Paynes v. Lee

• Decision Date: 02 May 1967
• Docket Number: No. 22777.,22777.
• Citation: 377 F.2d 61
• Parties: James A. PAYNES, Appellant, v. Dan Dee LEE, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

377 F.2d 61 (1967)

James A. PAYNES, Appellant, v. Dan Dee LEE, Appellee.

No. 22777.

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit.

May 2, 1967.

Johnnie A. Jones, Baton Rouge, La., Norman C. Amaker, New York City, for appellant.

John F. Rau, Jr., Harvey, La., Richard G. Van Buskirk, Clinton, La., for appellee.

John Doar, Asst. Atty. Gen., David L. Norman, Peter S. Smith, Franklin E. White, Attys., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., on brief for United States as amicus curiae.

Before JONES and COLEMAN, Circuit Judges, and CHRISTENBERRY, District Judge.

JONES, Circuit Judge:

The appellant, James A. Paynes, seeks reversal of an order dismissing the action brought by him in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, against Daniel W. De Lee and unknown defendants sued as John Doe. The appellant's complaint was met by a motion to dismiss, filed by the appellee De Lee, on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction of the subject matter and on the further ground that the complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The court sustained and granted the motion upon both of the grounds assigned.

In his complaint Paynes alleged that he and De Lee were both residents of Louisiana. Jurisdiction was invoked under 28 U.S.C.A. § 1331¹ as an action arising under the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1971(b).² Jurisdiction was invoked under 28 U.S.C.A. § 1343(3)³ in that the action is authorized by 42 U.S. C.A. § 1981,⁴ the appellant being, so it is pleaded, entitled to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property. Jurisdiction is invoked under 28 U.S. C.A. § 1343(3), supra note 3, on the ground that the Federal district courts, under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1988,⁵ may apply state law where not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States. Such are the jurisdictional averments of the appellant's complaint.⁶

In his complaint the appellant alleged that he and another member of the Negro race went into the Town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, the seat of the Parish of West Feliciana, on October 17, 1963, for the purpose of qualifying as registered voters for future participation in local, state and national elections, general, special and primary. Although not expressly so stated, it may be inferred that the attempt to register was unavailing. It is pleaded that De Lee "and two other white men" came to appellant's house during the night of October 17, 1963, called him out and intimidated, threatened and coerced appellant against becoming a registered voter. It is asserted in the complaint that De Lee and "the other two unknown white men" assailed appellant in the nighttime and threatened to destroy or to annihilate appellant, his possessions and his family should he again attempt to become a registered voter. The appellant alleged a conspiracy between De Lee and "the other two unknown white men to deprive him of his rights under the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments; and to intimidate him into surrendering his right to qualify as and become a registered voter," notwithstanding, that said right or privilege had been locally denied "to appellant (either by custom, practice and/or law) because of his race, color and/or previous condition of servitude." Such are the appellant's allegations of his claim. Damages of $500,000 with interest and costs were demanded. The district court, deciding the cause as it was submitted, reached the conclusion that there was no Federal jurisdiction and dismissed the complaint. Paynes v. Lee, D.C.E.D.La.1965, 239 F.Supp. 1019.

The appellant contends and the appellee concedes that Federal jurisdiction may be sustained if granted by a Federal statute even though such statute is not pleaded or relied upon in the district court. There are few decided cases where relief has been sought for damages resulting from a deprivation or attempt to effect a deprivation of civil rights from persons not acting under color of state law,⁷ and even fewer cases where recovery has been permitted. It has been said

"Federal civil statutes designed to protect civil rights have now been so restricted and emasculated by the courts that in every instance `state action\' under the fourteenth amendment must be shown before they become operative. Violence against persons solely because of race or color, by individuals not acting under color of state law or authority, is actionable only in the state courts. Mr. Justice Jackson, in the case of Collins v. Hardyman 341 U.S. 651, 71 S.Ct. 937, 95 L.Ed. 1253 stated the rule as follows: Such private discrimination is not inequality before the law unless there is some manipulation of the law or its agencies to give sanction or sanctuary for doing so." Colley, Civil Actions For Damages Arising out of Violations of Civil Rights, 17 Hastings L.J. (Dec. 1965), 189, 210. See 74 Yale L.J. (July 1965) 1462.

The view of Mr. Colley is too pessimistic. The denial of a Federal remedy against persons not acting under color of state law is only in cases where the asserted right stems from the Fourteenth Amendment and the claim is for damages resulting from an abridgment of privileges or immunities or a denial of equal protection of the laws. Such was the case of Collins v. Hardyman, supra. Such was the case in Wallach v. Cannon, 8th Cir. 1966, 357 F.2d 557, and in Shemaitis v. Froemke, 7th Cir. 1951, 189 F.2d 963. The Fourteenth Amendment is only a protection against the encroachment upon enumerated rights by or with the sanction of a State. The interference with a Federally protected right to vote is something more and something different. Moreover it has had the specific attention of Congress which has provided a specific remedy for interference by private individuals.

By the sometimes called Ku Klux Act, a Federal right was created to recover damages for interfering with Federal voting rights as well as for deprivations of equal protection or equal privileges and immunities under the Fourteenth Amendment. It is provided:

"If two or more persons in any State or Territory conspire or go in disguise on the highway or on the premises of another, for the purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any person or class of persons of the equal protection of the laws, or of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the constituted authorities of any State or Territory from giving or securing to all persons within such State or Territory the equal protection of the laws; or if two or more persons conspire to prevent by force, intimidation, or threat, any citizen who is lawfully entitled to vote, from giving his support or advocacy in a legal manner, toward or in favor of the election of any lawfully qualified person as an elector for President or Vice President, or as a Member of Congress of the United States; or to injure any citizen in person or property on account of such support or advocacy; in any case of conspiracy set forth in this section, if one or more persons engaged therein do, or cause to be done, any act in furtherance

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