El v. Barner
8:13-cv-00416
D. MarylandFeb 14, 2013Background
- Plaintiff, a self-represented Maryland resident, sues multiple defendants for $4,000,000 in a federal action
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the court has subject matter jurisdiction | Ra-el asserts federal question jurisdiction | Barner argues lack of federal question jurisdiction and relation to state case | No federal jurisdiction; case dismissed |
| Whether the domestic relations exception bars federal review | Ra-el disputes state family-law orders | Barner emphasizes exclusive state-court domain over domestic relations | Yes; domestic relations exception applies, barring federal review |
| Whether the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars the suit | Ra-el challenges state-court judgments | Barner asserts improper federal review of state judgments | Yes; Rooker-Feldman precludes case |
Key Cases Cited
- Moore v. Sims, 442 U.S. 415 (1979) (domestic relations matters reserved to state courts)
- Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689 (1992) (domestic relations exception to federal jurisdiction)
- Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976) (permissive abstention due to state proceedings concerns)
- Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., 544 U.S. 280 (2005) (Rooker-Feldman relates to state-court judgments precluding federal review)
- McCulloch v. Vélez, 364 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2004) (federal courts’ duty to inquire into jurisdiction sua sponte)