James B. Stegeman v. State of Georgia, 290 F. App'x 320 (11th Cir. 2008). · Go Syfert
James B. Stegeman v. State of Georgia, 290 F. App'x 320 (11th Cir. 2008). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“claims against the superior court and the dekalb county probate court are barred by the eleventh amendment.”
11 citation events (11 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Shatoria Kierra Pitts v. Judge Pamela White Colbert, et al. (gamd, 2026-02-20)
Top citers, strongest first. 11 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Shatoria Kierra Pitts v. Judge Pamela White Colbert, et al.
M.D. Ga. · 2026 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
claims against the superior court and the dekalb county probate court are barred by the eleventh amendment.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Peter Macdonald v. Strafford County Sup. Court Tina L. Nadeau Mark E. Howard Town of Lee, NH
D.N.H. · 2019 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
actions against state courts are barred by the eleventh amendment
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) RADI v. DOUGHERTY COUNTY COURTHOUSE
M.D. Ga. · 2024 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
laims against the superior court and the dekalb county probate court are barred by the eleventh amendment.
cited Cited as authority (rule) MARKEL INSURANCE COMPANY v. CONLEY
M.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Ga. May 24, 2010). 1206 (5th Cir. 1975); Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 323 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) MIXON SEED SERVICE INC v. HILL
M.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co. v. Houston Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975); Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 323 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. WHITMAN
M.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975); Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 323 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) WILSON v. OGLETHORPE SUPERIOR COURT
M.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 322 (11th Cir. 2008); Kaimowitz v. Fla. Bar, 996 F.2d 1151, 1155 (11th Cir. 1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) GRANGE INSURANCE COMPANY v. B&S CONCRETE SERVICES, INC.
M.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co. v. Houston Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975); Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 323 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bei Jing Han Tong San Kun Ke Ji You Xian Gong Si v. Atlantic Medical Products, LLC
M.D. Fla. · 2023 · confidence medium
Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 323 (11th Cir. 2008) (affirming denial of default judgment where claim 1 AMP also alleges that it was damaged in the Chinese marketplace through HemaTone’s improper use of AMP’s products’ mark and name, and its sale of competitors’ products in packaging that resembles AMP’s.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Scott v. Superior Court of Bulloch County
S.D. Ga. · 2022 · confidence medium
The Court is uncertain what distinction Scott asserts between a “privilege” and Stegman v. Georgia, 290 F. App’x 320, 322-23 (11th Cir. 2008) (citing Kaimowitz v. Florida Bar, 996 F.2d 1151, 1155 (11th Cir. 1993)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Vista Hill Partners, LLC (In re Smith)
Bankr. S.D. Ohio · 2014 · confidence medium
Conference Corp. of Seventh-Day Adventists v. McGill, 617 F.3d 402, 407 (6th Cir.2010))); Stegeman v. Georgia, 290 Fed.Appx. 320, 323 (11th Cir.2008) (“[T]he district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Stegeman’s motion for default judgment.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
James B. STEGEMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
State of GEORGIA, Thru Governor Sonny Perdue, in His Official Capacity, State of Georgia Department of Human Resources, DeKalb County, Thru CEO Vernon Jones, in His Official Capacity, DeKalb County Dept. of Family and Children Services, DeKalb County Fire & Rescue Lt. Hughett—No: 581, Individually and in Her Official Capacity, Defendants-Appellees
07-13540.
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Aug 26, 2008.
290 F. App'x 320
James B. Stegeman, Stone Mtn, GA, pro se., Brenda Ann Raspberry, Duane Dennis Pritchett, Dekalb County Law Department, Decatur, GA, Richard A. Carothers, Peter C. Brown, Thomas M. Mitchell, Car-others & Mitchell, LLC, Buford, GA, Devon Orland, Office of the Attorney General, Atlanta, GA, for Defendants-Appellees.
Hull, Marcus, Per Curiam, Wilson.
Cited by 10 opinions  |  Unpublished
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 78%
Citer courts: M.D. Georgia (1)
PER CURIAM:

James B. Stegeman appeals pro se the district court’s dismissal of his action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985(3). Stegeman’s claims arise out of proceedings in the DeKalb County Probate Court that revoked Stegeman’s power of attorney over his elderly aunt, Jean Caffrey; found that Stegeman had engaged in elder abuse and financial fraud; appointed a guardian ad litem for Caffrey; and later, after Caf-frey died, appointed an administrator and probated her estate. Stegeman alleged that numerous state and county entities and officials violated and conspired to violate his due process and equal protection rights during the probate court proceedings. [1] After review, we affirm the district court’s dismissal. [2]

First, all of Stegeman’s claims stemming from actions taken prior to December 5, 2004 are barred by Georgia’s two-year personal injury statute of limitations. See Rozar v. Mullís, 85 F.3d 556, 560-61 (11th Cir.1996); O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Furthermore, Stegeman’s arguments that the statute of limitations was tolled are without merit. Thus, Stegeman’s only timely claims are against the Georgia Superior Court, the DeKalb County Probate Court, Probate Judge Jeryl Debra Rosh and De-Kalb County relating to the administration of Caffrey’s estate after December 5, 2004.

Second, Stegeman’s claims against the Superior Court and the DeKalb County Probate Court are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See Kaimowitz v. Florida Bar, 996 F.2d 1151, 1155 (11th Cir. 1993) (explaining that actions against state[*323] courts are barred by the Eleventh Amendment); Ga. Const, art. VI, § 1, H 1 (vesting judicial power of the state in, inter alia, superior courts, state courts and probate courts). [3]

Third, Judge Rosh is entitled to judicial immunity. See Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 9-12, 112 S.Ct. 286, 287-88, 116 L.Ed.2d 9 (1991) (concluding that judicial immunity can be overcome only if the actions are not taken in the judge’s judicial capacity or if the actions, though judicial in nature, are taken in the complete absence of jurisdiction). Judge Rosh’s only alleged action occurring after December 5, 2004 was her ruling on the petition for discharge filed by the Temporary Administrator of Caffrey’s estate, which was taken in her judicial capacity as a probate judge and within the jurisdiction of the probate court. See O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30(a) (conferring upon probate courts subject matter jurisdiction over, inter alia, the probating of wills and all controversies regarding the administration of an estate). [4]

Fourth, Stegeman failed to state a § 1983 claim against DeKalb County because his complaint did not allege any claimed constitutional violations that were the result of an official policy or custom.

See Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690-91, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 2035-36, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978) (concluding that to state a § 1983 claim against a municipality, the plaintiff must allege that the constitutional deprivation was pursuant to a governmental policy or custom).

Finally, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Stegeman’s motion for default judgment. [5] Although the State Court of Georgia and the DeKalb County Solicitor’s Office did not file an answer or other responsive pleading, Stegeman’s complaint did not present a sufficient basis for a default judgment against them. See Nishimatsu Constr. Co. v. Houston Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir.1975) (explaining that “a defendant’s default does not in itself warrant the court entering a default judgment,” and that “[tjhere must be a sufficient basis in the pleadings for the judgment entered”). [6] From the face of Stegeman’s complaint, it is clear his claims against the State Court of Georgia are barred by the Eleventh Amendment and the claims against the DeKalb County Solicitor’s Office are time-barred.

The State of Georgia, the State of Georgia Department of Human Resources, De-[*324] Kalb County Department of Family and Children Services and the Georgia Superi- or Court (“the state defendants”) waived service of process pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d) and filed a responsive pleading in the form of a pre-answer motion to dismiss. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b), 55(a). Because the district court granted the state defendants’ motion to dismiss, they were not required to file an answer and were not in default. [7]

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court’s order granting the defendants’ motions to dismiss and denying Stegeman’s motions for default judgment.

AFFIRMED.

1

. Stegeman’s complaint also asserted various state law claims, which the district court dismissed without prejudice after declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over them. On appeal, Stegeman does not challenge the dismissal of these claims.

2

. We review de novo a district court's order granting a motion to dismiss. Wagner v. First Horizon Pharm. Corp., 464 F.3d 1273, 1276 (1 lth Cir.2006). We reject as meritless Stege-man's argument that the district court should have treated the defendants’ motions to dismiss as summary judgment motions because the district court did not consider matters outside the pleadings. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d) (requiring a court to treat a Rule 12(b)(6) motion as a summary judgment motion when matters outside the pleadings are considered).

3

. Stegeman’s argument that Congress abrogated sovereign immunity from claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA”) is unavailing because Stegeman did not assert claims under the ADA. Congress has not abrogated sovereign immunity from claims, such as Stegeman’s, brought under §§ 1983 and 1985. See Will v. Mich. Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 67, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 2310, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 (1989); Fincher v. Fla. Dep’t of Labor & Employment Sec., 798 F.2d 1371, 1372 (11th Cir. 1986).

4

. Stegeman's claim that Judge Rosh presided over a criminal hearing is without merit. Stegeman's complaint alleges that, on June 5, 2002, Judge Rosh found that Stegeman had engaged in elder abuse and financial fraud and revoked his power of attorney over Caf-frey. However, any claims regarding this finding are time-barred. The only timely action relating to Judge Rosh is her ruling on the petition for discharge. Nothing in Stege-man’s complaint suggests the ruling on the petition for discharge was criminal in nature.

5

. We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s denial of a motion for default judgment. Mitchell v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 294 F.3d 1309, 1316 (11th Cir. 2002).

6

. This Court adopted as binding precedent all decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981. See Bonner v. City of Prich-ard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981) (en banc).

7

. Contrary to Stegeman's assertion, the state defendants’ failure to include the three-initial suffix to the case number on its pleadings, as required by local rule, would not support a default judgment. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 83(a)(2) (prohibiting a local rule imposing form requirements from being enforced in a manner that causes a party to lose rights unless the violation is willful). Additionally, there is no evidence in the record that attorney Matthew LaVallee did not represent the state defendants or improperly filed pleadings on their behalf.