Dalton v. State of Florida, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Filing
53
ORDER Granting 27 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 10/26/2012. (jw)
U NI
TED STA TES DI
STRICT C OU RT
SO UTH ERN D I
STR I O F FLO R I
CT
DA
M I M IDIVI
A
SION
CA SE N O .11 23 1 CI K 1 G
- 27- V- N
J
OHN DA LTON ,
Pl ntf ,
ai if
STATE o y FLORI A ,DEPARTM EN T
D
oF H I w AY SA FETY AN D M or
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Se p n . t f
y
T mpl Te r e F1 ,267 F. l 1 97 1 01( 1h Ci 2 ) I o ma c an s o
e e r ac , a.
3( 1 , 2 1 t r 001 . nf r l omplit f
dic i i ton t a s r s al o qua iy aspr ect d e e i See G ol m ih v.Ci
s rm na i o upe vi or s
lf
ot e xpr sson.
ds t
t
y
o At r ,99 F. 1 55 ( 1h Ci. 1 3) Rolis v St e o Fl De ' o Zl
f mo e 6 2d 1 1 t r 99 ; ln . at f a. p t f w
En o c me ,8 8F. 3 , ( 1hCi.1 )
f r e nt 6 2d 97 400 1 t r 989 .
To f lunde t s a ut s pr ec i t pl ntf al o m us dem ons r e t t he
al
r he t t e' ot ton, he ai if s
t
tat ha
( )o s d a e o n pr cie ()ta h s be tvey beiv d t be una ul
1 ppo e n mplyme t a tc 2 h t e u j ci l le e o
lwf
u e Til V1 a ( t thi s jci beifwa o j ci l ra on bl.Cl e v
nd r te I nd 3) ha s ube tve le s be tvey e s a e ov r .
Tot 5'' S r s,I c, 1 F. l1 4 3 ( 1h Ci.1 9) The e o rs c nd t
al .y5 e v . n . 76 3t 3 6,1 51 1 t r 99 ,
.
'
.
mpl ye ' o uc
n e no ha a t l be n u a u ,G o l ng a (h pli tf lde nsr t s a go
e d t ve cual e nlwf l ç o s t e a n if mo ta e
y
s
od
f t r as bl be i f t t t e pl r w as engaged i unl w f empl ent
aih, e ona e le ha he m oye
n
a '
ul
oym
pr ci e . Bl k se , 1 9 F.d a 1 88 (n e a q t ton ma ks o i e . Th
a tc s' oc bu t r 3 3 t 3 i tm l uo ai
'
r m t d) e
t
e pl
m oyee m us a l tc m uni at a be i t tdi crm i ton i occ rng.Webb v.R
t t eas om
c e
lef ha s i na i s ur i
& B Hol n Co. I c ,99 F.Su
dig , n ' 2
pp.1 8 1 9 ( D .Fl .1 ) $ ti no e ug f r
3 2, 38 S. .a 998 . û s t no h o
1
t e pl
he m oyee m er y t com pl n a
el o
ai bouta c t n polc orcerai be orofco- or r
erai
iy
t n havi
w ke s
a r y on t em pl
nd el
he
oyer t i z t t dicrm i ton has occ r ' 1 A n em pl
o nf r ha s i na i
ur ed.' d.
oyee'
s
8
beift ta a ves e o me ta to i u a uli no obe tveyr aon bl i h o
l ha n d re mply n cin s nlwf s t j ci l e s a e f e r
e
s i ia a e ofl tm a e, non- s rm i t y r ons'f t ac i .
he s tw r
egii t
di c i na or eas ' or he ton
Vis nv De 'o
n o . p tf
Cor ectons Fl .s 672 F.Supp.2d 1 , 1 60( D, a. 9)
r i , a
247 2 N. Fl 200 .
At t tm e Pl i if s empl ent w as t r i t , he had not fl a EEOC
he i
a ntf
oym
e m na ed
ied n
c mpli t Se ( #1 p,5, Dalon D e ,D E #45-1 p. 1 ) Pli tf ha ,h v r
o an . e DE , ' t
p.
,
7 . a n if d owe e ,
e es d t a s rvior Ca ai Di , t t he i ended t do s .
xpr se o upe s , pt n xon ha
nt
o
o
( #27 2,p.2;
DE
-
D at De ,DE #45-1 p.1 ) Pli ipsp o e ta s bs q ntdic i n ton cams
lon p.
,
7 . antf r t s nd u e ue s rmia i li
v u aiy dimis d wih prj die fo t sa to wee b s d o Plitf beif
olntrl s se t eu c r m hi cin
r a e n anifs le
t tf al em pl
ha em e
oyeesw oul notbe i tgat d f t s et ofdi cl ur .
d
nvesi e or he am ype
s os e
Asu ngt s fcs Plitf woudne dt prvet thsb le wa o j ci l
s mi ho e a t, anif l e o o ha i eif s be tvey
r ona e.Pl ntf c
eas bl ai ips ompl nt t Capt n D i f l ed Capt n D i
ai o
ai xon olow
ai xon i tuctng
ns r i
Pl ntf t hi i er ew i K e La go had bee c
ai i f hat s nt vi n y r
n ance l d a Pl ntf a ki Ca ai
le nd ai i f s ng pt n
Di wheher he was unde i tgaton f s rng confdentali or a i w ihout
xon
t
r nvesi i or ha i
i i nf m ton t
a t rz ton.( lo De ,DE # - ,pp.1 1 Dion De ,DE # - , pp.1 - 9 .
u ho iai Dat n p.
45 1
4- 5; x
p.
46 1
8 1)
Pl ntf s pe ed he was;Ca ai Di onl c m uni at d t t i w as a m iconduc
ai if us ct
pt n xon y om
c e ha t
s
t
is e. Di o De , #46 1 p.1 Dat De , #45 1 p 1 )
s u ( x n p. DE - , 9; lon p.DE - , 5 .
.
How e , t r or f t do not i c e t Pl ntf was gi n f m al or
ver he ec d ac s
ndi at hat ai if
ve or
i or alnotfc i ofa i tga i orpendi dici i , a t Cour a eesw ih
nf m
i aton
ny nves i ton
ng s plne nd he
t gr
t
Pl ntf t Vi on i ditnguiha e on t ba s t t he e Pl ntf had t i e
ai i f hat ns
s s i s bl
he si ha r
ai i f
o nf r
pot i l di ci i y c ges Regar es of whe her Pl i if c d have esabls
enta s plnar har .
dl s
t
a ntf oul
t i hed a
ti
ha ,
prm a f ci di c i i ton cl m , t e Cour fnds t t consr ng t f t i hi f vor
i a e s rm na i
ai 4 h
t ui he ac s n s a ,
Pl i ifse es i w a pr e ed.
antf xpr s on s ot ct
i.Caus Connecton
i
al
i
; es a ih a ca alconne i a pl ntf m us s
û
To t bls
us
cton, ai if
t how t tt decii m ake s
ha he
s onr
wer awa e of t pr ec ed conduc , a t t pr ec ed actviy a t adve s
e
r
he ot t
t nd hat he ot t
i t nd he
re
ac i wer not w holy unr a ed. Cl e t por pr m iy be w ee t pr ec ed
tons
e
l
el t
os em al oxi t
t n he ot t
ac i t and t a se ac i m a be s ûci t s
tviy
he dver
ton y
uf ent o how t t t o w e e notwholy
hat he w
r
l
u r lt d'Sh no v Belouh Tee o ,I . 2 F.d 71 71 - 7 ( 1h Ci. 002
n ea e . an n . ls t lc mm. nc, 92 3 2, 6 1 1 t r 2 )
'
( iai a q t ton m a k omi e .Bu a e t a ii na cic tnta e de e
cttons nd uo a i
r s t d) t bs n ddto l r umsa i l vi nc ,
t
m e e t m por pr m iy m us le S r cl e.'Cl Cozn/ Sc
r e
al oxi t
t 7 k y os ' ark
ve
/ y hoolD i .v.Br
st
eede
n,
5 2 U. 2 ,2 ,1
3 S. 68 73 21S. .1 08 ( 001 . rsh vehed t tmor t n t r emo h
Ct 5 2 ) Cou t a
l ha
e ha h e nt s
i t dit nt t es a ih a ca alconnec i se i ;Thomas v.Coo Li i I .
s oo s a o t bls
us
ton, e d.
per ghtng, nc ,
5 6 F. 1 , 1 3- 4 ( 1h Ci. 2 7) bu t t a f w we ks o ls i ce ry
0 3d 361 36 6 1 t r 00 , t ha e
e r e s s lal
s tce t Se Ente i v Ci gfpa ma Ci F1 . 3 Fe App' 98 9 ( 1h Ci.
ufi in . e r kn . t
y
na
t a , 76 d.
y,
x 7, 97 1 t r
201 ) faws n v Pl nt i Ge r Hos ,L. ,7 4 F.Su 2 1 4,1 1( D.Fl .
0;
o . a aton ne al p. P. 0
pp. d 25 27 S. a
201 .
0)
A pl ntf c
ai if annotesabls a c alc
t ih aus onnec i bas on t por pr m iy i hi
ton ed
em al oxi t f s
pr ect d ac i t occ r afe an a
ot e tviy ur ed tr
dver e e pl e ac i ha bee cons der oran
s m oym nt ton d n
i ed
4Though Pl ntf sdicrm i i cl m sar no l
ai if s i naton ai
e ongerati ue, t Cour not t Pl ntf brefngs
ss he
t es hat ai ifs i i
f l t i iy a sngl sm iary st t em pl
aied o dentf i e i l l iuaed
oyee whos f abl tea mentc d havepr ded t
e avor e r t
oul
ovi he
Courtwih a basi t fnd t tPl ntf had been dicrm i t d agai t SeeM orrs v.Emor Clni,I ,
t
s o i ha ai if
s i na e
ns .
i
y i c nc.
40 F.d 1 6 l 2( 1hCi. 5) Plitf ' cam t taf l e o e t da h e o ar tr
2 3 07 08 1 t r 200 . anifs li ha emae mplye ,he ug tr f eied
Fl i Hi wa Par mao, ste tdmor lni tyta hewa fralg dl vi ai adfee t
orda gh y tol j rwa rae e e enl h n
s o le e y oltng ifrn
po iywoudb betrc a a trz da ac a g o n p im t a g n rdic i nain. e( lon
lc
l e te h r ce ie s h r e f e ots h n e de s rmi to Se Dat
De ,DE # - ,p 27 3 .
p.
45 1 p. - 2)
S.
i tgaton had been ope i o a em pl entvi a i See Cl k Ct?n/ 532 U .
nvesi i
ned nt n
oym
olton.
ar p, .y,
f
a 2 1(i o r n e no s s n pr viusy pln d ta f r u dic e i g t t
t7 l
Empl ye s e d t u pe d e o l a ne r nse s pon s ov rn ha
a Til VI s thasbeen f l and t rpr
te 1 ui
ied,
hei oceedi al lnespr ous y cont m pl ed,
ng ong i
evi l
e at
t u h no d fnii l d tr ne , i n e i nc wh tve o c us lt ' ;Syr v
ho g t e i tvey e e mi d s o v de e a e r f a a i '
y.)
# .
T onFo s I .No.5:0- - 61 2011W L 31 3 a * ( . Ga. uy 26 2 1
ys
od , nc,
1 CV'1 ,
07 45, t 3 M D. J l , 01 )
(i antf c nn e tbls ac us ll b c u ehi pr e t d e e so o t ba i of
k i if a ot sa ih a a i e a s s otc e xpr s i n n he ss
pl
nk
age occ r afe hewa plc d o s pe i n f rse pi on d y a a i si a in
ured - tr
s a e n us nso o le ng
ut nd n nve tg to
h dbe u ' 'T a v t o
a g n.l e l .Ci fDahlne No.2:9- 0l 7 2 1W L 7 06 ,a *
',
y
o ga,
0 CV- 8 , 01
0 248 t 24
( D.Ga.A u 2 2011 ( ttng t t te c u a c ne ton wa u e mi d wh r
N.
g. 4,
) sa i ha h a s l on ci
s nd r ne
ee
i ai ifhad ale been pl
i ntf
pl
r ady
aced on adm i s r i l ave a w asbei i tgat f
ni tatve e
nd
ng nves i ed or
m ic
s onductt uli at y f m ed t ba s f he t m i i whe s fl herEEOC
hat tm el or
he si or r er naton
n he ied
c r '.
hage'
)
Though t s a yss i plca es s m iar f t as t dicusson of whet r
hi nal i m i t i l ac s
he s i
he
Pl ntf e es i w a pr ect d,t out e i dif entbe
ai ifs xpr son s ot e he com s f er
caus t ques i i not
e he
ton s
w hat Pl i if kne but wha a i D ef nt ha ale
a ntf
w
t ctons
enda
d r ady underaken at t tm e
t
he i
Pl ntf com pl ned ofdi c i i i
ai i f
ai
s rm naton.
Pl ntf c m uni ed hi pr es ofw ha he bele w asgende dicrm i i
ai i f om
cat
s ot t
t
i ved
r s i naton
t Capt n D i
o
ai
xon, who s ed t t com pl nt w ih hi s r s , Deput I pec or
har ha
ai
t s upe vior
y ns t
Ge r Ki Bot w e e a ong t fve or m or m em ber of t D i i i y A cton
ne al ng. h r m
he i
e
s
he scplnar
i
Revi w Boar K i Dep. D E /27- pp.61 62;LefhersD e DE #48-1 pp.1 1;DE
e
d. ng
,
1 1,
t i p.
,
0-1
# 4,p. 7 .Pli tf s c mpli t t Ca t i Di n wa ma Oc o r 28 201 a
4
) an if o an o p an xo
s de t be , 0 nd
Pli tf r c i d a tr nai n lte o No mbe 3,201 ( #2 - p.7) The
an if e eve
e mi to etr n ve r
0. DE 7 2,
.
d cso wa ma et e No mb r1orNo mbe 2. DE #4 p. )
e ii n s de ih r ve e
ve r (
4, 7 .
For t pur es of e t bls ng a c alconnec i t o t t e busnes days
he pos
s a ihi
aus
ton, w o hr e
i s
qua ii a çve y c os ' t
lf es s t r l e' empor pr m iy.A nd at l tt o of t decii m a s
al oxi t
eas w
he
s on- ker
w e e a a e ofPl i if s i or alc
r w r
a ntf nf m ompl nt t hi s vi or H ow ever D ef nda had
ai o s uper s .
, e nt
aleady begun a i tga i i o Pl ntf polcy vi aton a w as cont pl i
r
n nves i ton nt ai ips i
ol i nd
em atng
dici i a t tm e Pl ntf com pl i t Ca ai D i
s plne t he i
ai if
a ned o pt n xon.The pr xi tng r on f
ee s i eas or
Def nt st r i ton ofPl ntf em pl entdef t t ca alconnec i bet een
enda ' e m na i
ai ips
oym
ea s he us
ton w
Pl ntf com pl i ofgende dicrm i ton and t a
ai ifs
a nt
r s i na i
he dver e em pl e ac i
s
oym nt ton.
B. ai lfDi Not mo taeTha De nda ' Re s n Wa Pr txt l
Pl nt d De nsr t
f
t fe nts a o
s ee ua
A s um i Pl ntf ha es a i he a prm a f ci cl m ,D ef nda woul s ilbe
s ng ai i f d t bls d
i
a e ai
e nt
d tl
e ild t s
nt e o umma y j dg ntbe a e De e ntpu f rh a lgii t ,n n-ea it r
t
r u me c us fnda t o t e tmae o r tla o y
bass f Pl ntf s t r i i and Pl ntf di not dem onsr e t t D ef
i or ai if e m naton
ai if d
tat ha
endants
'
e a ton w a m er pr e .See Sulian v.NatonalRair
xpl na i
s
e et xt
lv
i
load Pas ge Cor , 1
sen r
p. 70
F.d 1 6,1 9 ( 1h Ci.1 99 ( ic sn ho o c a pli ife tbls s a prma
3 05 05 1 t r 9 ) d s us i g w n e antf sa ihe
i
f ci r ala i cl m ( he bur n s fs t t def ndant t r
a e et iton ai i
t
de hi t o he e
o ebut t pr um pton of
he es
i
rtlain';Ma vil v Ci o Co a Gabls 5 F.S p.2 1 0,1 31( D.Fl.
eaito '
) nde le . t f r l
y
e , 0 up d 32 3 S. a
1 9 (ttn t a i t
9 9) sai g h t f hede e n S o fr a lgii t ,no r t laor r a o f is
fnda t s fe s e tmae n-e ait y e s n or t
pr
empl e de son,'t pr um pton i r t and t bur
oym nt ci i ' he es
i s ebuted
he
den s hs bac t t
hi
k o he
plitf t p o t tt d f nd n ' r a o wa p ee t)
an if o r ve ha he e e a ts e s n s r t x ..
A pl ntf ca pr
ai if n ove pr t ' W
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4462 N orh U ni s t Dr ve
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La hil FL 33351
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9547479777
Fax:91 9041
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Couns l rDe nda
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G l A len Bas et ,1
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Ofi oft Atom ey G e al
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The Capiol PLt , 01
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Fax:8504884872
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954- 271 4600
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