WARREN v. PIEDMONT COLUMBUS REGIONAL HOSPITAL

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
COLUMBUS DIVISION
STEPHANIE SHANTA GREEN, by and
through her guardian JESSE
WARREN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
PIEDMONT REGIONAL HOSPITAL,
INC., et al.,
Defendants.
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CASE NO. 4:26-CV-884 (CDL)
O R D E R
Jesse 	Warren, 	who 	is 	proceeding 	pro 	se 	and 	claims 	to 	be 	the
guardian of and hold power of attorney for Stephanie Shanta Green,
brought this action on behalf of Green. 	Warren alleges that when
Green 	sought 	emergency 	care 	at 	Piedmont 	Hospital 	in 	Columbus,
Georgia, 	her 	healthcare 	providers 	committed 	medical 	malpractice.
Several 	Defendants 	filed 	motions 	to 	dismiss 	this 	action 	for 	lack
of 	subject 	matter 	jurisdiction. 	Warren 	did 	not 	respond 	to 	those
motions. 	As 	discussed 	below, 	the 	motions 	(ECF 	Nos. 	6 	& 	8) 	are
granted.1
In 	the 	complaint, 	Warren 	summarily 	asserts 	that 	federal
question jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. 	A plaintiff
properly 	invokes 	§ 1331 	jurisdiction 	by 	pleading 	“a 	colorable
1 Another Defendant filed a similar motion to dismiss (ECF No. 11). 	That
motion is not yet ripe, but it is moot in light of today’s ruling.
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claim 	‘arising 	under’ 	the 	Constitution 	or 	laws 	of 	the 	United
States.” 	Arbaugh v. Y&H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 513 (2006). 	Warren
did not clearly assert any claims under the Constitution or federal
law. 	Warren 	also 	did 	not 	invoke 	a 	federal 	statute 	as 	the 	basis
for any of Green’s claims, and Warren did not allege any facts to
suggest 	that 	Green’s 	claims 	arise 	under 	federal 	law. 	Instead,
Warren asserts that Green’s healthcare providers committed medical
malpractice, which is generally a state law cause of action unless
the 	medical 	provider 	is 	a 	federal 	employee 	treating 	a 	patient 	at
a 	federally 	funded 	facility. 	Warren 	did 	not 	allege 	that 	any 	of
Green’s 	medical 	providers 	were 	federal 	employees 	or 	that 	Green’s
care 	involved 	a 	federal 	agency’s 	program. 	Warren 	also 	did 	not
invoke 	28 	U.S.C. 	§ 1332 	or 	allege 	any 	facts 	to 	suggest 	that
diversity 	jurisdiction 	exists. 	For 	all 	these 	reasons, 	the 	Court
finds that the complaint does not sufficiently allege a basis for
subject 	matter 	jurisdiction 	in 	federal 	court. 	Accordingly, 	this
action is dismissed.2
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of October, 2026.
s/Clay D. Land
CLAY D. LAND
U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
2 Given this ruling, the Court need not decide whether Warren may appear
pro se on behalf of Green.
Case 4:26-cv-00884-CDL Document 12 Filed 10/16/26 Page 2 of 2