Magallanes deValle v. Brock, et al., No. 1:2018cv00130 - Document 7 (E.D. Cal. 2018)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM DECISION and ORDER GRANTING 15 United States of America's Unopposed Motion to Dismiss and REMANDING to the Superior Court for the County of Stanislaus signed by Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on 2/16/2018. CASE CLOSED. Copy of remand order mailed to Stanislaus County Superior Court. (Jessen, A)

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1 2 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 6 7 ELISA MAGALLANES DEVALLE, Case No. 1:18-cv-00130 LJO BAM Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING UNITED STATES 8 v. OF AMERICA’S UNOPPOSED MOTION TO DISMISS AND 9 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and DOCTORS REMANDING TO THE SUPERIOR MEDICAL CENTER OF MODESTO., COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF 10 STANISLAUS (ECF NO. 5) Defendants. 11 12 13 This medical malpractice action was filed on September 27, 2018 in Stanislaus Superior Court 14 by Elisa Magallanes deValle (“Plaintiff”) against Defendants Rebecca Brock, MD (“Dr. Brock”); 15 Doctors Medical Center of Modesto, and Golden Valley Health Centers-Modesto Women’s Health. ECF 16 No. 1, Ex. A. The case was removed to this Court on January 24, 2018, pursuant to the Federally 17 Supported Health Centers Assistance Act (“FSHCAA”), 42 U.S.C. § 233(c), because, at the time of the 18 incidents out of which this suit arose, Dr. Brock and Golden Valley Health Centers-Modesto Women’s 19 Health were deemed employees of the Public Health Service pursuant to the FSHCAA. In addition, the 20 case was removable under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), 28 U.S.C. §§ 433(c), 1346(b)(1), 21 2671, et seq., because the FSHCAA makes the FTCA the exclusive remedy for damages resulting from 22 the performance of medical functions by deemed employees of the Public Health Service acting within 23 the scope of such employment. 42 U.S.C. § 233(a), (g). 24 On January 31, 2018, the United States, substituted for Dr. Brock and Golden Valley Health 25 Centers-Modesto Women’s Health under 28 U.S.C. § 2679(d)(2), ECF No. 1-3, moved to dismiss for 1 1 lack of jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) on the ground that Plaintiff had 2 failed to exhaust her administrative remedies under the FTCA. ECF No. 5. On February 15, 2018, 3 Plaintiff filed a statement of non-opposition to the United States’ motion, agreeing to file an 4 administrative tort claim pursuant to the FTCA. ECF No. 6. 5 Accordingly, as the motion is both well-founded and unopposed, the United States’ motion to 6 dismiss is GRANTED. Dr. Brock and Golden Valley Health Centers-Modesto Women’s Health are 7 DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AS DEFENDANTS. 8 9 The remaining claims against Doctors Medical Center arise under state law and do not appear to be subject to this Court’s jurisdiction on any independent ground. Accordingly, and pursuant to 28 10 U.S.C. § 1447, the remaining state law claims are REMANDED to the Superior Court for the County of 11 Stanislaus. 12 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. 14 Dated: /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ February 16, 2018 UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2

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