The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
ANGELA SINGLETON, *
Plaintiff, *
v. * Civil Case No: 1-22-cv-00999-JMC
MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION,
*
Defendant.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Angela Singleton brings this defamation and unlawful employment practices
action against Defendant Maryland Technology Development Corporation (“TEDCO”) seeking
damages and punitive damages in compensation for harm caused by Defendant’s alleged willful
and intentional discriminatory and retaliatory actions against Plaintiff. (ECF No. 1 at 19–20).
Presently before the Court is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 11). In addition to
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, this Court has considered Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant’s
Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 14), and Defendant’s Reply to Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (ECF
No. 15). No hearing is necessary. See Loc. R. 105.6. (D. Md. 2021). For the reasons explained
below, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.
I. BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, a resident of Annapolis, Maryland, is an African American, female entrepreneur
and investor. (ECF No. 1 at 2). Although contested by Defendant, Plaintiff maintains that she was
an employee of TEDCO from August 2012 to June of 2020. Id. From August 2012 to August 2016,
Plaintiff worked mentoring Maryland entrepreneurs in the field. Id. In August 2016, Plaintiff began
working from TEDCO’s Columbia, Maryland headquarters where she joined TEDCO’s Seed
Investment Fund (“SIF”). Id. Plaintiff alleges that shortly after beginning work at TEDCO’s
headquarters, she began to experience and witness significant race and sex discrimination. Id. at
3. Plaintiff alleges that this discrimination worsened upon her transfer to the Maryland Venture
Fund (“MVF”) in 2017, where she was routinely shunned, ignored, insulted, and screamed at by
her male colleagues. Id. When Plaintiff requested an essential, electronic tool that her colleagues
used in performing their jobs, Plaintiff was denied access to the tool in a condescending and
patronizing manner. Id. at 4. In 2018, Plaintiff complained to TEDCO’s President and COO, John
Wasilisin about discrimination. Id. However, no disciplinary action against any member of the
MVF team occurred. Id. Rather, Plaintiff and her only female colleague in MVF were transferred
to a new position. Id. at 5.
Plaintiff was placed in a new position and developed an idea to create a fund which focused
on assisting minority entrepreneurs: Builder Fund (“BF”). Id. Despite Plaintiff’s efforts in creating
BF, TEDCO resisted making Plaintiff director of BF and instead appointed her as co-manager
along with a less-qualified, male colleague. Id. Plaintiff, as co-program manager of BF, was treated
as lesser than other co-program managers; unlike other co-program managers, Plaintiff had to
repeatedly request office space and was often excluded from TEDCO leadership meetings. Id.
Furthermore, BF was denied additional staffing despite other similarly sized programs having at
least two full-time staff members. Id. at 7. Unlike other similar programs, BF’s pending investment
closings were transferred back to the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) for processing. Id.
at 8. Shortly after Plaintiff voiced her concerns regarding race and sex discrimination in a
workplace cultural study, Linda Singh, the recently hired interim executive director of TEDCO,
placed Plaintiff under the supervision of Interim Managing Director Elizabeth Good Mazhari. Id.
at 7. Plaintiff alleges that in 2019, she became the target of a retaliatory defamation campaign
perpetrated by 1) Ms. Singh, 2) Plaintiff’s direct report Mr. Tim Wilson, 3) Ms. Mazhari, and 4)
Human Resources Representative Ms. Li Na Goins. Id. at 7–13. According to Plaintiff, this
defamation campaign resulted in her wrongful termination on June 19, 2020. Id. at 12–13.
Based on her allegations, Plaintiff has filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Maryland Fair
Employment Practices Act (“MFEPA”), and Maryland defamation law. (ECF No 1. at 13–19).
Plaintiff asserts that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over her claim pursuant to U.S.C. §
1331 because this action involves a federal question under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. (ECF No. 1 at 1–2).
Plaintiff further asserts that this Court has supplemental jurisdiction over her state law claims
pursuant to 28 U.S.C § 1367.
Defendant’s instant motion argues that this case should be dismissed pursuant to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) based on sovereign immunity or, in the alternative, that the claims
should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) for failing to state a claim upon which relief
can be granted. As set forth more fully below, the Court does not agree with Defendant’s
characterization of its challenge to subject matter jurisdiction as a “facial” one rather than
“factual.” However, the Court does agree that Defendant is immune from suit based on Eleventh
Amendment sovereign immunity. Accordingly, the Court will GRANT Defendant’s Motion
pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), without prejudice.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
The existence of subject matter jurisdiction, both constitutionally pursuant to Article III
and statutorily pursuant to the various enabling statutes found in Title 28, is a prerequisite to the
exercise of power by a federal court. Constantine v. Rectors and Visitors of George Mason Univ.,
411 F.3d 474, 479–80 (4th Cir. 2005) (citing Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't, 523 U.S. 83,
94–95, 118 S. Ct. 1003, 140 L. Ed. 2d 210 (1998)). Unlike personal jurisdiction which can be
waived, subject matter jurisdiction cannot be conferred by any action by the parties. Id. at 480.
State sovereign immunity originates in the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Although the language of the Eleventh Amendment suggests that it deprives a federal court of
subject matter jurisdiction over such claims, and some courts have reached that conclusion using
a traditional analysis, the Fourth Circuit has noted important differences between a traditional
subject matter jurisdiction analysis under Article III to the Constitution, and the hybrid
jurisdictional analysis required by the Eleventh Amendment. In Constantine, supra, for example,
relying primarily on the fact that, unlike subject matter jurisdiction, Eleventh Amendment
immunity can be waived by the parties and imposes no requirement on a court to raise it sua sponte,
the Fourth Circuit concluded that Eleventh Amendment immunity does not deprive a court of
subject matter jurisdiction in the traditional Article III sense. Id. at 482. At the same time, the Court
noted that Eleventh Amendment immunity was not a mere affirmative defense given the reality
that it is not simply a defense to a plaintiff’s allegations, but a privilege designed “to prevent the
indignity of subjecting a State to the coercive process of judicial tribunals at the instance of private
parties.” Id. (quoting P.R. Aqueduct & Sewer Auth. v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 144
(1993)). All this is to say that while the Eleventh Amendment cannot be considered a true limit on
this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction, it nonetheless blocks the exercise of that jurisdiction when
present. Gross v. Morgan State Univ., 308 F. Supp. 3d 861, 865 (D. Md. 2018).
Thus, notwithstanding the hybrid nature of Eleventh Amendment immunity, the decisions
in this District have favored addressing Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity under the rubric
of a Rule 12(b)(1) analysis versus Rule 12(b)(6). Id.; see also Hammons v. Univ. of Md. Med. Sys.
Corp., 551 F. Supp. 3d 567, 579 n.6 (D. Md. 2021). The Court will do so here. This mechanism is
also consistent with the Supreme Court’s direction that because it establishes not just a defense but
a privilege from suit, sovereign immunity should be addressed at an early stage of the case. See
Alden v. Maine, 527 U.S. 706, 713 (1999).
Under Rule 12(b)(1), the plaintiff generally bears the burden of proving, by a
preponderance of evidence, the existence of subject matter jurisdiction. See Demetres v. E.W.
Const., Inc., 776 F.3d 271, 272 (4th Cir. 2015). A challenge to subject matter jurisdiction under
Rule 12(b)(1) may proceed “in one of two ways”: either as a facial challenge or a factual challenge.
Kerns v. United States, 585 F.3d 187, 192 (4th Cir. 1999). In a facial challenge, “the defendant
must show that a complaint fails to allege facts upon which subject-matter jurisdiction can be
predicated.” Hutton v. Nat’l. Bd. of Exam’rs in Optometry, Inc., 892 F.3d 613, 621 n.7 (4th Cir.
2018) (citing Beck v. McDonald, 848 F.3d 262, 270 (4th Cir. 2017). In a factual challenge, however,
“the defendant maintains that the jurisdictional allegations of the complaint are not true.” Hutton,
892 F.3d at 621 n. 7 (citation omitted). “In that circumstance, the [C]ourt ‘may regard the pleadings
as mere evidence on the issue and may consider evidence outside the pleadings without converting
the proceeding to one for summary judgment.’” Est. of Bryant v. Balt. Police Dep’t, No. ELH-19-
384, 2020 WL 673571 at 8 (D. Md. Feb. 10, 2020) (quoting Velasco v. Gov’t of Indonesia, 370
F.3d 392, 398 (4th Cir. 2004)) (other citations omitted).
Although Defendant erroneously classifies their jurisdictional challenge as “facial” in
nature, the parties have proceeded to provide the Court, through their filings for this motion, with
evidence to consider outside of the pleadings. (ECF Nos. 11, 14, & 15). Therefore, the Court
considers this Motion to Dismiss as a factual challenge to subject matter jurisdiction predicated on
the grounds of sovereign immunity. See Bryant, slip op. at 8.
III. ANALYSIS
a. Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity1
The Eleventh Amendment provides: “The Judicial power of the United States shall not be
construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the
United States by Citizens of another state, or by Citizens or subjects of any Foreign State.” Id. at
27 (quoting U.S. CONST. amend. XI). “[S]tate sovereign immunity predates the Eleventh
Amendment as a form of immunity the States enjoyed before the ratification of the constitution
and originally encompassed a broader concept.” Hammons, 551 F. Supp. 3d at 584 (citation
omitted). Therefore, at its conception “Eleventh Amendment immunity [was] but an example of
state sovereign immunity as it applie[s] to suits filed in federal court against unconsenting states
by citizens of other states.” Id. (quoting Hans v. Louisiana, 134 U.S. 1, 3 (1890)) (emphasis added).
However, Eleventh Amendment immunity has been extended to apply to suits by citizens against
their own States. Hammons, 551 F. Supp. 3d at 585. Thus, “the expansion of the Eleventh
Amendment has narrowed the gap between the two concepts considerably” and to the point where
the distinction between the two is negligent. Id. Therefore, this Court will treat state sovereign
immunity as synonymous with Eleventh Amendment immunity. Id.
Contrary to Defendant’s assertion in (ECF No. 15), the Fourth Circuit has determined that
“[b]ecause a defendant otherwise protected by the Eleventh Amendment can waive its protection,
it is, as a practical matter, structurally necessary to require the defendant to assert the immunity.
We therefore conclude that sovereign immunity is akin to an affirmative defense, which the
1 Defendant has also argued that, as a purported state actor, it cannot be sued pursuant to Section 1981. Were this
Plaintiff’s only claim, the Court would address this argument prior to reaching the issue of immunity. See Vt. Agency
of Nat. Res. v. United States, 529 U.S. 765, 778, 779 (2000) (“When these two questions are at issue, not only is the
statutory question logically antecedent to the existence of the Eleventh Amendment question, but also there is no
realistic possibility that addressing the statutory question will expand the [c]ourt's power beyond the limits that the
jurisdictional restriction has imposed.”).
defendant bears the burden of demonstrating.” Hutto v. S.C. Ret. Sys., 773 F.3d 536, 543 (4th Cir.
2014). Sovereign immunity “bars suit against an instrumentality of a state, sometimes referred to
as an ‘arm of the state,’ including state agencies.” Bryant, slip op. at 28 (citing Pennhurst State
Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 456 U.S. 89, 101–02 (1984)) (other citations omitted). As Plaintiff
correctly argues in (ECF No. 14), whether an entity is an “arm of the state” and afforded protection
under sovereign immunity is determined by the standard set forth in Ram Ditta v. Md. Nat’l. Cap.
Park & Planning Comm'n, 822 F.2d 456 (4th Cir. 1987). Ram Ditta provides a nonexclusive list
of four factors: “(1) whether the state will pay a judgment against the defendant entity; (2) whether
the entity exercises a significant degree of autonomy from the state, (3) whether the entity is
involved with local versus statewide concerns, and (4) how the entity is treated as a matter of state
law.” Bryant, slip op. at 29 (quoting Lane v. Anderson, 660 F.App’x 185, 195 (4th Cir. 2016)
(internal quotations omitted).
i. Factor 1 Weighs in Favor of Finding that Defendant is an Arm of the
State.
While this four-factor test is a “holistic assessment,” the United States Supreme Court “has
observed that the first factor is generally accorded . . . dispositive weight.” Bryant, slip op. at 30;
Hammons, 551 F. Supp. 3d at 586 (citations and internal quotations omitted). In arguing that this
factor indicates that Defendant is not an arm of the state, Plaintiff relies exclusively on the
Maryland statutes governing Defendant’s creation and functions. (ECF No. 14). Section 10-411 of
the Maryland Economic Development Code states:
A debt, claim, obligation, or liability of the Corporation or any subsidiary is not:
(1) a debt, claim, obligation, or liability of the State, a unit or instrumentality of the
State, or of a State officer or State employee; or (2) a pledge of the credit of the
State.
MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-411 (2020). Plaintiff is correct to assert that such provisions in
state law weigh heavily against recognizing an entity as an arm of the state. (ECF No. 14). In
Oberg II, the Fourth Circuit found that the first factor weighed heavily against arm-of-the-state
status due to similar statutory language denying liability. U.S. ex rel. Oberg. v. Pa. Higher Educ.
Assistance Agency, 745 F.3d 131, 138 (4th Cir.2014) (Oberg II). Furthermore, the Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (“PHEAA”) was obligated by statute to pay any judgment
from its own segregated fund. Id. Despite Plaintiff’s argument, this Court must analyze this initial
factor considering whether “the state is functionally liable, even if not legally liable.” Hutto, 773
F.3d at 543 (citations omitted).
Pursuant to Section 10-415, Defendant must provide an annual report that includes but is
not limited to “a complete operating and financial statement covering the Corporation’s operations;
[and] . . . information on all salaries and any incentives approved by the Board for Corporation
employees . . . .” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-415 (2020). Furthermore, Defendant’s budget
is provided as a grant, and the State of Maryland is free to subject Defendant to an audit “at any
time . . . .” T50T01 Maryland Technology Development Corporation Fiscal Year 2023 Operating
Budget Analysis, https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs/budgetfiscal/2023fy-budget-docs-
operating-T50T01-
Maryland-Technology-Development-Corporation.pdf (last visited Sep. 6, 2022); MD. CODE
ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-414 (2020). This annual report indicates that the operating budget for
Defendant in 2021, 2022, and 2023 came from a state-provided general allowance, COVID-19
relief, and the State’s Rainy Day Fund. Id. Additionally, Section 10-408 grants Defendant its
general powers, but missing from this statute is any ability to acquire insurance or participate in
any other entity’s insurance program. See MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-408 (2020); Ram
Ditta, 822 F.2d at 458 (“[T]he Commission would not be paid from the state treasury . . . [because]
the Commission participates in Montgomery County’s self-insurance program.”). The Court is
convinced that, as argued by Defendant, although Maryland is not legally liable for judgments
against Defendant, the State is functionally liable as the budget-provider for Defendant.
The Court finds that although the State of Maryland is not legally liable for judgements
rendered against Defendant, the State would be functionally liable. See Hutto, 773 F.3d at 543.
Therefore, the first Ram Ditta factor weighs in favor of finding that Defendant is an arm of the
state.
ii. Factor 2 Weighs in Favor of Finding that Defendant is an Arm of the
State.
Regarding Defendant’s autonomy from the State, the Court should consider a non-
dispositive set of attributes: “who appoints the entity’s directors or officers, who funds the entity,
and whether the state retains a veto over the entity’s actions” Hammons v. Univ. of Md. Med. Sys.
Corp., No. DKC-2-2088, 2021 WL 4951921 at 3 (D. Md. Oct. 25, 2021) (citation omitted).
Furthermore, the Court can consider whether the entity “is represented in legal matters by the state
attorney general, and whether the entity has the ability to tax, as the absence of taxation power is
a strong indication that the corporation is not an independent one.” Id. (citations omitted).
Plaintiff correctly asserts that Defendant may “enter into contracts and other legal
instruments; sue or be sued; acquire, purchase, hold, and use any real, personal, mixed, tangible,
or intangible property.” (ECF No. 14); MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-408 (2020). However,
other considerations point towards this factor weighing towards arm-of-the-state status.
Defendant’s Board of Directors consists of nineteen members: “the Secretary or the Secretary’s
designee . . . and fourteen members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate.” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. §10-403(b) (2021). The state-appointed board “shall manage
the Corporation and its units and exercise its corporate powers.” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. §10-
403(a) (2021). A board of directors consisting of “gubernatorial appointees and state legislators or
officials . . . frequently indicates state control.” Oberg II, 745 F.3d at 139 (citation omitted). In
Oberg II, the Fourth Circuit considered PHEAA’s annual reports showing that PHEAA received
no operational funding from the state. Id. However, in its annual report for fiscal year 2023,
Defendant indicated that the fiscal 2023 allowance included “an increase of $300,000 in general
funds for salaries, contractual services for information technology, and other operating costs such
as outreach, auditing fees, and training.” T50T01 Maryland Technology Development Corporation
Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget Analysis,
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs/budgetfiscal/2023fy-budget-docs-operating-T50T01-
Maryland-Technology-Development-Corporation.pdf (last visited Sep. 6, 2022).
Additionally, the Governor may remove an appointed member of the board of directors for
“incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.” MD. CODE ANN.
ECON. DEV. § 10-403(h)(2) (2021). Plaintiff recognizes in the Complaint that the closing of funds
invested by Defendant are capable of final approval by the Office of the Attorney General.” (ECF
No. 1). Defendant is represented in legal matters by the Office of the Attorney General, further
indicating arm-of-the-state status under factor two. Hammons, slip op. at 3; MD. CODE ANN. ECON.
DEV. § 10-405(b)(1) (2021) (“The Attorney General Shall assign to the Corporation assistant
Attorneys General.”). Lastly, Defendant’s enumerated powers do not include the power to tax,
thereby strongly indicating that the entity is not an independent one. Hammons, slip op. at 3 (citing
Oberg II, 745 F.3d at 137); see MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-408 (2020).
The Court concludes that factor two weighs in favor of finding that Defendant is an arm of
the state.
iii. Factor 3 Weighs in Favor of Finding that Defendant is an Arm of the
State.
The third factor is whether Defendant is involved with statewide as opposed to local or
other non-state concerns. Hammons, 551 F. Supp. 3d at 586. The purpose of Defendant, amongst
others, is to “invest in Maryland-based technology companies and promote the commercialization
and growth of technology companies and jobs in the State . . . and to foster inclusive and diverse
entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the State . . . .” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-402
(2022) (emphasis added). Furthermore, when appointing members to the board of directors, the
Governor must consider “all geographic regions of the State.” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-
403(e)(2) (2021). Furthermore, as indicated by Defendant’s 2021 Fiscal Year Report, Defendant
invests in qualified businesses throughout the entire state. See Annual Report and Financial
Statement Fiscal Year 2021, https://www.tedcomd.com/sites/default/files/2022-
06/TEDCO%20Annual%20Report%20FY%202021.pdf (last visited Sep. 6, 2022).
Defendant has shown that it is involved primarily in statewide concerns, and factor three
weighs in favor of arm-of-the-state status.
iv. Factor 4 Weighs in Favor of Finding that Defendant is an Arm of the
State.
The final factor concerns how Defendant is treated under state law. Oberg II, 745 F.3d at
140. Plaintiff and Defendant have asserted that this factor does not assist in the Court’s analysis
due to the lack of consideration Defendant has had in Maryland State Courts. The Court agrees
that there have been no cases—federal or state—that shed light on how Defendant is treated under
state law. However, the Court recognizes that Defendant was established by statute to be “an
instrumentality of the State.” MD. CODE ANN. ECON. DEV. § 10-402(b) (2022). Therefore, factor
four weighs only slightly in favor finding that Defendant is an arm of the State.
v. No Exception to Immunity Applies in this Case.
“The Fourth Circuit has noted three exceptions to the Eleventh Amendment’s prohibition
of suits against a state or an arm of the state.” Van Story v. Wash. Cnty. Health Dept., No. ELH-
17-3590, 2018 WL 5830740 at *5 (D. Md. Nov. 7, 2018) (citation omitted). “First, Congress may
abrogate the State’s Eleventh Amendment immunity when it both unequivocally intends to do so
and acts pursuant to a valid grant of constitutional authority.” Id. (citations omitted). “Second, the
Eleventh Amendment permits suits for prospective injunctive relief against state officials acting
in violation of federal law.” Id. (citations omitted). “Third, a State remains free to waive its
Eleventh Amendment immunity from suit in federal court.” Id. (citations omitted).
“Congress has acted to abrogate the immunity when a state is sued under Title IX or title
VI[,] . . . [but] Congress has not taken such action for § 1981 or § 1983.” Middlebrooks v. Univ. of
Md. at Coll. Park, 980 F. Supp. 824, 828 (D. Md. 1997). Furthermore, Plaintiff is not asking for
any prospective injunctive relief. (ECF No. 1). Lastly, Maryland has not waived its immunity to
the section 1981 claim brought forth by Plaintiff. Weller v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 901 F.2d 387, 397
(4th Cir. 1990) (citing Smith v. Bernier, 701 F.Supp. 1171 (D. Md. 1988); Md. St. Gov’t Code Ann.
§ 12-104 (1984)).
As for Plaintiff’s claim pursuant to the MFEPA, the Fourth Circuit has held that the State
of Maryland has not waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity as to MFEPA claims. Pense v.
Md. Dep’t of Pub. Safety and Corr. Servs., 926 F.3d 97, 101–02 (4th Cir. 2019). Plaintiff’s state
law defamation claim fares no better. Although the Maryland Tort Claims Act (“MTCA”) contains
a waiver of sovereign immunity for tort actions, it is a limited waiver and only for actions brought
in state courts. See State Gov’t § 12-104(a)(1); Weller, 901 F.2d at 397 (citing Smith, 701 F. Supp.
1171; State Gov’t § 12-104 “clearly limits the state’s waiver of immunity.”) Further, and of
particular importance here, submission of a timely written claim and final denial of that claim by
the State Treasurer are conditions precedent to an effective waiver of the state’s immunity in tort.
See State Gov’t §§ 12-106, 12-107. In fact, pleading satisfaction of the notice provision of the
MTCA is required to state a claim for money damages against the state. Bales v. Maryland
Judiciary, No. JFM-15-03293, 2016 WL 6879902 at *11–12 (D. Md. Nov. 22, 2016). Plaintiff has
failed to allege that she either complied with the procedural prerequisites for bringing a timely
claim under the MTCA or effected service on the State Treasurer as required by state law. See
State Gov’t. §§ 12-106(b), 12-107 (a), 12-108(a); Ferguson v. Loder, 186 Md. App. 707 (2009).
Therefore, no exception applies to Defendant’s assertion of immunity.
IV. CONCLUSION
Even considering the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, this Court is convinced
that Defendant is an arm of the State. Defendant’s budget for operating costs and investment
pursuits for the benefit of the State are allocated as an allowance from the State. Furthermore, the
State clearly exercises a level of control and monitoring over Defendant to warrant arm-of-the-
state status. “A dismissal for lack of standing—or any other defect in subject matter jurisdiction—
must be one without prejudice, because a court that lacks jurisdiction has no power to adjudicate
and dispose of a claim on the merits.” S. Walk at Broadlands Homeowner’s Ass’n, Inc. v.
OpenBand at Broadlands, LLC, 713 F.3d 175 (4th Cir. 2013).
For these reasons, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED without prejudice. A
separate order follows.
Date: September 8, 2022 ______/s/_________________
J. Mark Coulson
United States Magistrate Judge