Javed v. United States ( 2020 )

In the Gnited States Court of Federal Clains
No. 19-1654C
(Filed: January 15, 2020)
(NOT TO BE PUBLISHED)
)
MANZOOR HUSSAIN JAVED, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
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UNITED STATES, )
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Defendant. )
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Manzoor Hussain Javed, pro se, Pirna, Germany.
Stephanie A. Fleming, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. for defendant. With her on the brief
were Joseph H. Hunt, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, and Robert E. Kirschman, Jr.,
Director, and Kenneth M. Dintzer, Deputy Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
OPINION AND ORDER
LETTOW, Senior Judge.
Plaintiff Manzoor Hussain Javed has brought suit in this court alleging that the Social
Security Administration inappropriately denied him social security benefits. See Compl. at 2.
Mr. Javed seeks relief in this court in the form of an order that the Social Security Administration
either issue his benefits on a monthly basis or refund with interest social security payments he
and his employer made. Compl. at 3. The United States as defendant has responded with a
motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction (“Def.’s Mot.”), ECF No. 6.
Because this court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, Mr. Javed’s claim is DISMISSED.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Javed, who currently resides in Germany, lived in the United States for
approximately thirty years, from 1981 to 2011. Compl. at 4. In 1986, he obtained a social
security number and began making social security contributions in connection with a valid work
permit. Compl. at 4. He was deported in 2011, and his 2016 application for a visa to reenter the
United States was denied. Compl. at 4. Born in 1953, Mr. Javed is sixty-six years old and
maintains that he is eligible to receive social security benefits. Compl. at 4. In July of 2015, he
applied for social security benefits, but he asserts that his claim was denied because he was not at
that time a legal resident of the United States. Compl. at 4.
Mr, Javed filed his complaint with this court on October 23, 2019. He claims that he is
entitled to receive either monthly social security benefits or a refund, including interest, of social
security contributions he and his employer made. Compl. at 3.
STANDARDS FOR DECISION
Rule 12(b)(1) — Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
The Tucker Act provides this court with jurisdiction over “any claim against the United
States founded either upon the Constitution, or any Act of Congress or any regulation of an
executive department, or upon any express or implied contract with the United States, or for
liquidated or unliquidated damages in cases not sounding in tort.” 28 U.S.C. § 1491(a)(1). To
invoke this court’s Tucker Act jurisdiction, “a plaintiff must identify a separate source of
substantive law that creates the right to money damages.” Fisher y. United States, 402 F.3d
1167, 1172 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc in relevant part) (citing United States v. Mitchell, 463 U.S.
206, 216 (1983); United States v. Testan, 424 U.S, 392, 398 (1976)). Ifa plaintiff fails to do so,
this court “should [dismiss] for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” Jan's Helicopter Serv., Inc.
y, Federal Aviation Admin., 525 F.3d 1299, 1308 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (quoting Greenlee Cty. v.
United States, 487 F.3d 871, 876 (Fed. Cir. 2007)). In some cases, even when the jurisdictional
requirements of the Tucker Act would otherwise be satisfied, Congress may have chosen to
designate exclusive jurisdiction over particular statutes elsewhere, thereby precluding this court
from exercising jurisdiction over claims arising thereunder, See Del-Rio Drilling Programs, Inc.
v. United States, 146 F.3d 1358, 1367 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (“There are, of course, instances in which
courts find that Congress has displaced Tucker Act jurisdiction in favor of some other remedial
scheme.”).
Mr. Javed, as plaintiff, must establish jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence.
Trusted Integration, Inc. y. United States, 659 F.3d 1159, 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing Reynolds
v. Army & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d 746, 748 (Fed. Cir. 1988)).' “Subject matter
jurisdiction is an inquiry that this court must raise sua sponte.” Metabolite Labs., Inc. v, Lab.
Corp. of Am. Holdings, 370 F.3d 1354, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (emphasis added). “Ifa court
lacks jurisdiction to decide the merits of a case, dismissal is required as a matter of law.” Gray v.
1A court may “grant the pro se litigant leeway on procedural matters, such as pleading
requirements.” McZeal v. Sprint Nextel Corp., 501 F.3d 1354, 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (citing
Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980) (“An unrepresented litigant should not be punished for his
failure to recognize subtle factual or legal deficiencies in his claims.”’)). But this leniency cannot
extend to lessening jurisdictional requirements. See Kelley v. Secretary, United States Dep’t of
Labor, 812 F.2d 1378, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (“[A] court may not... take a liberal view of...
jurisdictional requirement|s] and set a different rule for pro se litigants only.”’).
2
United States, 69 Fed. Cl. 95, 98 (2005) (citing Ex parte McCardle, 74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 506, 514
(1868); Thoen v. United States, 765 F.2d 1110, 1116 (Fed. Cir. 1985)); see also Rule 12(h)(3) of
the Rules of the Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) (“If the court determines at any time that it
lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, the court must dismiss the action.”).
ANALYSIS
A claim relating to social security benefits under the Social Security Act “shall be
brought in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the plaintiff
resides, or has his principal place of business.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Otherwise, “Ts]juch action
shall be brought . . . in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.” /d. This
jurisdictional grant is exclusive. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(h) (“No findings of fact or decision of the
Commissioner of Social Security shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental
agency except as herein provided.”); see also Arunga v. United States, 465 Fed. Appx. 966, 967
(Fed. Cir. 2012) (“[T]he statute makes clear that the Court of Federal Claims lacks jurisdiction
because claims for social security benefits must be filed in a federal district court.”) (citation
omitted); Marcus v. United States, 909 F.2d 1470, 1471 (Fed. Cir, 1990) (“[T]he Claims Court
has no jurisdiction under the Tucker Act . . . over claims to social security benefits.”) (citation
omitted).
Therefore, because Mr. Javed’s claim is for social security benefits, this court lacks
subject-matter jurisdiction to hear his claim.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated, the government’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED. Mr. J aved’s
complaint shall be DISMISSED without prejudice for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. The
clerk shall enter judgment accordingly.
No costs.
It is so ORDERED.
Mabon
Charles F. ‘Lettow
Senior Judge