Wells v. Yale University et al
Filing
18
RULING granting 12 Motion to Dismiss the third count of the complaint. Signed by Judge Christopher F. Droney on 7/28/2011. (Gothers, M.)(5 pages)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
NATASHA WELLS,
Plaintiff,
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v.
YALE UNIVERSITY
and BRIAN DONNELLY,
Defendants.
3:10-cv-2000 (CFD)
RULING ON MOTION TO DISMISS
The plaintiff, Natasha Wells, filed a three-count complaint in the Connecticut Superior
Court alleging common law claims of assault and battery, as well as use of unreasonable force in
violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§
1983 and 1988. Yale University and Brian Donnelly (collectively, the “defendants”) removed
the case to federal court based on federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
Defendant Yale has moved to dismiss Count Three of Wells’ Complaint for failure to state a
claim pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).1 For the reasons that follow, Yale’s motion is
granted.
I.
Factual Background2
Brian Donnelly is a police officer, employed by Yale University in New Haven,
1
Count One alleges common law assault and battery against Donnelly; Count Two
alleges the same against Yale; and Count Three alleges the Fourth Amendment claim against
both defendants.
2
These facts are taken from the allegations of the plaintiff’s complaint. The allegations
must be assumed true for the purpose of resolving the motion to dismiss.
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Connecticut.3 At approximately 10:00 p.m. on August 5, 2010, Donnelly stopped a motor
vehicle on St. Ronan Street in New Haven that was operated by Wells. The motor vehicle stop
occurred in a neighborhood of New Haven that contained many private homes that are
unaffiliated with Yale. After stopping Wells’ vehicle, Donnelly allegedly detained Wells and
subsequently assaulted and battered her. As a result of the alleged assault and battery, Wells
suffered contusions and other injuries.
II.
Discussion
To survive a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a plaintiff must state a
claim for relief that is plausible on its face. See Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570
(2007). A claim is facially plausible if “the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court
to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. The
plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer
possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949
(2009) (internal citations omitted). In determining whether the plaintiff has met this standard, the
Court must accept the allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in
the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See In re NYSE Specialists Sec. Litig., 503
F.3d 89, 95 (2d Cir. 2007).
In Count Three, Wells brings suit under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988, claiming that both
Donnelly and Yale are jointly and severally liable for Donnelly’s alleged use of unreasonable
force in the course of arrest in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Yale
3
The Complaint alleges that although Yale is a private institution, both Yale and
Donnelly acted under color of state law.
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argues that Wells’ claim against it in Count Three should be dismissed because Wells has not
alleged personal involvement of Yale in Donnelly’s alleged acts.
Allegations of personal involvement by the particular defendant is a prerequisite to
liability under a § 1983 claim. See Farrell v. Burke, 449 F.3d 470, 484 (2d Cir. 2006) (“It is well
settled in [the Second] Circuit that personal involvement of defendants in alleged constitutional
deprivations is a prerequisite to an award of damages under § 1983.” (internal quotation marks
omitted)); Gaston v. Coughlin, 249 F.3d 156, 164 (2d Cir. 2001) (“Proof of an individual
defendant’s personal involvement in the alleged wrong is, of course, a prerequisite to his liability
on a claim for damages under § 1983.”); Piscottano v. Town of Somers, 396 F. Supp. 2d 187,
197 (D. Conn. 2005) (citing Wright v. Smith, 21 F.3d 496, 501 (2d Cir. 1994)). Here, Wells’
Complaint contains no allegations with respect to Yale’s personal involvement in Donnelly’s
alleged acts, or that any of Yale’s policies caused the assault. Instead, Wells appears to rely on
the doctrine of respondeat superior, claiming that as Donnelly’s employer, Yale should be held
liable for the alleged constitutional violation.
Respondeat superior and vicarious liability are inapplicable in cases brought pursuant to
42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988. See Hayut v. State Univ. of N.Y., 352 F.3d 733, 753 (2d Cir. 2003)
(“It is well settled, however, that the doctrine of respondeat superior standing alone does not
suffice to impose liability for damages under section 1983 on a defendant acting in a supervisory
capacity.” (citing Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691 (1978))); Fine v. City of
New York, 529 F.2d 70, 75 n.11 (2d Cir. 1975) (noting that there is no vicarious liability for
municipalities under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 for the acts of their employees). Rather, “evidence of a
supervisory official’s ‘personal involvement’ in the challenged conduct is required.” Hayut, 352
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F.3d at 753 (citing Johnson v. Newburgh Enlarged Sch. Dist., 239 F.3d 246, 254 (2d Cir. 2001)).
This principle applies both to governmental and private employers. See Rojas v. Alexander’s
Dep’t Store, Inc., 924 F.2d 406, 409 (2d Cir. 1990) (“Although Monell dealt with municipal
employers, its rationale has been extended to private businesses.”). “Personal involvement” may
be demonstrated by evidence of any of the following:
(1) the defendant participated directly in the alleged constitutional violation, (2)
the defendant, after being informed of the violation through a report or appeal,
failed to remedy the wrong, (3) the defendant created a policy or custom under
which unconstitutional practices occurred, or allowed the continuance of such a
policy or custom, (4) the defendant was grossly negligent in supervising
subordinates who committed wrongful acts, or (5) the defendant exhibited
deliberate indifference . . . by failing to act on information indicating that
unconstitutional acts were occurring.
Colon v. Coughlin, 58 F.3d 865, 873 (2d Cir. 1995). Here, Wells’ Complaint includes no
allegations of personal involvement, whether direct or indirect, by Yale. There are no allegations
that Yale participated in the alleged acts by Donnelly; that Yale failed to remedy the wrong or
that Donnelly acted under a Yale-created policy, or that Yale was grossly negligent in supervising
Donnelly. In fact, Wells’ allegations indicate the opposite—Wells alleges that the alleged
altercation occurred in a neighborhood that contained private homes that were unaffiliated with
Yale. Accordingly, Wells has failed to sufficiently allege Yale’s personal involvement and her
claim in Count Three, brought under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988, that Yale is jointly and
severally liable for Donnelly’s alleged use of unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth
Amendment is dismissed.
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III.
Conclusion
Accordingly, the defendant’s motion to dismiss [Dkt. #12] is GRANTED.
SO ORDERED this 28th day of July 2011, at Hartford, Connecticut.
/s/ Christopher F. Droney
CHRISTOPHER F. DRONEY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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