Madera v. U.S. Dep't of State
| Decision Date | 21 January 2020 |
| Docket Number | Case No. 1:19-cv-01798-AWI-SAB |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Eastern District of California |
| Parties | CESAR A. QUINONES MADERA, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Defendant. |
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDING DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND AND DENYING PLAINTIFF'S APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF FEES
Cesar A. Quinones Madera ("Plaintiff"), proceeding pro se, filed this action against the United States Department of State due to the failure to return his birth certificate after he applied for a passport. Along with his complaint, Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in this action without prepayment of fees. The matter was referred to a United States magistrate judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.
Notwithstanding any filing fee, the court shall dismiss a case if at any time the Court determines that the complaint "(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); see Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2000) (); Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (); Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (); Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193 (9th Cir. 1998) (). The Court exercises its discretion to screen the plaintiff's complaint in this action to determine if it "(i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
In determining whether a complaint fails to state a claim, the Court uses the same pleading standard used under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). A complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . ." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Detailed factual allegations are not required, but "[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)).
In reviewing the pro se complaint, the Court is to liberally construe the pleadings and accept as true all factual allegations contained in the complaint. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). Although a court must accept as true all factual allegations contained in a complaint, a court need not accept a plaintiff's legal conclusions as true. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. The court may dismiss a claim as factually frivolous when the facts alleged lack an arguable basis in law or in fact or embraces fanciful factual allegations. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). Further, a claim can be dismissed where a complete defense is obvious on the face of the complaint. Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1228 (9th Cir. 1984).
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The Court accepts Plaintiff's allegations in the complaint as true only for the purpose of the sua sponte screening requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.
On November 20, 2018, Plaintiff filed for a new passport at the Lamont Postal Service. (Compl. 7,1 ECF No. 1.) On December 3, 2018, Plaintiff received a letter denying his application for a passport because his birth certificate did not comply with the laws of Puerto Rico. (Id.) The letter provided that Plaintiff could submit a correct birth certificate within 90 days. (Id.) Plaintiff immediately requested a correct birth certificate but did not receive it until March 1, 2019. (Id.)
On March 11, 2019, Plaintiff contacted the State Department and was informed that he could still mail in his new birth certificate even though the ninety-day deadline had passed. (Id.) Plaintiff was concerned so he mailed the birth certificate by certified mail. (Id.) The birth certificate was received on March 19, 2019. (Id.)
Plaintiff did not receive his passport nor was his birth certificate returned to him. (Id.) He has mailed several requests to have his birth certificate returned to him and has received correspondence that his passport has been denied. (Id.) On November 26, 2019, Plaintiff travelled to Tucson, Arizona to request a copy of all his documentation. (Id.) He was informed that they had no record of his documents. (Id.) When he returned home, he contacted the Department of State in Virginia and was told that Tucson did have his documents under a different number that is still in process. (Id.) Plaintiff requested that his passport request be cancelled and he was informed that a cancellation is in process. (Id.)
Plaintiff brings this action seeking the return of his documents and the $810.00 that he spent in attempting to obtain his passport.
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Plaintiff brings this action against the United States Department of State. Generally, the United States and its agencies are entitled to sovereign immunity from suit unless Congress has expressly waived immunity. F.D.I.C. v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475 (1994); Kaiser v. Blue Cross of California, 347 F.3d 1107, 1117 (9th Cir. 2003); Hodge v. Dalton, 107 F.3d 705, 707 (9th Cir. 1997). Meyer, 510 U.S. at 475 (quoting United States v. Sherwood, 312 U.S. 584, 586 (1941)). "Any waiver of immunity must be 'unequivocally expressed,' and any limitations and conditions upon the waiver 'must be strictly observed and exceptions thereto are not to be implied.' " Hodge, 107 F.3d at 707 (quoting Lehman v. Nakshian, 453 U.S. 156, 160-61 (1981).) Plaintiff does not set forth the basis for his claims in this matter, so the Court considers whether Plaintiff can proceed against the United States based on the allegations in the complaint.2
Under the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"), "final agency action for which there is no other adequate remedy in a court [is] subject to judicial review." 5 U.S.C. § 704. The passport regulations provide that the "Department will send notice in writing to any person whose application for issuance of a passport or Consular Report of Birth Abroad has been denied" setting "forth the specific reasons for the denial. . . and, if applicable, the procedures for review available. . . ." 22 C.F.R. § 51.65(a). A person who has had a passport denied may request a hearing to review the basis of the denial if a written request is submitted within sixtydays of the receipt of the denial. 22 C.F.R. § 51.70(a).
After reviewing the record of the hearing and the preliminary findings of fact and recommendations of the hearing officer, and considering legal and policy considerations he or she deems relevant, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, or his or her designee, will decide whether to uphold the denial or revocation of the passport or cancellation of the Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The Department will promptly notify the person requesting the hearing of the decision in writing. If the decision is to uphold the denial, revocation, or cancellation, the notice will contain the reason(s) for the decision. The decision is final and is not subject to further administrative review.
"Only final agency decisions are subject to review under the APA." Pac. Coast Fed'n of Fishermen's Ass'n, Inc. v. Nat'l Marine Fisheries Serv., 265 F.3d 1028, 1033 (9th Cir. 2001). Here, it is clear from Plaintiff's complaint that there has been no final determination of his passport application. Two conditions must be met for an administrative action to be considered final under the APA: "(1) the action should mark the consummation of the agency's decision making process; and (2) the action should be one by which rights or obligations have been determined or from which legal consequences flow." Ecology Ctr., Inc. v. U.S. Forest Serv., 192 F.3d 922, 925 (9th Cir. 1999). Although Plaintiff's application was initially denied due to his birth certificate not comporting with Puerto Rican law, this was not a final decision. Rivera v. Albright, 76 F.Supp.2d 862, 864 (N.D. Ill. 1999) (). Plaintiff submitted a new birth certificate and his passport application was under review. Plaintiff cancelled his application because he wanted to receive his birth certificate back. Since there has been no final decision on Plaintiff's passport application, Plaintiff cannot bring this action seeking review under the APA.
Plaintiff seeks an order requiring the Department of State to return his documents submitted in support of his passport application. The Mandamus Act provides that district courts have original jurisdiction over "any action in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff." 28 U.S.C. § 1361. "Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and is available to compel a federal official to perform a duty only if: (1) the individual's claim is clear and certain; (2) the official'sduty is nondiscretionary, ministerial, and so plainly prescribed as to be free from doubt, and (3) no other adequate remedy is available." Kildare v. Saenz, 325 F.3d 1078, 1084 (9th Cir. 2003 (quoting Patel v. Reno, 134 F.3d 929, 931 (9th Cir. 1998)). Even if all the elements of the...
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