BROWN v. BROWN (2019)

OPINION *

On March 7, 2019, Jason L. Brown commenced an action in the District Court by filing a “notice of appeal in a civil case.” The matter was referred to a Magistrate Judge who recommended that it be dismissed under the Rooker-Feldman ¹ doctrine because Brown was attempting to appeal from a state-court judgment.² The District Court agreed and dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction. Brown timely appealed.

We exercise de novo review over the question of subject-matter jurisdiction. PennMont Secs. v. Frucher, 586 F.3d 242, 245 (3d Cir. 2009); see also United States v. Apple MacPro Computer, 851 F.3d 238, 244 (3d Cir. 2017). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

We agree with the District Court that it lacked jurisdiction over Brown’s case. In his brief on appeal, Brown makes clear that he is seeking review of a domestic-relations order entered by the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County.³ As the Magistrate Judge correctly concluded, however, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine strips federal courts of jurisdiction over controversies “that are essentially appeals from state-court judgments.” Great W. Mining & Mineral Co. v. Fox Rothschild LLP, 615 F.3d 159, 165 (3d Cir. 2010); see also Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp., 544 U.S. 280, 284, 125 S.Ct. 1517, 161 L.Ed.2d 454 (2005). Amendment would be futile. See Grayson v. Mayview State Hosp., 293 F.3d 103, 108 (3d Cir. 2002).

Accordingly, we will affirm.

FOOTNOTES

1.   See Rooker v. Fid. Tr. Co., 263 U.S. 413, 44 S.Ct. 149, 68 L.Ed. 362 (1923); D.C. Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 103 S.Ct. 1303, 75 L.Ed.2d 206 (1983).

2.   Brown did not file objections to the Report and Recommendation pursuant to Rule 72(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

3.   Based on the documents that Brown attached to his “notice of appeal in a civil case,” it appears that this judgment was affirmed by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and that the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania subsequently denied allocatur.

PER CURIAM