Free Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim - District Court of Delaware - Delaware

Case 1:05-cv-00820-KAJ

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Filed 01/30/2006

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

C&D CONTRACTORS, INC. Plaintiff, v. TONI WILSON, et al. Defendants

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Civil Action No. 05-820-KAJ

RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION AND FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED, PURSUANT TO FED.R.CIV.P. 12(b)(1) AND 12(b)(6) Respondent, Toni Wilson, hereby moves the Court to Dismiss the Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed by C&D Contractors, Inc ("C&D), and in support thereof avers as follows: 1. C&D's claim arises from a government contract between the Department of

Veterans Affairs ("VA") and PBM Construction Group ("PBM"). See Petition for Writ of Mandamus, paragraph 5 (hereinafter "Petition at ¶. __"). C&D performed certain work as a subcontractor on that contract. Petition at ¶. 6. 2. Pursuant to the Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. 601 et seq ("CDA"), claims

arising from the performance of a government contract are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims. See Eagle Fence Co., Inc. v. V. S. Electric, Inc., 324 F.Supp. 2d 621, 627 (E.D.Pa. 2004). 3. Because there is no privity of contract between the parties, the Respondent does

not owe any legal duty to the Petitioner under the contract. See Acousti v. United States,

Case 1:05-cv-00820-KAJ

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15 Cl. Ct. 698 (1988). Moreover, the Act Petitioner seeks to compel is discretionary, not ministerial. Thus, there is no basis for a mandamus action under 28 U.S.C. § 1361. Accordingly, Respondent moves the Court to dismiss the Petition for Writ of Mandamus for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and also for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Respectfully, COLM F. CONNOLLY United States Attorney By: /s/Patricia C. Hannigan Patricia C. Hannigan Assistant United States Attorney Delaware Bar I.D. No. 2145 The Nemours Bldg. 1007 Orange Street, Suite 700 P. O. Box 2046 Wilmington, DE 19899-2046 (302) 573-6277 [email protected]

Dated: January 30, 2006

IT IS SO ORDERED this

day of

, 2006

HONORABLE KENT A. JORDAN District Judge United States District Court

Case 1:05-cv-00820-KAJ

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, Patricia C. Hannigan, hereby certify that on January 30, 2006, I electronically filed the foregoing RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION AND FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED, PURSUANT TO FED.R.CIV.P. 12(b)(1) AND (6) with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF which will send notification of such filing to the following: Robert K. Beste, Jr., Esquire Edward Seglias, Esquire Cohen, Seglias, Pallas, Greenhall & Furman, P.C. 1007 Orange Street Nemours Building, Suite 205 Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 425-5089 [email protected]

COLM F. CONNOLLY United States Attorney By: /s/Patricia C. Hannigan Patricia C. Hannigan Assistant United States Attorney Delaware Bar I.D. No. 2145 The Nemours Building 1007 Orange Street, Suite 700 P. O. Box 2046 Wilmington, DE 19899-2046 (302) 573-6277 [email protected]