United States ex rel. Rauch v. Deutsch, 71-1226.

Decision Date24 February 1972
Docket NumberNo. 71-1226.,71-1226.
Citation456 F.2d 1301
PartiesUNITED STATES of America ex rel. John A. RAUCH, Appellant, v. John DEUTSCH, District Attorney, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, and David Ebbert, Police Officer, Mahoning Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit

John A. Rauch, pro se.

James A. Wimmer, Jim Thorpe, Pa., for appellee, John Deutsch.

Thomas S. McCready, Lansford, Pa., for appellee, David Ebbert.

Before KALODNER, HASTIE and MAX ROSENN, Circuit Judges.

Submitted under Third Circuit Rule 12(6) February 7, 1972.

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM:

Appellant Rauch brought this suit for damages against John Deutsch, District Attorney of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, and David Ebbert, a police officer, for breach of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 et seq. (1970). His complaint alleged that he was arrested and prosecuted by the appellees as part of a scheme to extort money from him. The suit was dismissed in the district court. In a subsequent order made after appellant had submitted a motion for rehearing which the district judge treated as a motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis pursuant to Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the district court held that the District Attorney was immune from suit under the Civil Rights Act while carrying out his official duties. It also held that appellant had failed to bring his action within the requisite statute of limitations.

After a thorough review of the record, we find that appellant has failed to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Further, we agree with the order of the district court that Deutsch, as District Attorney, was immune from suits under the Civil Rights Act while performing his official duties. Gaito v. Ellenbogen, 425 F.2d 845 (3d Cir. 1970). Because of our disposition of this case, we do not reach the question of whether the appellant met the statute of limitations applicable to this cause of action.

The order of the district court dismissing appellant's cause of action will be affirmed.

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  • Voytko v. Ramada Inn of Atlantic City
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey
    • January 31, 1978
    ...1968) dictum. 12 The existence of a federal cause of action for malicious prosecution was indirectly involved in U. S. ex rel. Rauch v. Deutsch, 456 F.2d 1301 (3d Cir. 1972), wherein the plaintiff had been prosecuted by defendants who were a police officer and district attorney, allegedly a......
  • Pyles v. Keane
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • March 11, 1976
    ...Rights Acts purport to secure a person against unfounded or even malicious claims or suits in state courts." United States ex rel. Rauch v. Deutsh, 456 F.2d 1301 (3d Cir. 1972); Hahn v. Sargent, 388 F.Supp. 445 (D.Mass.1975); see Paskaly v. Seale, 506 F.2d 1209, 1212 (9th Cir. 1974); Nesmit......
  • Littleton v. Berbling
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • October 6, 1972
    ...(2nd Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 398 U.S. 929, 90 S.Ct. 1819, 26 L.Ed.2d 92 (1970); Bauers v. Heisel, supra; United States ex rel. Rauch v. Deutsch, 456 F.2d 1301 (3rd Cir. 1972); Guedry v. Ford, 431 F.2d 660 (5th Cir. 1970); Madison v. Gerstein, 440 F.2d 338 (5th Cir. 1971); Hurlburt v. Grah......
  • Cooney v. Park County
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • April 18, 1990
    ...or private. Morrison, 761 F.2d 242; McGruder, 733 F.2d 1146; Jennings v. Shuman, 567 F.2d 1213 (3rd Cir.1977); United States ex rel. Rauch v. Deutsch, 456 F.2d 1301 (3rd Cir.1972). See, however, United States v. Davis, 890 F.2d 1373 (7th Cir.1989), extortion The problem with the foregoing c......
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