Opinion
No. 49A05–1602–CT–425.
12-06-2016
Charles SWEENEY, Appellant–Plaintiff, v. David C. LONG, President Pro Tempore, Indiana General Assembly, et al., Appellees–Defendants.
Charles Sweeney, Carlisle, IN, Appellant Pro Se. Gregory F. Zoeller, Attorney General of Indiana, Andrea E. Rahman, Deputy Attorney General, Indianapolis, IN, Attorneys for Appellees.
Charles Sweeney, Carlisle, IN, Appellant Pro Se.
Gregory F. Zoeller, Attorney General of Indiana, Andrea E. Rahman, Deputy Attorney General, Indianapolis, IN, Attorneys for Appellees.
MEMORANDUM DECISION ON REHEARING
FRIEDLANDER, Senior Judge.
[1] We grant rehearing for the limited purpose of clarifying the original decision in this matter. We therefore grant Sweeney's petition for this limited purpose, but otherwise reaffirm the decision reached in our original opinion.
[2] Sweeney alleged he was entitled to prospective (injunctive) relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and named Senator David C. Long, President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate, and the Indiana General Assembly as defendants. With respect to prospective (injunctive) relief, the United States Supreme Court observed in Will v. Mich. Dep't of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 2312, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 n. 10 (1989), that "[o]f course a state official in his or her official capacity, when sued for injunctive relief, would be a person under § 1983 because ‘official-capacity actions for prospective relief are not treated as actions against the State.’ " Regardless of the relief requested, however, a state or state agency may not be sued under § 1983. City of Warsaw v. Orban, 884 N.E.2d 262 (Ind.Ct.App.2007), trans. denied.
[3] Sweeney's complaint was properly dismissed as to the named defendants. The Indiana General Assembly, a branch of state government, could not be sued under § 1983. Senator Long, although a "person" for purposes of § 1983 with respect to prospective relief only, was entitled to dismissal because Sweeney did not state a claim upon which relief could be granted. A § 1983 claim need only allege that a person has deprived the claimant of a federal right while that person was acting under color of state or territorial law. Thornton v. State, 43 N.E.3d 585 (Ind.2015). Sweeney has not met even this low bar as to Senator Long, alleging only that the Indiana General Assembly has failed to act or respond to his requests that Indiana Code section 35–33–10–5 be repealed. Sweeney has not identified how Senator Long has deprived Sweeney of a federal right while acting in his official capacity.
MATHIAS, J., and BARNES, J., concur.