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govinfo:USCOURTS-mnd-0_25-cv-03314-0

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota · 2026-06-11

· GavelSight synced 2026-09-06 03:35:29

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA 
 
Daniel-Jean McDonald, 5298 Kyler Avenue Northeast, Suite 101, Albertville, 
MN 55301, pro se. 
 
Madeleine DeMeules , MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE , 445 
Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, MN 55 101, for Defendants 
Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Michael D. McSherry, and 
Ridge Pidde; Nic holas J. Pladson, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S 
OFFICE, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101, for Defendant 
Christa L. Moseng. 
 
 
Plaintiff Daniel-Jean McDonald brought this action  under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against 
the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners and other  Minnesota state officials , 
DANIEL-JEAN MCDONALD, 
 
   Plaintiff, 
 
v. 
 
MINNESOTA BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC 
EXAMINERS; 
 
MICHAEL D. MCSHERRY , Assistant 
Attorney General of Minnesota; 
 
CHRISTA L. MOSENG , Administrative Law 
Judge; and 
 
RIDGE PIDDE , Executive Director,  
Minnesota Board of Chiropractic  
Examiners, 
 
   Defendants. 
 
 
Civil No. 25-3314 (JRT/SGE) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER 
GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO 
DISMISS 
 
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alleging that they unlawfully commenced disciplinary proceedings against him.  McDonald 
seeks injunctive relief, declaratory relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  
Defendants have now filed motions to dismiss under  Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 
12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim.  
Defendants argue that McDonald’s claims are barred by various immunity and abstention 
doctrines and that his Amended Complain t fails to allege factual allegations sufficient to 
state a claim.  After careful consideration of the record and the parties’ arguments, the 
Court concludes that it must abstain under Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 (1971).1  When 
the Younger abstention doctrine applies, the Court should dismiss the case without 
prejudice.2  The Court will therefore abstain from adjudicating this action, grant 
Defendants’ motions to dismiss, and dismiss the action without prejudice. 
 
 
1 See Younger v. Harris , 401 U.S. 37 , 53 –54 (1971) (holding that federal courts should 
abstain from interfering  with pending state criminal proceedings); Sprint C ommc’ns, Inc. v. 
Jacobs, 571 U.S. 69, 72 (2013) (noting that the Supreme Court has “extended Younger abstention 
to particular state civil proceedings that are akin to criminal prosecutions . . . or that implicate a 
State’s interest in enforcing the orders and judgments of its courts”). 
 
2 “Without prejudice” means that McDonald may refile this action in the future.  The Court 
notes, however, that if McDonald files another complaint and the circumstances have not 
materially changed since the original action was filed, the Court will likely dismiss the case again 
under Younger. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
The factual background below is based on the allegations in McDonald’s Amended 
Complaint, along with information the Court finds to be necessarily embraced by the 
Amended Complaint or part of the public record.3 
McDonald is a Minnesota resident who possessed a Minnesota chiropractic license 
until he “surrendered” his license in December 2024.  (Am. Compl. at 2, Aug. 27, 2025, 
Docket No. 3.)  He now claims to be a “member and representative of a Private 
Membership Association (PMA), a spiritual and ecclesiastical society operating in the 
private domain.”  (Pl.’s Mem. Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss at 2, Sept. 22, 2025, Docket No. 
21; see also Am. Compl. at 2.)  Defendant Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the 
“Board”) is the professional licensing board that is responsible for issuing licenses and 
enforcing rules related to the practice of chiropractic in the state of Minnesota.4  
Defendant Ridge Pidde is the B oard’s executive director.5  Defendant Michael McSherry 
 
 
3 At the motion to dismiss stage, the Court may consider the allegations in the complaint 
as well as “those materials that are necessarily embraced by the pleadings.”  Schriener v. Quicken 
Loans, Inc., 774 F.3d 442, 444 (8th Cir. 2014).  The Court may also consider matters of public record 
and exhibits attached to the pleadings, as long as those documents do not contradict  the 
complaint.  Porous Media Corp. v. Pall Corp., 186 F.3d 1077, 1079 (8th Cir. 1999). 
 
4 Chiropractic Board Mission, Minn . Bd of Chiropractic Exam’rs, 
https://mn.gov/boards/chiropractic-examiners/board-information/ [https://perma.cc/V2L9-
YLXN] (last visited May 4, 2026).   
 
5 Staff Members, Minn. Bd of Chiropractic Exam’rs, https://mn.gov/boards/chiropractic-
examiners/board-information/staff-members.jsp [ https://perma.cc/69ZU-DCZB] (last visited 
May 4, 2026). 
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is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota.  (Am. Compl. at 1.)  Defendant 
Christa L. Moseng is an administrative law judge with the Minnesota Court of 
Administrative Hearings.6  
In 2008, the Board issued a chiropractic license to McDonald.  (Decl. of Nick 
Pladson (“Pladson Decl.”) ¶ 2, Ex. 1  (Notice and Order  for Prehearing Conference and 
Hearing, Docket No. 22-0901-40716)7 at 2, Sept. 16, 2025, Docket No. 16. )  Shortly after 
receiving his license,  McDonald created Infinite Wellness Chiropractic P.A , and in 2017, 
he changed the name of the business to Wellness Natural Healing Center, P.A.  (Id. at 3.)  
The Board has sanctioned McDonald numerous times since he has received his 
license.  In February 2021, McDonald  entered into a Stipulation and Consent Order in 
which he admitted to misconduct that occurred in the midst of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
(Id.)  After the 2021 Order, the Board suspended McDonald’s license for six months but 
stayed such suspension subject to conditions.  ( Id.)  Despite the 2021 Order, McDonald 
continued engaging in sanctionable conduct — which resulted in McDonald entering into 
a second Stipulation and Consent Order in late 2022 in which he again admitted  
wrongdoing.  (Id.)  In February 2023, the Board approved the second Stipulation and 
 
 
6 Administrative Law Judges , Minn. Ct. of Admin. Hearings, https://mn.gov/oah/about -
us/judge-profiles/administrative-law-judges/  [https://perma.cc/BJ5S-EFR2] (last visited May 4, 
2026). 
 
7 McDonald references this proceeding in his Amended Complaint.  (Am. Compl. at 2.) 
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Consent Order.  (Id.)  The Board suspended McDonald’s license for two years, but Board 
again stayed the suspension subject to probationary conditions.  (Id.) 
In March 2024, the Board’s complaint panel found that McDonald had engaged in 
further misconduct — in violation of the second Stipulation and Consent order and 
removed the stay , resulting in suspension of McDonald’s license.  ( Id. at 5.)  The Board 
suspended McDonald license for five years,  “subject to an administrative stay of 
suspension after twenty-four (24) months and various probationary terms.”  (Id.) 
On March 25, 2025, a Notice and Order for Prehearing Conference and Hearing 
was issued by the Board’s complaint panel and signed by Pidde.  (Id. at 1, 9.)  The Notice 
indicated that Christa Moseng had been assigned to serve as the administrative law judge 
for the matter and that Michael McSherry , Assistant Attorney General , represented the 
complaint panel.  (Id. at 2.) 
On August 19, 2025, McDonald , pro se,  initiated this action against the Board, 
McSherry, Pidde, and Moseng.  (Am. Compl. at 1 .)  The Amended Complaint does not 
specify whether the i ndividual defendants are being sued in their individual or official 
capacities.  ( Id.)  McDonald alleges that he “surrendered his Minnesota chiropractic 
license in December 2024”  and “now operates exclusively within a constitutionally 
protected Private Membership Association (PMA) .”  (Id. at 1 –2.)  As a result of the 
purported change in status, McDonald contends that the Board lacks authority to pursue 
a contested case proceeding  against him.  (Am. Compl. at 2.)   McDonald asks this Court 
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to enjoin the disciplinary action on the grounds that the Board lacks the authority to 
discipline unlicensed members.  ( Id. at 3.)  He seeks  various forms of relief including  
declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and compensatory and punitive damages. 
The Board, McSherry, and Pidde (collectively, “Board Defendants”) and Moseng 
have filed motions to dismiss.  (Board Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss Am. Compl., Sept. 16, 2025, 
Docket No. 7; Def. Moseng’s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.’s Am. Compl., Sept. 16, 2025, Docket No. 
13.)8   
DISCUSSION 
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW 
In reviewing a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the 
Court considers all facts alleged in the Complaint as true to determine if  the Complaint 
states a “claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”  Braden v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 588 
F.3d 585, 594 (8 th Cir. 2009) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) ).  The 
Court construes the c omplaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, drawing all 
 
 
8 After Defendants filed their replies in support of their motions to dismiss (Docket Nos. 
23 and 24), McDonald submitted three additional memoranda addressing arguments raised in 
those replies (Docket Nos. 25, 27, and 28).  While courts construe pro se filings liberally, pro se 
litigants must still comply with substantive and procedural law.  Burg v. Sissel, 745 F.2d 526, 528 
(8th Cir. 1984).  Under Local Rule 7.1(c), a non -movant may file only one response in opposition  
to a dispositive motion — a response McDonald had already filed ( see Docket No. 21) .  Any 
additional memoranda responding to a reply require prior court approval.  See D. Minn. LR 7.1(i).  
Because McDonald did not seek permission to file the additional memoranda, the Court will 
disregard McDonald’s unauthorized filings ( see Docket Nos. 25, 27, and 28) .  The Court notes, 
however, that its conclusions  as set forth in this opinion would remain the same even if it had 
considered McDonald’s unauthorized filings. 
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reasonable inferences in the plaintiff’s favor.  Ashley Cnty. v. Pfizer, Inc., 552 F.3d 659, 665 
(8th Cir. 2009).  Although the Court accepts the complaint ’s factual allegations as true, it 
is “not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation [.]”  Bell 
Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) .  “A pleading that offers labels and 
conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action  will not do. ”  
Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (internal quotation marks omitted).  Instead, “[a] claim has facial 
plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the 
reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”  Id. at 678.   
The Court liberally construes documents filed by a pro se litigant and holds them 
to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.  Erickson v. Pardus, 
551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007).  However, pro se litigants are not excused from complying with 
substantive or procedural law.  Burgs v. Sissel, 745 F.2d 526, 528 (8th Cir. 1984). 
II. ANALYSIS 
The Board Defendants move to dismiss the Amended Complaint under Rule 
12(b)(6), arguing that McDonald lacks standing, the claims fail to state a viable cause of 
action, and the claims  are barred by sovereign immunity, absolute immunity, Younger  
abstention, and Colorado River  abstention.9  Defendant Moseng moves to dismiss the 
 
 
9 The Colorado River abstention doctrine requires that federal courts abstain from 
exercising jurisdiction when there is a parallel state proceeding, but only for “exceptional 
circumstances.”  United States v. Rice, 605 F.3d 473, 476 (8 th Cir. 2010); see also Colorado River 
Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976). 
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Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) and for 
failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6).  Moseng asserts that she is entitled to 
sovereign and judicial immunity and that the Younger abstention compels dismissal of 
McDonald’s claims.  The Court will first address McDonald’s declaratory and injunctive 
relief claims, and then it will address McDonald’s damages claim. 
A. Injunctive and Declaratory Relief Claims 
With respect to McDonald’s request for injunctive and declaratory relief, as further 
explained below, the Court concludes that Younger abstention applies, and the Court will 
abstain from deciding this action and will dismiss the action without prejudice.10 
“Federal courts have a ‘virtually unflagging obligation’ to decide cases that fall 
within their jurisdiction.”  Wassef v. Tibben, 68 F.4th 1083, 1086 (8 th Cir. 2023) (quoting 
Colo. River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States , 424 U.S. 800, 817 (1976)) .  “ The 
Supreme Court  carved out a narrow exception to this well- established principle in 
Younger v. Harris,” concluding that “concepts of comity and federalism require federal 
courts to abstain from interfering with pending state court criminal proceedings, except 
under ‘special circumstances’ such as bad-faith prosecution or when a criminal statute is 
‘flagrantly and patently’ unconstitutional on its face.”  Id. at 1086–87 (quoting Younger v. 
 
 
10 Rousu v. Minnesota, Civ. No. 25-3683, 2026 WL 1102715, at *4 (D. Minn. Apr. 23, 2026) 
(“Dismissal under Younger  is appropriate where the plaintiff seeks equitable relief, such as an 
injunction or a declaratory judgment.”). 
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Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 41, 44– 45 (1971)).  The Court has extended Younger abstention to 
certain categories of civil proceedings.  Id. at 1087. 
The Eighth Circuit engages in “a three-part inquiry” to determine whether Younger 
abstention applies in a given case: 
First, does the underlying state proceeding fall within one of 
the three “exceptional circumstances” where Younger  
abstention is appropriate?  Second, if the underlying 
proceeding fits within a Younger  category, does the state 
proceeding satisfy what are known as the “ Middlesex” 
factors?  And third, even if the underlying state proceeding 
satisfies the first two inquiries, is abstention nevertheless 
inappropriate because an exception to abstention applies? 
 
Id. at 1087 (quoting 375 Slane Chapel Rd., LLC v. Stone Cnty., Mo., 53 F.4th 1122, 1127 (8th 
Cir. 2022)); see also Middlesex Cnty. Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass'n, 457 U.S. 423 
(1982).  The Court will address each step in turn. 
1. Step One – “Exceptional Circumstances” 
“[E]xceptional Circumstances” exist  only where the underlying state proceeding s 
involve (1) ongoing state criminal prosecutions, (2) civil enforcement proceedings,  or (3) 
“civil proceedings involving certain orders . . . uniquely in furtherance of the state courts’ 
ability to perform their judicial functions.”  Sprint Commc’ns, Inc. v. Jacobs, 571 U.S. 69, 
78 (2013) ( alteration in original)  (citation omitted).   To qualify as a civil enforcement 
proceeding— category two — the proceeding must be  “akin to a criminal prosecution .”  
Wassef, 68 F.4th at 1088.  To determine whether the civil enforcement proceeding is akin 
to a criminal prosecution, the Court must evaluate whether the proceeding was initiated 
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by the state in its sovereign capacity; whether it involved  sanctions against the “ federal 
plaintiff for some wrongful act ”; and whether it included “other similarities to criminal 
actions” such as an investigation, often culminating in formal charges.  Id. 
The Court readily concludes that the proceeding at issue here— a disciplinary 
proceeding brought by a state chiropractic licensing board— constitutes the type of civil 
enforcement proceeding  where Younger abstention is appropriate.   The Court finds 
Minnesota Living Assistance, Inc. v. Peterson , 899 F.3d 548 (8 th Cir. 2018) instructive.  In 
Peterson, the Eighth Circuit found that a contested case proceeding before an 
administrative law judge at the Minnesota O ffice of Administrative Hearings qualified as 
a civil proceeding akin to criminal prosecution.  Id. at 552–53. 
Here, like in Peterson, the Board brought a contested case proceeding following an 
investigation and pursuant to its authority under Minnesota law.  See Minn. Stat. 
§§ 148.10, 214.10, 214.103, 14.57.  The contested case proceeding will be heard by an 
administrative law judge at the Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings  and may 
result in sanctions.  Based on the characteristics of Board’s action against McDonald, the 
Court concludes that the proceeding at issue amount s to a civil proceeding akin to a 
criminal prosecution.   Courts routinely abstain in cases — much like the one here— in 
which the plaintiff asks the court to enjoin ongoing state professional licensing 
disciplinary proceedings.  See, e.g. , Wassef, 69 F.4th  at 1091 (affirming dismissal on 
Younger abstention grounds where plaintiff sough t to enjoin ongoing physician 
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disciplinary proceedings); Gillette v. N.D. Disciplinary Bd. Counsel , 610 F.3d 1045, 1048–
49 (8 th Cir. 2010) (affirming dismissal on Younger abstention g rounds where plaintiff 
sought relief from disciplinary action brought by attorney licensing board). 
Because McDonald’s underlying proceeding fall s within one of the three 
“exceptional circumstances” where Younger  abstention is warranted, the Court will 
proceed to the second step of the three-part inquiry .  Wassef, 68 F.4th at  1087 
(instructing that “if the underlying proceeding fits within a  Younger category,” a court 
should consider whether the proceeding satisfies the Middlesex factors). 
2. Step Two – Middlesex Factors 
If the underlying state proceeding falls within a category  of “exceptional 
circumstances” where Younger abstention is appropriate, a court must next consider if  
the Middlesex factors favor abstention.  Wassef, 68 F.4th at 1087.  Under Middlesex, the 
Court must consider if (1) there is an ongoing state proceeding that is “judicial in nature”; 
(2) the proceeding implicates  important state interests; and (3) the state proceeding 
provides an adequate opportunity to raise federal constitutional challenges.   Id. at 1088.  
As further described in this section, t he Court concludes that each of the Middlesex 
factors are met. 
First, there is an ongoing contested case proceeding  taking place before an 
administrative law judge in the Minnesota Court of Administrative Hearings to determine 
whether McDonald ’s conduct  violated Minnesota law .  Second, the state has an 
important interest  in licensing and  regulating the conduct of individuals providing 
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chiropractic services, as evidenced by its corresponding statutory scheme.  See Minn. Stat. 
§§ 148.01–108; see also Goldfarb v. Va. State Bar, 421 U.S. 773, 792  (1975) (recognizing 
that “ States have a compelling interest in the practice of professions within their 
boundaries, and that as part of their power to protect the public health, safety, and other 
valid interests they have broad power to establish standards for licensing practitioners 
and regulating the practice of professions” ).  Third , the state proceeding provides 
adequate opportunity to raise constitutional challenges.11  Nothing in the applicable state 
statutes outlining the scope of an administrative law judge’s authority and the procedures 
for contested case proceedings  preclude federal constitutional claims from being heard.   
See Minn. Stat. §§ 14.48–14.62.  But even if the administrative law judge is not capable 
of adjudicating constitutional claims during McDonald’s  contested case proceeding, 
McDonald can raise any such claims when petitioning for review of the administrative 
proceeding in the state appellate court. 12  See  Minn. Stat. § 14.69 (“In a judicial review 
under sections 14.63 to 14.68, the court . . . may reverse or modify the decision if the . . . 
decisions are: (a) in violation of constitutional provisions  . . . .”); see also Padilla v. Minn. 
 
 
11 See Minn. Stat. § 214.103, subd. 7 (providing that the Board “may initiate a contested 
case hearing under chapter 14”); id. § 14.63 (providing that a person aggrieved by a decision in a 
contested case is entitled to judicial review); id. § 14.69 (defining the scope of judicial review to 
include those decisions made “in violation of constitutional provisions”). 
 
12 Hudson v. Campbell, 663 F.3d 985, 989 (8th Cir. 2011) (“[I]t is sufficient under Middlesex 
that constitutional claims may be raised in stat e-court judicial review of the administrative 
proceeding.”) (alteration in original) (citation omitted). 
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State Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 382 N.W.2d 876, 882 (Minn. Ct. App. 1986) (“[T]his court may 
consider a constitutional issue raised for the first time on appeal from an administrative 
tribunal when the appellant is raising the issue at the first opportunity in a forum 
possessing subject matter jurisdiction.”).  Accordingly, each of the Middlesex factors favor 
abstention. 
3. Step Three – Applicability of Exceptions to Younger Abstention  
Because the first two steps of Younger abstention analysis have been met, the 
Court must next consider whether “abstention [is] nevertheless inappropriate because an 
exception to abstention applies [.]”  Wassef, 68 F.4th  at 1087.   Even if the other  
requirements for Younger abstention are met, a court may still hear a case if there is a 
“flagrantly and patently”  unconstitutional statute at issue or if a federal plaintiff can 
demonstrate that a state proceeding involves bad faith.   Plouffe v. Ligon, 606 F.3d 890, 
893 (8th Cir. 2010) (quoting Trainor v. Hernandez, 431 U.S. 434, 446 (1977)). 
Upon review of the Amended Complaint, the Court concludes that it lacks plausible 
allegations that “the pending state action was brought in bad faith or for the purpose of 
[harassment],” or that other “extraordinary circumstances” render abstention 
inappropriate.  See Trainor, 431 U.S. at 446 . 
Because the underlying state proceedings fall within one of the three Younger 
categories; the Middlesex factors are met; and no exception to abstention applies,  the 
Court concludes that the Younger abstention doctrine applies to McDonald’s injunctive 
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and declaratory relief claims .  The Court will therefore dismiss those claims without 
prejudice. 
B. Damages Claims 
In addition to injunctive and declaratory relief, McDonald seeks money damages , 
compensatory and punitive.  When Younger abstention applies, the Court may dismiss 
the plaintiff’s claims to the extent they seek equitable relief, including injunctive and 
declaratory relief.  See Night Clubs, Inc. v. City of Fort Smith, Ark. , 163 F.3d 475, 481 (8 th 
Cir. 1998).  But where plaintiff seeks damages, a stay is the proper means of abstention , 
not dismissal .  Id. (citing Quackenbush v. Allstate Ins. Co., 517 U.S. 706, 730 (1996) .  
However, a federal court may dismiss claims for damages under § 1983 where the award 
of damages would compel the court to “declar e unconstitutional a state statute or to 
overturn a state court judgment on a matter of state policy. ”  Night Clubs, 163 F.3d at 
482; see also  Amerson v. Iowa , 94 F.3d 510, 512– 13 (8 th Cir. 1996)  (“[A] plaintiff’s 
incidental insertion of a general claim for damages will not suffice to prevent the dismissal 
of a  § 1983 case [ under abstention principles ] where the damages sought cannot be 
awarded without first declaring unconstitutional a state court judgment on a matter 
firmly committed to the states.”). 
Although McDonald seeks monetary damages, the Court concludes that dismissal 
under Younger abstention is appropriate because an award of damages would require the 
Court to first declare unconstitutional Minnesota’s laws governing either (1) the licensure 
and conduct of individuals providing chiropractic services  or (2) the procedures for 
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contested case proceedings.   Because Younger bars this type of intrusion into state 
proceedings, the Court will dismiss McDonald’s claims without prejudice to the extent he 
seeks damages in connection with his §  1983 claims.  See, e.g., Tietz v. Hennepin Cnty. 
Hum. Servs., Civ. No. 26-53, 2026 WL 353111, at *4 (D. Minn. Feb. 9, 2026) (dismissing 
§ 1983 damages claims because such claims “could not prevail without undercutting 
rulings in the ongoing state proceedings”). 
Even if Younger abstention doctrine did not apply and the Court could address the 
merits of McDonald’s claims , the Court would  find that McDonald’s damages claim s 
against Defendants in their official capacity  are barred by sovereign immunity  and must 
be dismissed .  See Kentucky v. Graham , 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985) (noting that the 
“Eleventh Amendment bars a damages action against a State in federal court” and such 
“bar remains in effect when State officials are sued for damages in their official 
capacity”).13 
 
 
13 To the extent McDonald’s damages claim s are lodged against Defendants in their 
individual capacities, the Court would likely dismiss such claims because the Defendants are likely 
protected by absolute immunity .  See Buser v. Raymond, 476 F.3d 565, 568– 69 (8th Cir. 2007) 
(“[O]fficials performing quasi-judicial actions are entitled to absolute immunity.”); Zar v. S.D. Bd. 
of Exam’rs of Psychs., 976 F.2d 459, 464 (8th Cir. 1992); Dunham v. Wadley, 195 F.3d 1007, 1010–
11 (8th Cir. 1999).  In response to the Defendants’ immunity defenses, McDonald cites Harlow v. 
Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800 (1982) for the proposition that immunity cannot exist when an offic ial 
violates a clearly established right.  That proposition, however, applies to qualified immunity —
not absolute immunity, which the Court applies here.  Unlike qualified immunity, when absolute 
immunity applies, it “applies absolutely and without qualification.”   J.T.H. v. Mo. Dep't of Soc. 
Servs. Children’s Div., 39 F.4th 489, 492 (8th Cir. 2022).  Because Defendants are likely entitled to 
absolute immunity , the Court would not need  to determine whether they violated clearly 
established rights. 
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ORDER 
Based on the foregoing, and all the files, records, and proceedings herein,  IT IS 
HEREBY ORDERED that:  
1. Board Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint  (Docket No [ 7]) is 
GRANTED. 
2. Defendant Christa Moseng’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint 
(Docket No. [13]) is GRANTED. 
3. The Court ABSTAINS from adjudicating this action. 
4. This action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY. 
DATED:  June 11, 2026      _____/s/ John R. Tunheim ____ 
at Minneapolis, Minnesota. JOHN R. TUNHEIM 
   United States District Judge 
 
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