Today, the Second Circuit rendered judgment in ABC v. DEF, No. 05-13721 (2d Cir. Sept. 5, 2007). Blawgletter at first thought that the style of the case simply abbreviated the parties’ names. But no.
The plaintiff, ABC, lives in a federal prison. We can’t tell why, but the court does mention his "cooperation with authorities" and notes their concern that other prisoners may have learned of his help. That probably explains his anonymity and, apparently, the use of DEF to stand for any individuals whose identification might reveal his.
ABC sued because prison officials lost some of his chattels while moving him to a special housing unit for his own protection. The district court dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under an exception to the waiver of sovereign immunity in the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Second Circuit reversed because it read the exception more narrowly.
Barry Barnett