436 F. Supp.2d 287
Civil No. 05-40178-FDS.United States District Court, D. Massachusetts.
June 26, 2006.
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Michael P. Holden, Law Office of Michael P. Holden, Norwell, MA, for Plaintiff.
Christine S. Collins, James E. Wallace, Jr., Bowditch
Dewey LLP, Worcester, MA, for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS OF DEFENDANTS CLARK UNIVERSITY, JON BASSETT AND JASON FALCON
SAYLOR, District Judge.
This is an action brought by a university student, Jon Zona, against his baseball coach and others for damages arising from the coach’s disclosure to the rest of the team that Zona had bipolar disorder. Defendants Clark University, Jon Bassett, and Jason Falcon have moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). For the reasons below, defendants’ motion will be granted.
I. Factual Background
As set forth in his complaint, Zona attends Clark University, an institution of higher education located in Worcester,
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Massachusetts.[1] Bassett is the president of the University and Falcon is the baseball coach. On October 14, 2003, Falcon revealed to the baseball team that Zona suffered from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental health disability which is
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characterized by periods of mania or euphoria alternating with periods of depression. Zona alleges that this information was private and was wrongfully disclosed.
Zona filed a complaint in this Court against the University, Bassett, and Falcon, alleging that such disclosure violated three federal statutes: the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq. (Count I); the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and 34 C.F.R. Part 99 (Count II); and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 (Count III). Zona seeks compensatory and punitive damages, interest, and costs, and “[a]ll other relief the Court deems appropriate.”[2] Defendants have moved to dismiss all claims under Rule 12(b)(6) on the grounds that there is no private right of action for the violations of federal law alleged in Counts I and II, and that no relief would be available to Zona for a violation of federal law alleged in Count III. Zona has not opposed the motion.
II. Analysis
In assessing a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), the Court must “assume the truth of all well-pleaded facts and indulge all reasonable inferences that fit the plaintiff’s stated theory of liability.” Redondo-Borges v. U.S. Dep’t of Housing and Urban Dev., 421 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2005). The complaint should be dismissed “only if, when viewed in this manner, the pleading shows no set of facts which could entitle plaintiff to relief.”Gooley v. Mobil Oil Corp., 851 F.2d 513, 514 (1st Cir. 1988) (citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-48 (1957)).
The facts as alleged do not state a claim upon which relief can be granted under the three
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federal statutes cited in the complaint.[3]
A. Count I: Public Health Service Act
The Public Health Service Act is a voluminous set of provisions that, in general, establishes various executive agencies and grant programs supporting health care and research. 42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.[4] Zona’s complaint references the act in its entirety without identifying any particular provision or substantive right violated by the disclosure. Pleading requirements, “though minimal, are not non-existent.”Rumford Pharmacy, Inc. v. City of East Providence, 970 F.2d 996, 998 (1st Cir. 1992) (internal quotation marks omitted). Although the Court must read the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, it “need not conjure up unpled allegations” to help it survive a motion to dismiss. Gooley, 851 F.2d at 514.
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Zona has not pointed to any provision of the statute — nor has the Court found one — that establishes a federally protected right that was violated by Falcon’s disclosure.[5] Accordingly, this count will be dismissed.
B. Count II: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
In general, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) conditions an educational institution’s receipt of federal funds on its compliance with certain access and
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disclosure rules relating to student education records. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. It is not clear that Falcon’s disclosure would violate nondisclosure rules of FERPA (or its regulations). Even if it did, Zona does not have any right of action to redress such a violation, because FERPA did not create any individually enforceable federal rights. Gonzaga Univ. v. Doe, 536 U.S. 273, 276, 287 (2002); see Touche Ross Co. v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560, 579 (1979) (cited favorably in Gonzaga Univ., 536 U.S. at 283-84).[6] Accordingly, this count will also be dismissed.
C. Count III: Title III of the Americans with DisabilitiesAct
Unlike the statutes discussed above, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act provides a private right of action. However — and even assuming that Zona has stated facts sufficient to make out a claim for a violation of Title III — only injunctive relief, and not monetary damages, would be available as a remedy See Dudley v. Hannaford Bros. Co., 333 F.3d 299, 304 (1st Cir. 2003) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 12188(a)(1) and Newman v. Piggie Park Enters., Inc., 390 U.S. 400, 402 (1968)). Entry of an injunction is generally “pointless” if the discrimination is not ongoing Dudley, 333 F.3d at 304. Even viewing the allegations in Zona’s favor, the complaint here does not seek any form of injunctive relief, and, in any event, the facts would not appear to support a request for injunctive relief.[7] Accordingly, this count must be dismissed as well.
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III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Clark University, John Bassett, and Jason
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Falcon’s Motion to Dismiss will be GRANTED.
So Ordered.
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