force has initiated a proceeding for redetermination of his status, as set forth in 37 U.S.C. §§ 555 and 556. Plaintiff seeks to enjoin defendants and those acting under their authority from reviewing and changing the status of Captain Darr until such time as extensive information is provided pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and procedural defects in the manner of review are remedied.

After hearing on a motion for temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, the Court entered an Order on the 15th day of March, 1979, denying the motion. Subsequent to that hearing, a Status Review Hearing was conducted on the 16th day of March, 1979. A transcript of the proceedings at such hearing has been filed herein, together with numerous affidavits presented by both parties. Motion to Dismiss has been filed by defendants, to which plaintiff has responded. The Court finds that the parties have had full opportunity to present all relevant material, and that disposition of the motion herein should be made as though the motion had been for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 12(b), Rule 12(c) and Rule 56, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

The statutory provisions for payments to servicemen who are classified as missing are set forth in 37 U.S.C. §§ 551, et seq. The authority for the Secretary of the service to which the individual was assigned, or his authorized representatives, to review the status and classification of those who have been classified as missing is contained in 37 U.S.C. §§ 555 and 556. In McDonald v. McLucas, 371 F.Supp. 837 (S.D.N.Y.1973), 371 F.Supp. 831 (3 Judge Ct. S.D.N.Y.1974), aff'd without opinion 419 U.S. 987, 95 S.Ct. 297, 42 L.Ed.2d 261 (1974), the Court held that under minimum due process standards, notice must be given of a status review and the affected parties afforded a reasonable opportunity to attend the review, with a lawyer if they choose, and to have reasonable access to the information upon which the reviewing board will act. Also, an opportunity to present any information which they consider relevant to the proceeding should be afforded.

In Crone v. U. S., 538 F.2d 875, 210 Ct.Cl. 499 (1976), it was determined that the Court of Claims has jurisdiction of an action by a dependent or spouse of a missing serviceman to challenge the validity of a determination of death, and that decisions of the Secretary are reviewable under the arbitrary and capricious test.

In Wyre v. Carter, an unpublished Memorandum by Judge Tom Stagg, Western District of Louisiana, No. 79-0052, dated January 18, 1979; Poole v. Carter, a similar unpublished opinion by the same Court, dated February 28, 1979; and Kane v. Carter, an unpublished Memorandum by Chief Judge Fisher of the District of New Jersey, No. 79-575, dated March 29, 1979, similar injunctive proceedings were considered. A published opinion in such a case is Townsend v. Carter, 476 F.Supp. 1070 (N.D.Tex. 1979).

The cases reveal unanimous agreement that the procedures for status review hearings as set forth by Air Force Regulations 35-43 of 1974 provide due process to dependents and spouses of missing servicemen by providing notification to them of the date of the review, a reasonable opportunity to attend with a privately retained attorney, reasonable access to information upon which the status review is to be based, and an opportunity to present any information which they consider relevant to such proceedings.

The Court finds that plaintiff herein...