MANIMTIM v. RUBIN

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
PENSACOLA DIVISION
RODEL SARANGLAO MANIMTIM,
Plaintiff,
v. 	Case No.: 3:25-cv-486/MCR/ZCB
MARK RUBIN,
Defendant.
_____________________/
ORDER
The Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation, recommending
the dismissal of this suit at the screening phase. ECF No. 6. The Court furnished
the Plaintiff a copy of the Report and Recommendation and afforded an opportunity
to file objections pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 636(b)(1). The
Court has made a de novo determination of all timely filed objections. 	See ECF
No. 7.
Having considered the Report and Recommendation and the timely filed
objections, the Court agrees that Younger abstention is appropriate as to claims for
equitable relief. Despite Plaintiff’s argument that no state court “case” is currently
pending, the complaint alleges that he has been found in contempt and is under threat
of incarceration if he does not pay the arrearages. In these circumstances, the state
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child support courts have active oversight over the arears underlying this suit and
substantial state interests exist sufficient to invoke Younger, as in Pompey v.
Broward Cnty., 95 F.3d 1543, 1548 (11th Cir. 1996) (concluding there was a state
court proceeding because the plaintiffs could be brought “before the court for civil
contempt for any child support arrearage”).
Additionally, the Court rejects Plaintiff’s argument that the Magistrate Judge
failed to consider his individual capacity claims. 	As discussed in the Report and
Recommendation, the claims for damages are based on Defendant’s conduct as a
state court child support officer, duties that are functionally comparable to the
responsibilities of a judge. 	See Antoine v. Byers & Anderson, Inc., 508 U.S. 429,
436 (1993) (stating “judicial immunity is extended to officials other than judges [if]
their judgments are functionally comparable to those of judges”) (internal alterations
accepted and internal quotations omitted). And judicial absolute immunity applies
to all actions of a judicial officer within their judicial jurisdiction, whether based on
individual or official capacity. See Stevens v. Osuna, 877 F.3d 1293, 1308 (11th Cir.
2017) (applying absolute immunity as protecting an immigration judge from
damages for claims alleging both official and individual capacity conduct). 	The
allegations show that Defendant was acting within his judicial capacity and not in
the absence of all jurisdiction. Also, the Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that
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there was an opportunity for substantive review, and the official capacity claims are
claims against the state, which has sovereign immunity. Therefore, the Report and
Recommendation will be adopted.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
1. 	The Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation, ECF No. 6, is
adopted incorporated by reference in this Order.
2. 	Plaintiff’s complaint, ECF No. 1, is DISMISSED under the Younger
abstention doctrine and because it seeks relief from an immune party.
3. 	All pending motions are DENIED as moot.
4. 	The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case.
DONE AND ORDERED this 20th day of January 2026.
M. Casey Rodgers
M. CASEY RODGERS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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