Candillo et al v. Williams et al

Filing 100

RULING granting 51 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Kareem Muhammed, Loida Reyes, Outhone Ford, Tammi Cuyler, Bonnie Resnick, CT Dept of Children & Families. Signed by Judge Janet C. Hall on 7/24/09. (Candee, D.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT P. C., ET AL. Plaintiffs, v. CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ET AL. Defendants. : : : : : : : :

CIVIL ACTION NO. 07-cv-01055(JCH)

JULY 24, 2009

RULING RE: DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (DOC. NO. 51) I. INTRODUCTION Plaintiffs P.C., S.R.C., and their minor children Pa.C., J.C., and A.C. ("the C. children"), bring this civil rights action against the Connecticut Department of Children and Families ("DCF") and six DCF employees (collectively, "defendants"). Defendant Susan I. Hamilton, DCF Commissioner, is sued in her official capacity only; the remaining DCF employees are sued in their individual and official capacities. P.C., S.R.C., and their children are Connecticut residents. DCF is the Connecticut state agency responsible for the welfare of children and families. This suit concerns DCF's removal of the C. children from their parents' custody in July 2005. Plaintiffs assert nine causes of action. Counts One through Five, Seven, Eight, and Nine allege that defendants violated 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by depriving plaintiffs of rights guaranteed to them by Connecticut law and the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Count Six alleges a state law claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Defendants have moved for summary judgment on all counts. For the following reasons, defendants' Motion is granted.

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II.

STANDARD OF REVIEW In a motion for summary judgment, the burden is on the moving party to

establish that there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256 (1986); White v. ABCO Engineering Corp., 221 F.3d 293, 300 (2d Cir. 2000). Once the moving party has met its burden, in order to defeat the motion the nonmoving party must "set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial," Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, and present such evidence as would allow a jury to find in his favor, Graham v. Long Island R.R., 230 F.3d 34, 38 (2d Cir. 2000). Generally, when assessing the record, the trial court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the party against whom summary judgment is sought. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255; Graham, 230 F.3d at 38. "This remedy that precludes a trial is properly granted only when no rational finder of fact could find in favor of the non-moving party." Carlton v. Mystic Transp., Inc., 202 F.3d 129, 134 (2d Cir. 2000). "When reasonable persons, applying the proper legal standards, could differ in their responses to the question" raised on the basis of the evidence presented, the question must be left to the jury. Sologub v. City of New York, 202 F.3d 175, 178 (2d Cir. 2000).

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III.

BACKGROUND1 A. Events Surrounding DCF's July 2005 Removal of the C. Children

S.R.C. is an attorney who practices law in Connecticut. See Defendants' Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement ("L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt.") at ¶ 3. P.C. and S.R.C. are married and have three daughters: twins J.C. and Pa.C. (b.1992), and A.C. (b.1995). See id. at ¶ 1. In February 2005, DCF initiated a child welfare investigation concerning the C. children after a school counselor reported to DCF that Pa.C. claimed an adolescent cousin (referred to herein as "Q.B.") had inappropriately touched her.2 See id. at ¶ 2. DCF social worker Rosemary Furmanek conducted the child welfare investigation on behalf of DCF and prepared a report of her investigation. See id. at ¶¶ 6, 7. The report states that, during interviews with Furmanek, both J.C. and Pa.C. recounted being sexually abused by Q.B. See February 2005 Investigation Protocol ("Investigation Protocol"), Attachment to Exh. A to Mem. in Supp., at 8-9. Pa.C. reported, inter alia, that Q.B. had fondled her and attempted vaginal penetration. See id. at 8. J.C. reported, inter alia, that Q.B. had attempted anal penetration and forced her to perform oral sex. See id. at 9. A.C. did not report any abuse. See id. at 9. According to the February 2005 Investigation Protocol, J.C. had not told her

For the purposes of the instant m o tio n , the court accepts facts undisputed by the parties and s u p p o r te d by evidence as true, and resolves disputed facts in favor of the nonm o v in g parties where there is evidence to support their allegations. Q.B. is the son of U.H., a client of attorney S.R.C. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stm t. at ¶ 3. He was f o u r te e n years old at the tim e of the events at issue in this case. See Application for Arrest W a r r a n t, a tta c h m e n t to Exh. M to Defendants' Mem o r a n d u m in Support of Motion for Sum m a r y Judgm e n t ("Mem . in Supp."), at 4. It is unclear from the record before the court whether Q.B. is related by blood to the C. f a m ily. See Deposition testim o n y of S.R.C. ("S.R.C. Deposition"), Exh. D to Mem . in Supp., at 37-38. It is u n d is p u te d , however, that the C. fam ily considered Q.B. a cousin and U.H. an uncle, and therefore the c o u r t uses the fam ily's term s .
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mother of the abuse because she feared her mother would "go crazy." See id. At the time of the report, Pa.C. had only recently told her mother of the abuse and had no worries that Q.B. would return to the C. family home. See id. The children's mother, S.R.C., told Furmanek that Q.B. was no longer be allowed in the C. home. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt. at ¶ 17. DCF substantiated medical neglect against P.C. and S.R.C based on Furmanek's report, but the department took no action in juvenile court.3 See Affidavit of Bonnie Resnick, ("Resnick Affidavit"), Exh. 17 to Mem. in Opp., at ¶ 5. On April 18, 2005, ongoing treatment social worker Outhone Ford was assigned to the C. family case. See id. at ¶ 18. S.R.C. told Ford, as she had told Furmanek, that Q.B. was no longer allowed in the family's home. See id. Throughout April, May, and June 2005, Ford completed a number of announced and unannounced home visits with the C. family. See Exh. 5 to Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition of Summary Judgment ("Mem. in Opp.") at 26-34. In her notes relating to these visits, Ford never recorded seeing Q.B. at the C. home, never recorded seeing any evidence that Q.B. had recently been at the C. home, and never recorded any concern that the C. children were in any danger from Q.B. See id. In fact, in one of the few notes mentioning Q.B. that Ford made during this period, she wrote on April 27, 2005, that "[t]he girls stated that the [sic] feel more comfortable with [Q.B.] not being in the home." See id. at 28.
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W h ile the precise reasons for the substantiation of m e d ic a l neglect against P.C. and S.R.C. in F e b r u a r y 2005 are unclear, it is undisputed that, after the sexual abuse cam e to light, S.R.C. did not think a m e d ic a l exam of her daughters was necessary because the children had not reported any penetration a n d had not shown any sym p to m s of a sexually transm itte d disease. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stm t. at ¶ 13. There is also evidence in the record that, at the tim e of the February 2005 investigation, J.C. and Pa.C. h a d not had physicals since 2000, Pa.C.'s im m u n iza tio n s were not up to date, and A.C. was m o r b id ly o b e s e . See Investigation Protocol at 12, 13.

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In May 2005, Pa.C. and J.C. began Sexual Abuse Crisis Services ("SACS") counseling with YWCA counselor Donette Barnette. See S.R.C. Deposition at 63. According to Ford's notes, both Pa.C. and J.C. reported that they liked attending counseling at the YWCA and J.C. said that she felt like she could talk to the counselor and the counselor would not "tell what she said." See Exh. 5 to Mem. in Opp. at 34. As a sexual abuse counselor, Barnette is a "mandated reporter" under Connecticut law. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101(b). A mandated reporter who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected is required to make a report to DCF. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101a. DCF maintains a telephone hotline to receive such reports. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-103a. On July 1, 2005, S.R.C. took Pa.C. and J.C. to a counseling session with Barnette. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt. at ¶ 25. S.R.C. was not physically present in the counseling session and thus has no firsthand knowledge of the conversation between her daughters and Barnette. See id. Following the counseling session, on July 1, 2005, Barnette made a telephone report to the DCF hotline. See id. at ¶ 22. The report, recorded by DCF intake worker Elaine Strinie, states: "Caller is providing counseling to J.C. and Pa.C. following a sexual assault by their cousin [Q.B.] The girls reported today to the caller that the mother is allowing their cousin to visit the home and he is reportedly still trying to touch the girls." Id. The report also notes that, "Caller said J.C. has told the mother that the abuse is still happening and she has told them to move forward." Id. Also on July 1, 2005, Barnette filed written reports of suspected child abuse or neglect concerning J.C. and Pa.C. See id. at ¶¶ 23, 24. The report concerning J.C. -5-

states, in relevant part: In [the July 1, 2005 session] I asked [J.C.] if she still had contact with [Q.B.] She said yes that he still comes over. She said that her mother developed `ground rules:' not to go into the girls room after they had taken a shower, not to touch them. I asked her if [Q.B.] obeys the new rules. She said, "No, he doesn't listen to anyone." I asked her if her mother knew this. She said yes .... Id. at ¶ 23. Barnette's report on Pa.C. states, in relevant part: "[Pa.C.] was unable to recall the last time she saw her cousin (what months?). She also said that her mother told her not to tell anyone their business. To keep it in the family." Id. at ¶ 24. In response to the reports from Barnette, on July 1, 2005, DCF invoked a 96hour hold, which authorized the Department to administratively remove the C. children from their parents' custody pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101g(e).4 See id. at ¶ 27; see also Affidavit of Tammi Cuyler ("Cuyler Affidavit"), Exh. H to Mem. in Supp., at 3 ("In determining that the 96-hour hold and motions for order of temporary custody were warranted, I also relied on information from sexual assault crisis counselor Danette [sic] Barnette"). DCF did not interview any member of the C. family between receiving Barnette's report and moving for orders of temporary custody. See id. at ¶ 54. On July 1, 2005, officers from the Hartford Police Department escorted DCF employees to the C. home to remove the children. See id. at ¶ 29. During the children's removal, S.R.C. was arrested for interfering with an officer. See id. On July

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101g(e) states, in relevant part: "If the Com m is s io n e r of Children and F a m ilie s , or the com m is s io n e r 's designee, has probable cause to believe that the child or any other child in the household is in im m in e n t risk of physical harm from the child's surroundings and that im m e d ia te r e m o v a l from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's safety, the com m is s io n e r , or the c o m m is s io n e r 's designee, shall authorize any em p lo ye e of the departm e n t or any law enforcem e n t officer to rem o v e the child and any other child sim ila r ly situated from such surroundings without the consent of th e child's parent or guardian."

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5, 2005, DCF filed neglect petitions relating to the C. children, and a Superior Court judge issued ex parte orders of temporary custody. See id. at ¶ 31. On July 15, 2005, at the request of DCF, the Superior Court ordered that the C. children participate in a forensic interview at the Aetna Foundation Children's Center at St. Francis Hospital (the "Children's Center"). See id. at ¶ 32. Subsequently, both J.C. and Pa.C. participated in forensic interviews at the Children's Center. See id. at ¶ 33. The Children's Center issued a report, dated July 20, 2005, concerning J.C.'s forensic interview, which noted that J.C. had reported being sexually abused by Q.B. from December 2004 until "about April [2005]." Id. at ¶ 34. On August 2, 2005, the Superior Court held a hearing on the orders of temporary custody. See id. at ¶ 36. On August 8, 2005, the court vacated those orders, thereby returning the C. children to their parents' custody. See id. Some months later, DCF moved to withdraw the neglect petitions concerning the C. children. See id. at ¶ 37. On January 12, 2006, the Superior Court granted DCF's motion and withdrew the neglect petitions, thereby ending the juvenile court case concerning the C. family. See id. Q.B. was eventually charged with, and convicted of, sexually abusing Pa.C. and J.C. See id. at ¶ 39. B. The Defendants

Defendant DCF is the state agency tasked with ensuring the welfare of Connecticut's children and families. Defendant Susan I. Hamilton, sued in her official capacity only, is the Commissioner of DCF. See State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families Website, http://www.ct.gov/dcf/site/default.asp, attached as

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Appendix A. Defendant Loida Reyes has been employed by DCF for approximately 16 years. L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt. at ¶ 45. Reyes was not involved in the decision to invoke a 96-hour hold of the C. children or in the decision to seek an order of temporary custody of the C. children. See id. She had no involvement in the investigation of the C. family's case, the removal of the C. children, or the decisions related to the litigation pertaining to the C. family in juvenile court. See id. Defendant Tammi Cuyler has been employed by DCF for approximately 19 years. See id. at ¶ 46. From May 2005 until February 2006, Cuyler held the position of Program Supervisor in an ongoing treatment services unit in DCF's Hartford Office. See id. During that time period, she had oversight of the C. family case. See id. Defendant Bonnie Resnick is a social work supervisor in DCF's Hartford Office. See Resnick Affidavit at ¶ 1. She has been employed by DCF since 1987. See id. at ¶ 2. Resnick supervised two investigations of the C. family, the first in February 2005 and the second in July 2005. See id. at ¶¶ 3, 4, 10. During the first investigation, Resnick did not personally gather facts or interview sources. See id. at ¶ 4. During the second investigation, Resnick spoke with YWCA counselor Donnette Barnette by telephone to confirm Barnette's report concerning possible abuse of J.C. and Pa.C., and participated in a meeting with other DCF employees in which the participants agreed that there was sufficient information to warrant removal of the C. children. See id. at ¶ 11. Defendant Outhone Ford was the social worker assigned to the C. family case. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt. at ¶ 47. Ford removed the children from the C. family home on July 1, 2005, and submitted an affidavit in support of DCF's motions for orders of -8-

temporary custody of the C. children. See id. at ¶ 61. Defendant Kareem Muhammed has been employed by DCF for approximately ten years. See id. at ¶ 57. On July 1, 2005, Muhammed was assigned to the C. family case. See id. Prior to that date, Muhammed had no involvement with the C. family. See id. Muhammed accompanied Ford in removing the C. children from their parent's custody on July 1, 2005. See id. at ¶ 58. Subsequent to the children's removal, Muhammed had no involvement in the decision to file a motion for temporary custody, the decision to file a neglect petition, or any other decisions related to the court cases involving DCF and the C. family. See id. at ¶ 59. IV. DISCUSSION In their Joint Second Amended Corrected Complaint ("Second Amended Complaint") (Doc. No. 65), P.C. and S.R.C. bring seven causes of action against the defendants and the C. children bring two. See Second Amended Complaint at 25-40. Six of the seven counts brought by P.C. and S.R.C. are claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the alleged violation of P.C. and S.R.C.'s rights under the Constitution and Connecticut law. The seventh claim alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress under Connecticut common law. The C. children's two claims are section 1983 actions alleging violations of the children's Constitutional rights and rights under Connecticut law. A. Section 1983 Claims Together, plaintiffs bring eight causes of action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In order to prevail on their section 1983 claims, plaintiffs must prove: (1) that the conduct in question deprived them of a right, privilege, or immunity secured by the -9-

Constitution or the laws of the United States; and (2) that the acts were attributable at least in part to a person acting under color of state law. See, e.g., Rendell-Baker v. Kohn, 457 U.S. 830, 834 (1982). There is no dispute that the defendants in this case were acting under color of state law, and therefore the court need only address the first element of plaintiffs' section 1983 claims. Yet, even if the court were to determine that the conduct at issue in this case violated plaintiffs' rights, such determination would not end the court's inquiry. The defendants sued in their individual capacities may still be entitled to summary judgment under the doctrine of qualified immunity. "The qualified immunity doctrine protects government officials from suits seeking to impose personal liability for money damages based on unsettled rights or on conduct that was not objectively unreasonable." Tenenbaum v. Williams, 193 F.3d 581, 596 (2d Cir. 1999) (citation omitted). Such officials enjoy qualified immunity when they perform discretionary functions if either: "(1) their conduct did not violate clearly established rights of which a reasonable person would have known, or (2) it was objectively reasonable to believe that their acts did not violate these clearly established rights." Id. Thus, qualified immunity provides "ample protection to all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law." Lee v. Sandberg, 136 F.3d 94, 100-101 (2d Cir. 1997) (quoting Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S. 335, 341 (1986)). Before turning to the plaintiffs' specific section 1983 claims, the court must address three preliminary matters. First, plaintiffs bring their section 1983 claims against all defendants, including DCF, an agency of the State of Connecticut. It is clearly established that the Eleventh Amendment bars section 1983 claims against state agencies. See Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332 (1979) (holding that section 1983 -10-

claims against states are not permitted absent the state's consent); Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100 (1984) (holding that a suit against a state agency or department constitutes a suit against a state for Eleventh Amendment purposes). Further, Section 1983 provides a cause of action against a "person" who violates another's federally protected rights while acting under color of state law. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A state agency is not a "person" within the meaning of section 1983. See Will v. Michigan Dep't. of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71(1989). Consequently, DCF is entitled to summary judgment on all of plaintiffs' section 1983 claims. Second, it bears noting that, to prevail under a section 1983 claim for damages, a plaintiff must demonstrate a defendant's direct or personal involvement in the actions that are alleged to have caused the deprivation of rights. See Johnson v. Newburgh Enlarged Sch. Dist., 239 F.3d 246, 254 (2d Cir. 2001) ("It is well settled in this Circuit that personal involvement of defendants in alleged constitutional deprivations is a prerequisite to an award of damages under § 1983"). Personal involvement of a supervisory official may be established by evidence that: (1) the official participated directly in the alleged constitutional violation, (2) the official, after being informed of the violation through a report or appeal, failed to remedy the wrong, (3) the official created a policy or custom under which unconstitutional practices occurred, or allowed the continuance of such a policy or custom, (4) the official was grossly negligent in supervising subordinates who committed the wrongful acts, or (5) the official exhibited deliberate indifference to the rights of others by failing to act on information indicating that unconstitutional acts were occurring. Id. at 254 (quotation omitted). In this case, plaintiffs have failed to bring forth evidence upon which a reasonable jury could find that defendants Hamilton or Reyes were personally involved -11-

in the actions that are alleged to have deprived the plaintiffs of their rights. W ith respect to Reyes, plaintiffs admitted in their Local Rule 56(a)(2) Statement that Reyes "was not involved in the decision to invoke a 96-hour hold or to seek an order of temporary custody of the [C.] children," and that Reyes "had no involvement in the investigation, the removal of the children, or in [the] decisions related to the litigation in juvenile court." See L.R. 56(a)1 Stmt. at ¶ 45; L.R. 56(a)(2) Stmt. at ¶ 45. Further, there is nothing in the record which suggests that Reyes' personal involvement can be established through any of the other means set forth in Johnson, 239 F.3d at 254. As a result, Reyes is entitled to summary judgment on all of plaintiffs' section 1983 claims. W ith respect to Hamilton, there is no mention of Hamilton in plaintiffs' pleadings or briefings other than the fact that Hamilton is the current Commissioner of DCF. Because plaintiffs offer no evidence which would establish Hamilton's personal involvement in the actions that are alleged to have caused the deprivation of rights at issue in this case, Hamilton is entitled to summary judgment on plaintiffs' section 1983 claims for damages. An official cannot be held liable merely because he or she occupies a high position in a government agency hierarchy.5 See Colon v. Coughlin, 58 F.3d 865, 874 (2d Cir. 1995). Third, plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief in the form of: (1) a

Although plaintiffs allege generally that defendant DCF failed to train and supervise its e m p lo ye e s , they do not specifically allege that either Reyes or Ham ilto n were deficient in this regard. See S e c o n d Am e n d e d Com p la in t at 31 ("DCF . . . has failed to properly train its em p lo ye e s not to violate the d u e process and civil rights of the plaintiffs"). Further, even if plaintiffs had alleged that Reyes or Ham ilto n f a ile d to train or supervise other DCF em p lo ye e s , Reyes and Ham ilto n would still be entitled to sum m a r y j u d g m e n t on the section 1983 dam a g e s claim s . Plaintiffs have not produced evidence sufficient for a r a tio n a l finder of fact to conclude that any failure train or supervise on the part of either Reyes or Ham ilto n w a s the cause of plaintiffs' alleged injuries.

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declaratory judgment that the acts and practices of the defendants violated the law; (2) an order requiring the State of Connecticut to discipline the individuals who allegedly discriminated against the plaintiffs; (3) an order enjoining the defendants from continuing the acts and practices at issue in this suit; and (4) an order requiring the State of Connecticut to expunge DCF records relating to the plaintiffs. See Complaint at 41. The Eleventh Amendment does not preclude suits against State officers in their official capacity seeking prospective injunctive relief. See Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123, 155-56 (1908); see also Green v. Mansour, 474 U.S. 64, 68 (1985). Under Ex parte Young, acts of State officers that violate federal constitutional rights are deemed not to be acts of the State and may be the subject of injunctive or declaratory relief in federal court. See Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 167 n.14 (1985). Whether a plaintiff's claim falls under the Ex parte Young exception to the Eleventh Amendment's bar against suing a State is a "straightforward inquiry" that asks "'whether [the] complaint alleges an ongoing violation of federal law and seeks relief properly characterized as prospective.'" Verizon Md., Inc. v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n of Md., 535 U.S. 635, 645 (2002) (quoting Idaho v. Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, 521 U.S. 261, 296 (1997)). To the extent plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that defendants' past conduct violated the law and an order requiring that defendants be disciplined for their past conduct, the relief sought is clearly not prospective and therefore such claims must be dismissed. See Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 506 U.S. 139, 146 (1993) (the Eleventh Amendment "does not permit judgments -13-

against state officers declaring that they violated federal law in the past"); see also Posr v. City of New York, 835 F. Supp. 120, 123 (S.D.N.Y. 1993), aff'd, 22 F.3d 1092 (2d Cir. 1994) (plaintiff who claimed he was wrongfully beaten, arrested, and jailed did not have standing to seek imposition of discipline on two police officers). To the extent they seek an order enjoining the defendants from continuing the acts and practices at issue in this suit and an order requiring the State of Connecticut to expunge DCF records relating to the plaintiffs, such claims fail because, inter alia, plaintiffs have not alleged facts sufficient to sustain injunctive relief. "To obtain a permanent injunction, a plaintiff must succeed on the merits and show the absence of an adequate remedy at law and irreparable harm if the relief is not granted." Roach v. Morse, 440 F.3d 53, 56 (2d Cir. 2006) (quotation omitted). In this case, plaintiffs have not alleged that they will be irreparably harmed in the absence of an order enjoining the defendants from continuing the acts and practices at issue in this suit and requiring Connecticut to expunge the plaintiffs' DCF records, nor have they presented evidence sufficient for a rational finder of fact to find that such irreparable harm would occur.6 As a result, defendants are entitled to summary judgment on plaintiffs' claims for declaratory and injunctive relief. 1. Due Process Claims In Counts Two, Three, Four, and Five, P.C. and S.R.C. assert section 1983

W ith regard to the defendants' actions, for the reasons discussed herein, see infra at 15-19, the c o u r t finds that such actions were not unreasonable. W ith regard to the expungem e n t of DCF records, as th e defendants point out, such records are confidential. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k(a). Further, b e c a u s e the substantiations of abuse or neglect against P.C. and S.R.C. were reversed, see Exh. L to M e m . in Supp., the DCF records at issue are sealed and will be expunged five years from the com p le tio n o f the investigation, see Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k(h).

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claims for the defendants' alleged violation of their right to due process as guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.7 In Count Nine, the C. children likewise assert a section 1983 claim predicated on the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution provides, in relevant part, that "[n]o person shall . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . ." U.S. Const. amend. V. The Fifth Amendment applies to and restricts only the federal government. See Public Utilities Comm'n v. Pollak, 343 U.S. 451, 461 (1952). Because plaintiffs bring no claim against any entity of the federal government, the court analyzes plaintiffs' due process claims under the Fourteenth Amendment only. a. Counts Two, Five, and Nine In Count Two, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that defendants denied them due process of law when they "failed to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect as required under state statute." See Second Amended Complaint at 27. In Count Five, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that defendants violated their due process rights by "presenting false and misleading information about [them] to the court and other finders of fact." Id. at 31. In Count Nine, the C. children bring the same claim. See Second Amended Complaint at 36. The plaintiffs base these claims on (1) defendants' allegedly unreasonable reliance on Barnette's July 1, 2005 report; and (2) defendants' allegedly unreasonable decision

It bears noting that the section heading for Count Five in the Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t also m e n tio n s the Fourth Am e n d m e n t. See Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t at 31 ("COUNT 5: The Civil rights a n d The 4th, 5th, and 14th U.S. Constitutional Rights of the Plaintiffs W e r e Violated, W h e n the D e f e n d a n ts Presented False And Misleading Inform a tio n About the Plaintiffs To The Court And Other F in d e r s Of Fact"). As noted, however, P.C. and S.R.C.'s Fourth Am e n d m e n t claim fails as a m a tte r of la w . See supra at 15-16. Accordingly, the court analyzes Count Five as alleging only a violation of the p la in tif f s ' due process rights.

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to remove the C. children based solely on the Barnette report, without further investigation. Specifically, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that, "state laws and regulations which guide the removal of children under exigent circumstances requires [sic] the workers to perform certain actions prior to removal," including investigating the situation and evaluating it on the basis of DCF regulations. Second Amended Complaint at 27-28 (emphasis in the original); see also Regs., Conn. State Agencies § 17a-101-13 ("Prior to the immediate removal of a child the authorized Department of Children and Families employee shall . . . investigate the situation and evaluate it on the basis of regulation 17a-101-12"). They further allege that defendants failed to undertake an investigation of the C. children's situation between receiving Barnette's report and invoking the 96hour hold, thereby violating DCF regulations and violating P.C. and S.R.C.'s due process rights. Defendants, on the other hand, argue that, even if defendants' actions violated DCF regulations, defendants are entitled to qualified immunity because it was objectively reasonable for defendants to believe that their acts did not violate the Constitution or the laws of the United States. The court agrees. It cannot be disputed that plaintiffs have some Constitutional due process rights protecting them against arbitrary state action interfering with their parental custody. See Duchesne v. Sugarman, 566 F.2d 817, 825 (2d Cir. 1977). These Constitutional rights were clearly established at the time the C. children were removed from their parent's custody in July 2005. See id. However, it was also well established in July 2005 that, "officials may temporarily deprive a parent of custody in emergency circumstances without parental consent or a prior court order." Robison v. Via, 821 -16-

F.2d 913, 921 (2d Cir. 1987) (internal quotation omitted). Thus, in this case, whether defendants are entitled to qualified immunity turns on the reasonableness of their belief that a sufficient emergency existed to warrant taking the C. children into temporary custody. This case bears resemblance to the facts facing the court in Doe v. Connecticut Dep't of Children & Youth Services, 712 F. Supp. 277 (D. Conn. 1989), aff'd, 911 F.2d 868 (2d Cir. 1990). In Doe, the plaintiff family brought a section 1983 action against the Connecticut Department of Child and Youth Services and a number of its employees alleging that the defendants violated the plaintiffs' Constitutional rights when they temporarily removed a minor child from his parents' custody. See id. The record indicated that the defendants effected the removal after a psychologist treating the child reported that the child spoke of ongoing sexual abuse at the hands of an older relative, and gave the psychologist reason to believe that the child's parents knew of the abuse but failed to stop it.8 See id. at 285-287. Other than contacting the reporting psychologist and the local police, the defendants made no other investigation of the psychologist's report before enacting a 96-hour hold and removing the child. The plaintiffs in Doe claimed, inter alia, that the defendants should not have inferred a risk of immediate danger from the psychologist's report, but rather should have undertaken further investigation. The court rejected this argument, holding that, based solely on the facts known to the defendants and on which they acted, "a rational

One m a jo r distinction between Doe and the present case, however, is that, in Doe, the p s yc h o lo g is t treating the child indicated that the child's parents not only failed to stop the abuse, but m a y h a v e been direct participants in that abuse. In the present case, there is absolutely no indication that e ith e r P.C. or S.R.C. ever sexually abused their children, nor do defendants claim as m u c h .

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jury could not find [that] it was objectively unreasonable for defendants to believe that [the minor child] was the object of ongoing sexual abuse, or that his removal was necessary to protect him from immediate physical danger." Id. at 285. In reaching this decision, the court noted that, "[w]hile it was not absolutely established that there was ongoing abuse, there was a reasonable basis to believe that there was ongoing abuse . . . ," and therefore, "[f]urther investigation could result in delay during which the . . . abuse could have continued." Id. at 285-286. The court also noted that, "[w]hile plaintiffs suggest defendants should have gone further [in investigating the psychologist's report], that is exactly the hindsight which would deter an honest official from acting." Id. at 286. "Such a finding," the court reasoned, "would inhibit a comparable official, in the same circumstances, and cause him/her to refrain from acting to protect a child who is at risk. Such inhibition is not in the interest of the community." Id. In the present case, a rational jury could not conclude that it was objectively unreasonable for the defendants to believe that the removal of the C. children was necessary to protect them from immediate physical danger. At the time defendants acted, it was undisputed that Q.B. had previously sexually molested J.C. and Pa.C. at the C. home. While defendants had had no indication prior to July 1, 2005, that Q.B. had returned to the C. home since the abuse came to light, they also had no reason to suspect that Barnette's report was false. In hindsight, plaintiffs may be correct that Q.B. had not returned to the home and that there was no ongoing abuse, but those are not the pertinent questions in this case. As the Doe court held, "[t]he possibility that there was no abuse must give way to protection of the child where a reasonable basis exists -18-

for the belief that such protection is necessary." Id. In other words, "[w]hen a child's safety is threatened, that is justification enough for action first and hearing afterward." Robison v. Via, 821 F.2d 913, 921 (2d Cir. 1987) (quoting Lossman v. Pekarske, 707 F.2d 288, 291 (7th Cir. 1983)). For the foregoing reasons, it was objectively reasonable for defendants to believe that there existed an emergency situation, and that they were not violating plaintiffs' Constitutional rights when they effectuated the removal of the C. children from their parents' custody. Accordingly, defendants are entitled to qualified immunity and, as a result, are entitled to summary judgment on the due process claims set forth in Counts Two, Five, and Nine. b. Count Three In Count Three, P.C. and S.R.C. bring a section 1983 claim against DCF. See Second Amended Complaint at 29. As the court has previously noted, see p.10-11, supra, however, the Eleventh Amendment bars section 1983 claims against state agencies. Therefore, as a matter of law, DCF is entitled to summary judgment on Count Three. However, even were the court to construe Count Three as a claim against the defendant employees rather than the agency itself, defendants would still be entitled to summary judgment. Read broadly, Count Three could be construed as P.C. and S.R.C. alleging that the individual defendants violated their due process rights when the defendants placed

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P.C. and S.R.C.'s names on the DCF Central Registry9 without providing them notice of such listing within five business days as required by state statute.10 See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k(b). However, to the extent P.C. and S.R.C. claim that notice from DCF came late, such claim would, at most, amount to a claim of simple negligence rather than a Constitutional due process violation. In this case, however, plaintiffs' allegation is not even sufficient to state a claim for negligence. The five-day notice requirement was added to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k by Public Act No. 05-207, and became effective on October 1, 2005. See 2005 Ct. P.A. 207. DCF substantiated neglect against P.C. and S.R.C. in February/March 2005 and in August 2005, well before the five-day notice requirement took effect.11 Consequently, defendants are
9

"If the com m is s io n e r determ in e s that abuse or neglect has occurred, the com m is s io n e r shall a ls o determ in e whether: (1) There is an identifiable person responsible for such abuse or neglect; and (2) s u c h identifiable person poses a risk to the health, safety or well-being of children and should be r e c o m m e n d e d by the com m is s io n e r for placem e n t on the child abuse and neglect registry established p u r s u a n t to section 17a-101k." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101g. Section 17a-101k provides that, "[t]he C o m m is s io n e r of [DCF] shall m a in ta in a registry of the Com m is s io n e r 's findings of abuse or neglect of c h ild r e n . . . ." In the Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that "no notice [of the plaintiffs' in c lu s io n in the registry] was ever given to the plaintiffs by DCF." Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t at 30, ¶ 5. In their Mem o r a n d u m in Opposition to Sum m a r y Judgm e n t, however, P.C. and S.R.C. retreat from this c la im and instead argue that notice was not given in com p lia n c e with state statute. See Mem . in Opp. at 6 -7 . Curiously, in the Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t, P.C. and S.R.C. also claim they were not given n o tic e of listing following a 2001 substantiation of abuse against P.C., which appears to be unrelated to th e 2005 rem o v a l at issue in this case. See Second Am e n d e d Com p la in t at 29-30. They do not claim that a n y of the defendants in this case were responsible for the placem e n t of P.C.'s nam e on the registry in 2 0 0 1 , nor have they presented any evidence from which the court could draw such a conclusion. To the e x te n t Count Three can be read as asserting a section 1983 claim for the 2001 registry listing against DCF ­ the only defendant who, to the court's knowledge, played any role in the 2001 listing ­ such claim is b a r r e d by the Eleventh Am e n d m e n t and the plain language of section 1983. See supra at 10-11. Further, s u c h claim is barred by Connecticut's three-year statute of lim ita tio n s . See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577 ( " N o action founded upon a tort shall be brought but within three years from the date of the act or om is s io n c o m p la in e d of"); see also Lounsbury v. Jeffries, 25 F.3d 131, 133 (2d Cir. 1994) (stating that actions b r o u g h t under section 1983 m u s t "borrow" the "m o s t appropriate or m o s t analogous" state statute of l i m it a t io n s ) .
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entitled to summary judgment on Count Three. c. Count Four In Count Four of the Second Amended Complaint, P.C. and S.R.C. claim that defendants denied them due process when defendants "knowingly usurped a court of competent jurisdiction's order." Second Amended Complaint at 30. This allegation is based on the fact that, despite the Superior Court's August 8, 2005 Order vacating the orders of temporary custody, DCF continued to pursue neglect petitions against P.C. and S.R.C. Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on Count Four because the Superior Court's August 8, 2005 decision vacating the orders of temporary custody was in no way dispositive of the related neglect petitions. The court agrees. To prevail on an order of temporary custody, DCF must establish, by a fair preponderance of the evidence, that the child is in immediate risk of physical harm. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-129. By contrast, in order to prevail on a neglect petition, DCF must establish, by a fair preponderance of the evidence, that the child "(A) has been abandoned, or (B) is being denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally, or (C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-being of the child or youth, or (D) has been abused." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-120. Thus, the court's finding that DCF had not shown that the C. children were in immediate risk of physical harm did not preclude the Department from pursuing neglect petitions. The standards for the two actions are distinct. Consequently, DCF's pursuance of the neglect petitions did not, in any way, "usurp" the Order of the Superior Court. Because there exists no genuine issue of -21-

material fact as to whether defendants denied P.C. and S.R.C. due process of law by "usurping" a court order, defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Count Four. 2. Fourth Amendment Claims a. Count One In Count One of the Second Amended Complaint, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that defendants violated their right under the Fourth Amendment to be free from "unreasonable searches and seizures. See Second Amended Complaint at 25. Despite this language, however, P.C. and S.R.C. do not allege in Count One of the Second Amended Complaint that the defendants effected a search. Rather, Count One appears to be based solely on the defendants' alleged seizure of the C. children. The law in the Second Circuit is that the state's assumption of custody of a minor child is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment. See Tenenbaum v. Williams, 862 F. Supp. 962, 973 (E.D.N.Y. 1994), aff'd in part and vacated in part, 193 F.3d 581 (2d Cir. 1999) (citing Van Emrik v. Chemung County Dep't of Social Services, 911 F.2d 863, 867 (2d Cir. 1990)). The seizure of the C. children, then, implicates the children's Fourth Amendment rights. The seizure of the C. children does not, however, implicate the Fourth Amendment rights of P.C. and S.R.C. as alleged in Count One. See Second Amended Complaint at 25 ("The specific acts of the DCF employees . . . violated the rights of the parents in this manner . . . ") (emphasis added). That is, to the extent they bring a claim to redress their own Fourth Amendment rights, as opposed to the Fourth Amendment rights of their children, such claim fails as a matter of law. See Tenenbaum v. Williams, 862 F. Supp. 962, 974 (E.D.N.Y. 1994), aff'd in part and vacated in part, 193 F.3d 581 -22-

(2d Cir. 1999) ("[T]he court is not aware . . . of any federal decision which has held that a parent may legitimately assert an individual, as distinct from representative, Fourth Amendment claim based upon the seizure of a child"); see also F.K. v. Iowa Dist. Court, 630 N.W.2d 801, 806 (Iowa 2001) ("Numerous federal courts have recognized parents' rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to vindicate ­ in a representative capacity ­ the constitutional interests of their children whose removal from their custody was accomplished without warrant . . . . These cases uniformly recognize that the seized children, not their parents, have privacy interests protected by the Fourth Amendment"). Neither P.C. nor S.R.C. has been the subject of a search or seizure at the hands of the defendants. Consequently, defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to Count One. b. Count Nine In Count Nine, the C. children assert a section 1983 claim for defendants' alleged violation of their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.12 "The Fourth Amendment protects `the people' from `unreasonable searches and seizures,' also providing that `no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing . . . the persons of things to be seized." Tenenbaum v. Williams, 193 F.3d 581, 602 (2d Cir. 1999) (emphasis and alterations in the original). The analysis of the C. children's Fourth Amendment claim results in a test similar, for the present purposes, to the due

The section heading for Count Nine m e n tio n s the Fourth Am e n d m e n t, in addition to the Fifth a n d Fourteenth Am e n d m e n ts . The paragraphs supporting Count Nine, however, contain only allegations o f violations of the C. children's due process rights, rather than their Fourth Am e n d m e n t rights. Nevertheless, the court analyzes Count Nine as stating both Fourth Am e n d m e n t and due process claim s .

12

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process standard. See id. at 604 ("If the information possessed by [caseworkers] would have warranted a person of reasonable caution in the belief that [a child] was subject to the danger of abuse if not removed from [her parent's custody] before court authorization could reasonably have been obtained, her removal was reasonable also"). In the context of a child removal, "a court order is the equivalent of a warrant." Id. at 602. Further, "probable cause" is "descriptive of what seizures are `reasonable' when . . . no warrant has been obtained." Id. at 602-03. In this case, because defendants have invoked qualified immunity, the court need not determine whether there was, in fact, probable cause to seize the C. children without court authorization, but rather whether defendants were reasonable in their belief that probable cause existed to support such a seizure. See Orlik v. Dutchess County, 603 F. Supp. 2d 632, 648 (S.D.N.Y. 2009). For the reasons stated in the due process analysis above, see supra at 15-19, while the clarity of hindsight may have revealed that the C. children were not in danger on July 1, 2005, this does not make defendants' belief on that date unreasonable. As previously noted, defendants relied on an undisputed history of abuse and information from an independent, mandated reporter in reaching the determination that to leave the C. children in their parents' custody until a court order for their removal could be obtained would pose a risk to the children's health and safety. At the very least, caseworkers of reasonable competence could disagree on the reasonableness, and therefore the legality, of defendants' actions. As a result, defendants are entitled to qualified immunity and thus summary

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judgment on the C. children's Fourth Amendment claim.13 See Tenenbaum v. Williams, 193 F.3d 581, 605 (2d Cir. 1999). 3. Equal Protection Claims In Count Seven, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that defendants violated section 1983 by denying them equal protection of the laws. In Count Eight, the C. children bring the same claim. Plaintiffs' claims in Counts Seven and Eight are premised on the allegation that, after the C. children were removed from their parent's custody, the defendants denied the plaintiffs equal protection of the laws by failing to follow certain DCF regulations governing the children's removal, placement, and return.14 See Second Amended Complaint at 33-36. Specifically, plaintiffs allege that defendants did not comply with DCF regulations found at Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 17a-101-13(c) and (d) by, inter alia, failing to conduct proper placement planning, separating A.C. from her sisters, and placing the twins in a Spanish-speaking home when they speak only English.15 Even if
13

It bears noting that, in reaching this decision, the court recognizes the Second Circuit's e m p h a s is on "the im p o r ta n c e of the availability of qualified im m u n ity where child welfare workers are s e e k in g to protect children from abuse." Tenenbaum v. W illia m s , 193 F.3d 581, 605 (2d Cir. 1999). Plaintiffs originally asserted in Counts Seven and Eight that Barnette and the YW C A violated C o n n . Gen. Stat. § 52-146(k). All claim s against Barnette and the YW C A were dism is s e d by stipulation on A p r il 9, 2009. See Order re Stipulation of Dism is s a l (Doc. No. 97). Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 17a-101-13(c) states, in relevant part: "Procedures on rem o v a l. If the Com m is s io n e r of [DCF] or his designee authorizes the em p lo ye e to rem o v e the child without the c o n s e n t of the child's parent or guardian and the em p lo ye e determ in e s that im m e d ia te rem o v a l is r e q u ir e d , the em p lo ye e shall (1) notify the parent(s) . . . of the determ in a tio n and the reason for it within 24 h o u r s ; (2) cooperate with and accom p a n y the designated law enforcem e n t officer authorized to rem o v e th e child, or request the local law enforcem e n t officials to accom p a n y the em p lo ye e if necessary; (3) P la c e m e n t Planning for the child shall give consideration to (A) relatives who are reliable caretakers; (B) lic e n s e d foster hom e ; (C) state-owned shelter care facilities or licensed, contracted child-caring facilities; ( D ) hospital-if required; (4) m a k e every attem p t to place siblings together and m a in ta in fam ily ties." R e g s . Conn. State Agencies § 17a-101-13(d) states, in relevant part: "Procedures during the 96h o u r hold. Upon rem o v a l, the em p lo ye e shall within 96 hours either: (1) return the child to his parent(s)
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the court were to find that defendants ignored DCF regulations, however, without more, such a finding would be insufficient to sustain a section 1983 action based on the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. As previously noted, the defendants are entitled to qualified immunity unless the plaintiffs' allegations, if true, establish that their conduct violated a clearly established constitutional right. See, e.g., Woodlock v. Orange Ulster B.O.C.E.S., 281 Fed. Appx. 66 (2d Cir. 2008) ("The threshold inquiry is whether a plaintiff's allegations, if true, establish a constitutional violation. If they do not, there is no necessity for further inquiries concerning qualified immunity"). In Counts Seven and Eight, plaintiffs allege that defendants violated various DCF regulations. Such allegations, however, are not the same as alleging that a clearly established constitutional right has been violated. As the Supreme Court has stated, "[o]fficials sued for constitutional violations do not lose their qualified immunity merely because their conduct violates some statutory or administrative provision." Davis v. Scherer, 468 U.S. 183, 194 (1984). "Rather, these officials become liable for damages only to the extent that there is a clear violation of the . . . rights that give rise to the cause of action for damages [under section 1983]." Id. In other words, a constitutional violation must be established separately from the issue of a state statutory violation. See Bush v. Viterna, 795 F.2d 1203, 1209 (5th Cir. 1986) ("[T]he enforcement of state law is the job of the states, and [section 1983] may not be used to bootstrap alleged violations of state law into federal claims").

. . . ; or (2) assist the parent(s) . . . in voluntarily placing the child in som e other m u tu a lly acceptable living a r r a n g e m e n t; or (3) if the parent(s) . . . refuses to place the child voluntarily, petition the Superior courtJ u v e n ile Matters for com m itm e n t of the child and an order of tem p o r a r y custody."

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In this case, plaintiffs have failed to make out a cognizable violation of their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. The Equal Protection Clause is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. See Giordano v. City of New York, 274 F.3d 740, 751 (2d Cir. 2001) (quoting City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., 473 U.S. 432, 439 (1985)). Construing Counts Seven and Eight broadly, the court reads plaintiffs' claims as asserting a violation of the Equal Protection Clause through selective enforcement of the law. A selective enforcement claim generally has two elements: (1) the plaintiff, compared with others similarly situated, was selectively treated; and (2) such selective treatment was based on impermissible considerations such as race, religion, intent to inhibit or punish the exercise of constitutional rights, or malicious or bad faith intent to injure a person. See LaTrieste Restaurant & Cabaret v. Village of Port Chester, 40 F.3d 587, 590 (2d Cir.1994). However, a plaintiff not alleging invidious discrimination on the basis of membership in some group may nevertheless prevail on an equal protection claim if she shows: (1) she has been intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated; and (2) there is no rational basis for the difference in treatment. See W illowbrook v. Olech, 528 U.S. 562, 564 (2000). In this case, plaintiffs do not allege in their Second Amended Complaint that defendants' failure to comply with various DCF regulations was unique to their case, nor that such failure was the result of defendants' intentionally treating them differently from others similarly situated. Even if they had so alleged, they have not presented sufficient evidence for a rational finder of fact to find that: (1) any selective treatment was based on impermissible considerations; or (2) defendants intentionally treated plaintiffs -27-

differently from others similarly situated without a rational basis for such difference in treatment. Thus, because there exists no genuine issue of material fact requiring trial on plaintiffs equal protection claims, defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Counts Seven and Eight. B. State Law Claim

In Count Six, P.C. and S.R.C. allege that defendants are liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress ("IIED"). Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment on P.C. and S.R.C.'s IIED claim because P.C. and S.R.C. have not presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of IIED. The court agrees. Under Connecticut law, to succeed on an IIED claim, a plaintiff must show that: (1) the defendant intended to inflict emotional distress or knew or should have known that emotional distress was a likely result of his conduct; (2) the defendant's conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) the defendant's conduct was the cause of the plaintiff's distress; and (4) the emotional distress sustained by the plaintiff was severe. See Carrol v. Allstate Ins. Co., 262 Conn. 433, 443 (Conn. 2003). "The essential element of the claim is whether the alleged conduct is considered `extreme and outrageous' according to the standards of a civilized community." Lavoie v. United States, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37622 (D. Conn. May 4, 2009). "Whether defendants' conduct was sufficiently `extreme and outrageous' is initially a question for the court to decide." Id. (quoting Crocco v. Advance Stores Co., 421 F. Supp. 2d 485, 503 (D. Conn. 2006)). "Federal courts in the District of Connecticut, applying Connecticut law, have interpreted the qualification of extreme and outrageous conduct strictly." Lavoie v. -28-

United States, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37622 (D. Conn. May 4, 2009) (quotation omitted). "[O]nly where the conduct has been so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community" will the second prong of the case for intentional infliction of emotional distress be satisfied. Carrol, 262 Conn. at 443. "Generally, the case is one in which the recitation of the facts to an average member of the community would arouse his resentment against the actor, and lead him to exclaim, `Outrageous!'" Id. "Conduct on the part of the defendant that is merely insulting or displays bad manners or results in hurt feelings is insufficient to form the basis for an action based upon intentional infliction of emotional distress." Id. In this case, the court finds that defendants' conduct does not rise to the level of extremity and outrage necessary to sustain an IIED claim. DCF is the state agency responsible for ensuring the welfare of Connecticut's children. DCF social workers are tasked with investigating suspected child abuse or neglect and deciding whether to take action to protect the safety and welfare of the children in question. In this case, it is undisputed that, if the facts reported to DCF by Barnette were accurate, those facts would provide sufficient basis for removing the C. children from their parents' custody, especially in light of the undisputed history of abuse by Q.B. See L.R. 56(a)(1) Stmt. at ¶ 40. The essence of plaintiffs' claim, then, is that defendants wrongly relied on Barnette's report. Even if defendants did err in relying on Barnette's report, however, such error does not amount to conduct that is "so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community." Carrol v. Allstate Ins. Co., -29-

262 Conn. 433, 443 (Conn. 2003). Barnette, a professional sexual abuse counselor, was in an ongoing counseling relationship with Pa.C. and J.C.. As a mandated reporter, Barnette was required by Connecticut law to report to DCF if she had reasonable cause to suspect that the girls had been abused or neglected. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101a. The record contains no indication that defendants believed Barnette's report was inaccurate or incomplete, nor does it contain any evidence from which the court can conclude that defendants should have suspected that Barnette's report was inaccurate or incomplete. As a result, defendants' removal of the C. children based on Barnette's report was not "extreme and outrageous," Carrol, 262 Conn. at 443, and defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Count Six. V. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 51) is GRANTED as to all counts. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment and close this case. SO ORDERED. Dated at Bridgeport, Connecticut, this 24th day of July, 2009.

/s/ Janet C. Hall Janet C. Hall United States District Judge

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT P. C., ET AL. Plaintiffs, v. CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ET AL. Defendants. : : : : : : : :

CIVIL ACTION NO. 07-cv-01055(JCH)

JULY 24, 2009

APPENDIX A TO RULING RE: DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (DOC. NO. 51)

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