Gu v. Trump

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia grants motions to dismiss Feifei Gu’s claims against New York State, New York City, and federal defendants. The court holds that it lacks personal jurisdiction over the New York defendants and that Gu cannot obtain mandamus or the other requested relief against the federal defendants. The court also denies Gu’s motion for default judgment against Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson because the New York State defendants timely responded.

Holdings

1. The court lacked personal jurisdiction over the New York State and New York City defendants because the complaint identified no applicable basis under the District of Columbia long-arm statute and no relevant conduct occurred in the District of Columbia.
2. Gu was not entitled to mandamus because she could not establish a clear and indisputable right to the requested investigations or a clear, nondiscretionary duty requiring the federal defendants to conduct them.
3. The court could not initiate or otherwise participate in impeachment proceedings against federal judges.
4. Gu failed to plead a basis for an order freezing federal funds to New York because she did not allege that any federal money funded her prosecution.
5. Gu was not entitled to default judgment because Chief Judge Wilson timely responded to the complaint through the New York State defendants' motion to dismiss filed by the court-ordered deadline.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the District Court for the District of Columbia had personal jurisdiction over the New York State and New York City defendants.
2. Whether Gu was entitled to a writ of mandamus directing federal officials to investigate New York officials and hold defendants accountable.
3. Whether the court could initiate or participate in impeachment proceedings against federal judges.
4. Whether Gu adequately pleaded a basis for freezing federal funds allegedly used in connection with the New York prosecution.
5. Whether Gu was entitled to default judgment against Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson for allegedly failing to respond to the complaint.

Disposition

dismissed