Giroux v. Tommi Young Bull Bear
United States District Court, D. South Dakota, Western Division
March 22, 2017
MADISON GIROUX by her Attorney-in-fact, JENNIFER GIROUX, Plaintiff,
v.
TOMMI YOUNG BULL BEAR, EMT Director, City/County Alcohol and Drug Program, in her individual capacity; BRENDA WOOD, Director City/County Alcohol and Drug Program, in her individual capacity; PENNINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY PAUL STEVENS, in his individual capacity; and PENNINGTON COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY SARAH E. MORRISON, in her individual capacity, Defendants.
ORDER
JEFFREY L. VIKEN CHIEF JUDGE
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff
Jennifer Giroux, as attorney-in-fact for her daughter,
Madison Giroux, filed an amended complaint alleging
defendants violated Madison's rights under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983. (Docket 6). Defendants filed a motion to dismiss
pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) and Heck v.
Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). Jennifer Giroux
(“Ms. Giroux”), appearing pro se after
the court granted her attorney's motion to withdraw,
[1]
filed a response and supplement to the defendants'
motion. (Dockets 23 & 25). For the reasons stated below,
defendants' motion is granted in part and denied in part.
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff's
complaint alleges in three counts that the defendants
violated Madison's constitutional rights. (Docket 6).
Those claims are summarized as follows:
Count I: Violation of Madison's right of confidentiality
in her medical records pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 290ee-3;
Count II: Violation of Madison's Fourth Amendment right
against unreasonable search and seizure in a state court
criminal prosecution; and
Count III: Violation of Madison's Fourteenth Amendment
right of due process in a state court criminal prosecution.
(Docket 6 at pp. 9-11). Ms. Giroux seeks a declaration the
defendants violated her daughter's rights and an award of
damages, punitive damages and attorney's fees.
Id. at pp. 11-12.
Defendants'
motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint is premised on
several grounds. Those are summarized as follows:
1. Ms. Giroux is not a proper party plaintiff under §
1983. (Docket 13 at p. 7);
2. Defendant Sarah E. Morrison is a Pennington County Deputy
States Attorney entitled to absolute immunity. Id.
at p. 2;
3. As to count I, there is no private right of action under
§ 290dd-2.[2] Id. at p. 3;
4. As to count I, the remaining defendants are entitled to
qualified immunity. Id. at p. 2; and
5. As to counts II and III, those claims are barred by the
Heck ...