Newton et al v. Monroe County, Florida
Filing
39
ORDER Granting 17 Motion for Summary Judgment; Denying 19 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. Signed by Senior Judge James Lawrence King on 3/20/2015. (jw)
UNI
TED STATES D I
STRI CO UR T
CT
SO UTH ERN DI
STRI O F FLO RI
CT
DA
CA SE NO .4: 4- v- 0034- NG
1 c 1
K1
KEY W EST DI SI
VI ON
J ES B.
AM
NEW TON,
RUTH L.NEW TON ,
ROBERT D .REY NOLD S a
nd
J J AN NE C.REYNOLDS,
I LI
Pl ntfs
ai if ,
V.
M ONROE COUN TY,FLORI ,
DA
a p ii ls vii oft St t ofFl i ,
oltca ubdi son he a e
orda
Def nda .
e nt
l
/
ORDER G R ANTI G DEFEN DANT' M O TI N FOR SUM M ARY JUDG M ENT
N
S
O
AND DENY I PLAI TI
NG
N FFS'M OTI FOR PARTI SUM M ARY JUD GM ENT
ON
AL
THI CAUSE c me b f e te Co r u n c o smo ins f rs mmay j g n :
S
o s ebr h u t po r s - to o u r ud me t
Dee a ts M o in f r Su r J dg n ( l ) a d Plitfs M o in f r Pa t l
fnd n ' to o mma y u me t DE 7 n an if ' to o ri
a
S mmay J g nt ( 1 )
u r ud me DE 9 .The cos- to a e f l b if d Fo t r a o s t a
r smo ins r ul re e . r he e s n h t
y
f l w , a wih t be h of or l a gum e ,t Cour gr s Def
olo
nd t he nef
a r
nt he
t ant
enda ' M oton f
nts
i or
Sum m a y J
r udgm e and de esPt ntf s M o i f Pa talSum m ar J
nt
ni ai if ' ton or ri
y udgm e .
nt
L
Facsa Pr c dur l so v
t nd o e a Hit r
The undiput m a e i l f c s a e as f l s
s ed t ra a t r
olow ,Under a Se ember 1
pt
991 Te rt i l
r iora
Ag e m e ta p o d by t Flrd Pu i Se v c Co si n,Ke En r y Sev c (
r e n p r ve
he o ia blc r ie mmiso
ys e g r i e a
mu ii lu ii a r e t p o d ee ti s r iet czt me sfo Ke W e tt Pi o
n cpa tlt g e d o r vi e lcrc e v c o lso r r m y s o ge n
y)
Ke i udi N o N a e Ke By J y 201 Ke Ene gy had i t l d el ti f ciii on
y, ncl ng
m
y.
ul
2, ys r
ns ale ecr c a ltes
No Name K e but had no ye pr ded s r ce t c t m e s be us of t Count s
y
t t ovi
e vi o us o r ea e
he
y'
opposton.Re e nt he e,t Count r us t gr nt a e e t i penni t Rober a
ii
l va
r he
y ef ed o a n l c rc
to
t nd
J i nneRe
ula
ynol ,a r voked an elcti pe m i t t Count ha gr nt d t J m es a
ds nd e
e rc r t hat he
y d a e o a
nd
Rut N e o The Count ss aed r onsf doi s a e t ti be ived t e e i of
h wt n.
y' tt eas
or ng o r ha t le
he xt nson
eec rc utlt s r c t N o Na neK e waspr bied by t Count s compr he i pl n
l ti iiy e vi e o
n
y
ohi t
he
y'
e nsve a
a l devel
nd and
opmentr gul tonsor nance - i udi Or na e 043e a i ./ di
s ncl ng di nc
2001 whi h wer
c
e
i pl m e ed t f t r t Count s goa s of lm ii de opm e a pr ec i t
m e nt o urhe he
y'
l
i tng vel
nt nd ot tng he
e r
nvionment
.
I a e f r t s e j iila pr va ofise f t,t Co n y s u htade lrton i
n n fo t o e k udca p o l t fors he u t o g
ca ai n
Fl i s ae c t as t whe her i coul lw f l pr ve K e Ener f om pr di
orda t t our
o
t
t
d a uly e nt ys
gy r
ovi ng
el ti s r c t N o N a e Ke r s de s The sa e ti l cour dim is d t ac i .
ecrc e vi e o
m
y e i nt .
t t ra
t s s e he ton
Fl rda' Thid D it it Cour of Appea s a fr ed,hol ng t tt Fl i Publc Se i e
oi s r
src
t
l f im
di ha he or da
i rv c
Com m ison had e l i J i diton t dec de t is
si
xc usve ' s c i o
ur
i he s ue. See Roe
mmel put y v
e- ne
.
Re ls 1 6 S 3 7 ( a 3 DCA 2 3 .
ynod , 0 o. d 8 F1. d
01 )
I a c r a e wi t Ro mme epune de iin,Plitfs a t Co n y (nd
n c o d nc t he e l- t y c so an if nd he u t a
h
oh r)p o e de b f r h Fl rda Pub i Se v c Co si n.Th Co s in r ld
t e s r c e d e o et e o i
lc r ie mmiso
e mmiso ue
aga ns t Count deci ng t t t Count coul no pr ve t e e i of e ecrc
i t he
y,
di ha he
y
d t e nt he xt nson
l ti
utlt s r c t No N a e Ke and t tN o N a e K e r i nt wer entted t e e t i
iiy e vi e o
m
y,
ha
m
y esde s e il o l c rc
utlt s r ce under t 1
iiy e vi
he 991 Te t i l Agr em e .
nior a
e nt
S e I r Co a n o Ro e tD.
e n e mpl i t f b r
Re o d ,
yn l s PSC- 3- 2 71 0 0 PAA- ,2 3 W L 22 3 7 ( a P. C. 3 .TheCo n y c u d
EM 01
98 2 F1 . S. 201 )
ut ol
ha a al t Com m is on' de son t t Fl i Supr m e Cour .lI t ad, upon t
ve ppe ed he
s i s cii o he orda
e
t nse
he
Co s in' d cso ( n t ts med y) t Co n y a d Pli if e tr d it a a e d
mmiso s e ii n o ha a a , he u t n antfs n e e n o n gr e
1 e Ar. ,j3( ( , a Co s.
S e tV
b)2) Fl. n t
2
mandamusor ri Fl i sat c t whi h or r d t Count t gr el ti pe m ist
de n orda t e our, c de e he
y o ant ec rc r t o
Pli if.DE 1 ,a l
a ntfs
-1 t 7-20.Pl ntfs t n am e d t r sat cour c pl nt t plad
ai if he
nde hei t e
t om ai o e
e u t f rv o ainso ( )t ere ua p oe tonrg t t e 4 U. C.j 1 3a d ( )t i
o n s o i lto f 1 h i q l r tci ih s md r 2 S.
98 n 2 her
Fl i s t ntve due pr es rght .The Count r m ove t ac i t t sCour.
orda ubsa i
oc s i s
y e
d he ton o hi
t
IZ
I
S a r o M o in f rSum ma vJude nt
t nda d n to o
r
me
Su r j g nt i a pr p it whe e t e pla n a d s p ri mae il
mma y ud me s p o rae
r h e digs n u po tng tras
esa ih t tt e i no ge ne is a t any ma e i lf tand t tt m ovi pa y i
t bls ha her s
nui s ue s o
t ra ac
ha he
ng rt s
e tte t j dg n a am atr(flw. eFe R. v. 5 Ceotx Co p. .Ca r t,4 7
n ild o u me t s te ) a Se d. Ci P. 6; l e r v tet 7
U. 31 3 2 ( 98 ) A f c i k tra' i i i ma d tr ne t o tome u e t
S. 7, 2 1 6 . a t s s e il f t s y e emi he u c
ma
'
nd r he
a plc bl s sa tv lw. d r o v Lie t Lo y,I c,4 U. 2 24 ( 9 6 .Th
p ia e ub tn ie a An e s n . b ry bb n . 77 S. 42, 8 1 8 ) e
nomnovi pa t mus s
ng ry
t how s fc f c st s
pecii a t o uppor t tt r i a ge ne diput 1 at
t ha he e s
nui
s e. d.
2 6.On amo in f rs
5
to o umma yj d me t t c u tmu tv e t e e i e e a r s l a1
r u g n , he o r s iw h v d nc nd e ove 1
i e ence i t lght mos f vor bl t t nonmovi , pa t f a 255.I r e ng t
nf r s n he i
t a a e o he
ng ry. #. t
n evi wi he
r c r e d n e t eCo t yno un e tk t j r sf to o weg n t e d nc o
e o d vie c , h ur ma t d ra e he u y' i in f ihig he vie e r
mc
unde tki c e biiy de e m i tons Latmer v,Roar n To ,l ,601 F. 1
ra ng r di lt t r na i . i
i g yz nc.
3d 224, 1
237
( 1hCi. 1 )
1 t r 20 0 .
11
1.
Def ndanti G r ed Sum m ar Judem enton Pl ntf s Count2
e
s ant
v
ai if '
Ato a a gum ent Pl ntf sco eded t Count sposton t tkher i no ca e of
rl r
, ai if nc
he
y'
ii ha é e s
t
us
a to f m one da ages agai tt s a e is a nci or empl es...a i i diec l
c i n or
y m
ns he tt , t ge es
oye
rsng r ty
unde t due pr s c a e,ari e 1 s ton 9,of t Fl i Consiuton.'Gar a v.
r he
oces l us
tcl
eci
he orda
tt i '
ci
Re s 697 So.2d 549, 5 0 ( a 4 h DCA 1 7 .Ac o digl,t Co n y' moi n f r
ye ,
5 Fl. t
99 ) c r n y he u t s to o
s mmayj d n i grntda t Plitfs Co nt 2
u r u gme t s a e s o an if ' u 2.
l
V.
Pl ntfsDi N otPl a Proc
ai if d
ead
eduralDue Pr s Cl m
oces ai
I Pli if M oton f Pa talSumm ar J
n a ntfs'
i or ri
y udgm ent t c a m f t fr ttm e t
, hey l i or he is i hat
t r pr e aldue pr es rght we e vi a e Even t
hei oc dur
oc s i s r ol t d.
hough Pl ntfs di note i ty
ai if d
xplcil
pl d a pr dur l due pr s vi a i t y ar t tone i pr l bef e t Cour
ea
oce a
oce s olton, he gue ha
s opery
or he
t
bas on t f l ng sat m e i t i Am e
ed
he olowi t e nt n he r
nded Compl nt ûlhi i an a ton f r lef
ai : s- s s
c i or ei
puruantt 42 U. C.j1 f vi aton oft Pli if'Fit a Fouree hAmendment
s
o
S. 983 or ol i
he antf' fh nd
j
t nt
rght ' DE 1- ,at 11 il ude i t e rght i t rght t pr dur due pr s ,
i s.
'
1
. sncl d n hos i s s he i
o oce al
oce s'
'
Pl ntfsexpl n. 33,at8.
ai if
ai DE
The Ame de Co antc nanso y t c u t- a 4 U. C.j 1 8 cam f r
n d mpli o ti nl wo o n s
2 S.
9 3 li o
vi a i of Pl ntfs equalpr ec i rght, and a cl m f vi a i of Pl ntfs'
ol tons
ai if '
ot ton i s
ai or oltons
ai if
Fl i s t ntve due pr s rght The Cour concl s t t a
orda ubsa i
oce s i s.
t
ude hat he bove-ef r d
r e ence
s aem e i t Am e
t t nt n he
nded Compl ntdi notputt Count on notc ofa pr edur due
ai d
he
y
ie
oc al
p o e scam . Thesae n a pe r u e t eh a n S u I- Dic i nain Pu s a t
r c s li ( ttme t p a s nd r h e dig,l nt
co
s rmi to ru n
t 4 U. C.j1 8 f rVi ain o App ia t Eq a Pr tc in Riht.) Pli if smpy
o 2 S. 9 3 o olto f lc n s u l o e to g s' . antfs i l
'
di notpl ad a vi aton of t r pr edur ldue pr es rght .They c
d
e
ol i
hei oc a
oc s i s
annot do s f t
o or he
frttmeo s
is i n umma yj d me .Gi rv e ,Mc7 na d t Co ,3 2 F. 1 2 1 4
r u g nt l
mou .Gats lo l t . 8 3d 31 , 31
( 1h Ci.2 0 ( e 8' lb r lp e dng sa d r S oe no a f d plitfs wih a
1 t r 0 4) Rul s ie a la i tn a d k s t for an if t n
d
o po tnt t r ie ne camsa t s mma yj d n sa e' . c r n y,Pli if'
p ru iy o as w li t he u r u gme t tg .) Ac o digl antfs
'
2Pl i if ha e e sy di c ai e a a t m ptt r cover f vi a i oft r f de al
antfs ve xpr s l s l m d ny te
o e
or ol tons
hei e r
s t i duepr srght .DE 26,a 2.
ubsantve
oces i s
t
4
M oton f Pa talSum mar J
i or ri
y udgm e i de ed t t ex e i s eksr i ff vi a i of
nt s ni o he t nt t e
ele or oltons
Pli if pr dur lduepr es rght .
antfs' oce a
oc s i s
L
Pl ntfs Equal o e to Cli
ai if'
Pr t c i n a m
Pl i if ha br
antfs ve oughta i a s of one' eq pr e i cl m .The Supr me Cour
i s
cl
' ual ot cton ai
e
t
r cogni es s
e
z uch a c a m i r t pl ntf ale s t t s has bee i e i l te ed
li d
whe e he ai if lge ha he
n nt ntonaly r at
dif r nty f om ot ssi ia l siuat d a t tt r i no r in bass f t dif r nc
fe e l r
her m l ry t e nd ha he e s
attnal i or he fe e e
i te t nt' Vla o Wi o r o v Olc 5 8U. 5 2,5 4( 0 ) t pr ea ils
n r ame . ilge f l wb o k , e h, 2 S. 6 6 2 00 . i ov ca s
'
l
T0
o o 'cam,hepli tf mu ts o ( )t a h wa te td d fe e ty fo o he smia l
f ne li t an if s h w 1 h t e s r ae ifr n l r m t r i lry
st td id viu l,a ( t a t dee d n u q a l a ple af cal ne ta o dia c
i e n i d as nd 2) h t he f n a t ne u ly p id a il u r l r n n e
ua
y
f t pur e of dic i i tng a i thi . Leb v.H ilbor gh Cn/ Pub. Tr p.
or he
pos
s rm na i ga ns m ' i
'
ls ou
y.
ans
Co ',5 8F. 1 ,1 07( 1 Ci. 0 )
mm n 5 3d 301 3 1 + r 20 9 .
Az Pl i if Fa l oI ntf Dif r n l Tr a e Si l l Siua e l vi l
antfs i t de iv fe e tv e t d. miarv t t d ndi dua s
W hie Pli if ' el c rc per is we e de ed a r voke t Count gr nt
l a ntf s e ti
mt
r
ni nd e
d, he
y a ed
numer e e rcpe tapplc tonst r i nt ofBi Pi Ke Pl ntf sa gue t t e
ous l cti nni
iai
o esde s
g ne y. ai if r
hat hos
Bi Pi Ke r i s a e t s mia l st t pe s who we e tea ed dif enty t
g ne y esdent r he i lry iua ed r ons
r r t
fer l han
Pl ntf s I i undiput t t t Count di no gr nt pe m is t any No N a e K e
ai if . t s
s ed ha he
y d t a
r t o
m
y
r s de durng t r evantpe i
e i nt i he el
rod.
Thepa te deba e whet rt e r e alqualtesa conce nsofN o Name Key
ri s
t
he he nvionm nt
ii nd
r
a Bi Pi Key a e smia s as t r
nd g ne
r i lr o
o endert pr
he opery owne s oft t Ke sm ia l
t
r
he wo ys i l ry
st t d f r equalpr e ton pum os s Thi de t m us r m a n unr ol
iua e o
ot c i
e . s ba e
t e i
es ved.Anot r oft
he
he
Count s a gume s i dipostve of t sm ia l st t d i s . l i undiput d t a 1
y' r
nt s s ii
he i lry iua e s ue t s
s e hat l
r l tii
ades bef e t Count
or he
y
pr tes on Bi Pi Ke a e i a ea t t we e eec rfed dec
operi
g ne y r n r s ha
5
e ct Or na e 043na ed di nc
2001 a bef e i de ed orr
nd or t ni
evoke Pl ntfs pe m i a i tons
d ai if ' r t pplca i .
For t s r as t Count a gues r s de s on Bi Pi Key who we e gr nt el ti
hi e on, he
y r , e i nt
g ne
r a ed ec rc
pe m isa enotsm ia l st t d t Pli if .TheCour a ee .
r t r
i lry iua e o antfs
t gr s
The Elve h Cic tha feque l not d t t ihe ii iary st t r quiem e
e nt r ui s r nty
e ha i sm l l iua ed' e r nt
t
m us be rgor l a i d i t c e of S a s ofone'c a m s' Lei 558 F. a 1
t i ousy pple n he ont xt cl s
li .
' b,
3d t 307.
i l o ig ito b o d a d tniin o Si lry st td'c u d s b e tne ry alsae
i mpl yn gq o r a
l
ei to f smia l i e o l u j c a l 1 tt
ua
r a or decii t consiutonalr vi i f r c
egul t y
sons o
tt i
e ew n ede al ourtand de sa e r gul or t
ny tt e at s he
c iia dic ei n t e ne d t e fci l pef r t i d te .'1 .(le ai n i o i na)
rtc l s r to h y e o fe tvey ro m her u is' d atr to n rgi l
'
( uo ig Gr hn I du . I .v I vn 49 F.d 1 89 1 03 ( 1h Ci.2 07 ) He e t
q tn j n s, nc . r i, 6 3 1 , 2 1 t r 0 ). r , he
Co y' sa ed r as f isdecii t deny a r
unt s t t e ons or t
son o
nd evokePl ntf s el ti pe m iswasis
ai if ' ec rc r t
t
bele t t is compr he i pln and lnd de l e r gul i / di nc - whih
if ha t
e nsve a
a
ve opm nt e atonsor na es
c
we e i e ent d t f t rt Count sgoal oflm ii de opm e a pr e i t
r mplm e o urhe he
y'
s i tng vel
nt nd ot ctng he
e r e pr bied f t r el ti aton.So i c i
nvionm nt ohi t urhe ecrfc i
t ontnued t gr nt e e ti per is t
o a l c rc m t o
r sd nt i ar a y-lcrfe a e s( g PieKe )a rf e t g a p r t t r sd n s
e ie s n le d ee tiid r a Bi n y nd eus d o r nt e mis o e ie t
i n n ee tiid a e s ( Na Ke ) l o h r wo d ,i te td dismia l st td
n o - lcrfe r a No me y . n t e r s t r ae s i lry i e
ua
per ons di sm iary,whi h does no vi a e t Equa Pr t c i cl e.E & F Real.y v.
s
si l l
c
t ol t he
l o e ton aus
t
S rc l d 8 F.d 1 0 ,11 9( 1h Ci.1 7 .
tikan , 30 2 1 7 0 1 t r 98 )
The undiput e dence s
s ed vi
hows t t Pl ntfs we e not te t dif e l t n
ha ai if
r
r a ed fer nty ha
sm ia l st t per ons.The ef e,i i unnec s r t de e m i whet r ge ne is
i l ry iua ed s
r or t s
es a y o t r ne
he nui s ues
ofm a e i f tr m ai a t t r tonalt oft dif r nc i tea m e .3 Pl ntfs cl s
t ral ac e n s o he a i iy
he fe e e n r t nt ai if ' as 3The Co tnot st tPl ntfsr y on dit fom a due pr s c e t ar t tl ac
ur e ha ai if el
c um r
oce s as o gue ha i
an t
whi a gove nmenthas no a hort t pe f m ca
ch
r
ut iy o r or
nnothave a r tonalr l tons p wih a
ai
e a i hi t
6
oïone e
q
qualpr e i cl m f isa sep one asa m at ofl w .D e enda s a e e il t
ot cton ai a l t t
ter a
f
nt r ntted o
s mmayj d n o al o n sofPlitfs Ame de Co l it4
u r u gme t n l c u t
an if' n d mp an .
The ef e i i O RDERED ,ADJUDG ED,and DEC REED a f l
r or , t s
s olows;
Th tDe e da ts M o in f rSu r J g nt( 1 )b ,a t e s m e i,
a fn n ' to o mmay ud me DE 7 e nd h a s
he e GM NTED .
r by
2. Tha Pli if M oton f Pa talSumma y J
t antfs' i or ri
r udgment( 19)be and t s me
DE
,
he a
i,he e DENI
s r by
ED.
DONE and ORDERED i Cha ber a t J m e La ence Ki Feder J tc
n
m s t he a s wr
ng
al usi e
Buidi a Unie St esCourhous M i m i Fl i t s20t da ofM a c 201
l ng nd
t d at
t e, a , orda, hi h y
r h, 5.
e
AM ES LA
N CE KI
NG
I
TED STA TES DI
STRI
CT
GE
SOU THERN DI
STRI OF FL RI A
CT
D
c
c:
A1 Couns ofRecor
1
el
d
lgii t go e n n p p e' DE 33 a 3 (eyng o S v n h Ste t LLC v Ba d n
e tmae v r me t ur os .
'
, t r li n e e t r e,
. l wi
Cn Plnnn t Zo n Ct ',1 2 F.Ap x 91 ( 1h Ci.2 6 ( n b ih d ) The
@. a ig f nig p n 7
-vr
p' 8 1 t r 00 ) u pu ls e l.
r tonalbass t tdoes a k i
ai
i es
s l he t gove nmenthast powe or a hort t r a e
whet r he
r
he
r
ut iy o egult
t pari ara e i quesi 'Lei 558 F. a 1
he tcul r a n
ton.' b,
3d t 306.Ye ans rng t sque ton doesnot
t we i hi
si
a ar t be r qui ie t de di a cl s of one equalpr t ton cl m wher a he e
ppe o
e st o ci ng
as - o ec i
ai
e, s r ,
Pl ntf sc l nget une la i a i ofa ne r 1 r t t c l ngi al w t t
ai if hale
he qua pplc ton
utal aw a her han hale ng a ha
ca sfe . ei. deemi n t tac uny c mmiso sr es r v sr to a ba i r viw
ls iis Se d ( tr nig ha o t o si n' ul u vie ai n l ss e e
a i lo rj c l l t e tl s o o ' e u l p o e to agu n . . l n i e Leb'
nd G s ee ti h ca s f ne q a r tcin r me t . ao gsd i s
a
ng
ta ii n le u lp o e to cam' (mp ss a de .Net e pa t h s ctd a isa e
r dto a q a r tci n li ' e ha i d d) ih r ry a i n n tnc
)
e
whe e a cour ha f
r
t s ound a cl sofone equa pr t ton vi a i ba e s el on a
as - l o ec i
ol ton s d ol y
gove nm entslck ofa hort t r gul t i a gi n ar a.
r
' a
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