United States Third Circuit

In an action against the defendant-former employer seeking to enjoin disciplinary proceedings initiated by the defendant as a violation of plaintiff's rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the First Amendment, the district court's decision to administratively terminate the suit based on the Younger abstention doctrine is affirmed, where: 1) plaintiff's disciplinary hearing and the pending State Appeal are akin to a criminal prosecution; 2) there is an ongoing state proceeding that was judicial in nature; 3) that proceeding implicates important state interests; 4) the state proceeding provides an adequate opportunity for plaintiff to raise his federal claims; and thus, 5) abstention is the proper course.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/17/2014
• Published 06/17/2014

Judges

• SMITH

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel