Stanek v. Saint Charles Community Unit School District # 303
Filing
183
MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order. Defendants' Motion to Strike Plaintiffs' Third Amended Complaint and Class Allegations 121 and Defendants Julie Stetson and Rory Pine's Motion to Dismiss 149 are granted. Plaintiff is given leave unt il January 5, 2018 to file an amended complaint consistent with this opinion. Failure to do so will result in summary dismissal of this case. Status hearing remains set on December 7, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. Signed by the Honorable Jorge L. Alonso on 12/1/2017. Notices mailed by judge's staff (ntf, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
MATTHEW STANEK, SANDRA STANEK,
and BOGDAN STANEK
Plaintiffs,
Case No. 13-CV-3106
v.
SAINT CHARLES COMMUNITY UNIT
SCHOOL DIST NO. 303, et al.,
Defendants.
Judge Jorge L. Alonso
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs Matthew, Sandra, and Bogdon Stanek have brought this action against St.
Charles Community School District #303 and several teachers and school administrators. Before
the Court is Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Third Amended Complaint and Class
Allegations [dkt 121], and Defendants Julie Steston and Rory Pine’s Motion to Dismiss [dkt
149]. For the reasons that follow, the motions are granted. Defendants Steston and Pine are
dismissed with prejudice and the Third Amended Complaint is stricken. Plaintiffs are given until
January 5, 2018 to file an amended complaint consistent with this opinion.
BACKGROUND
Although still at the pleadings stage, this case has a long history which has already been
the subject of multiple court decisions, and is repeated here only in pertinent part. Plaintiff
Mathew Stanek is autistic. He attended St. Charles High School from 2009-2013, during which
time he received special education services. According to Plaintiffs, Matthew excelled when he
received adequate supportive services.
During his junior year of high school however,
Defendants failed to provide adequate services, discriminated against Matthew based on his
1
disability, and retaliated against Plaintiffs for their advocacy on his behalf. Plaintiffs allege that
Matthew and his parents and co-plaintiffs Sandra and Bogdon Stanek suffered as a result.
On April 1, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a state court complaint against the St. Charles
Community Unit School District and 12 individual defendants which was thereafter removed to
federal court. [Dkt 1.] In August 2013, the Court found Plaintiffs’ complaint “impossible to
decipher,” as it was written largely in narrative form, referred to many federal and state laws, and
did not make clear which Plaintiffs were asserting which claims against which Defendants. [Dkt
21.] Plaintiffs were given leave to amend their complaint in accordance with Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure 8, 10, and 11, and were advised of the availability of free legal assistance
through the District Court’s Pro Se Assistance Program. [Id.]
Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint in September 2013. [Dkt 25.] It was 20
single-spaced pages, and contained six counts. [Id.] After defendants’ motion to dismiss was
granted in its entirety, Plaintiffs successfully appealed to the Seventh Circuit, who in 2015
affirmed in part and reversed in part. [Dkt 70.] Specifically, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the
district court’s dismissal of Matthew Stanek’s retaliation claim under the Rehabilitation Act and
the ADA, all of Plaintiffs’ official capacity claims against the individual defendants except for
Superintendent Donald Scholmann, the individual capacity claims under the Rehabilitation Act
and the ADA, and any further claims not addressed specifically in the decision. [Id.] In all other
respects, the dismissal was vacated and the case was returned to the district court.
[Id.]
Defendants then answered the complaint, and Settlement Assistance Counsel was appointed.
[Dkt 77, 89.] After an unsuccessful settlement conference with the Magistrate Judge, Plaintiffs
were directed to file an amended complaint consistent with the Seventh Circuit’s decision. [Dkt
95, 96.] Plaintiffs’ second amended complaint more than quadrupled in size, to 88 pages, and
2
contained five counts. [Dkt 97.] Defendants moved to strike the complaint as inconsistent with
the Seventh Circuit’s ruling, and violative of Rule 8’s requirement of a “short and plain”
statement of the claims. [Dkt 98.] The Court gave Plaintiffs leave to file a third amended
complaint (“TAC”), which they did in May 2016. [Dkt 101.] The TAC swelled to 203 pages,
containing seven counts over 631 paragraphs.
The TAC alleges violations of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
(“IDEA”), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, the Civil
Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the First Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the Illinois School Student Records Act, 105 ILCS 10/1 et
seq. It attempts to add four new defendants, the Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”),
State Superintendent Tony Smith, Rory Pine, who is alleged to have been Matthew’s substitute
teacher during the 2011-12 school year, and Julie Stetson, who is alleged to have been
Matthew’s special education case manager for a portion of that same year. [Id.] It also attempts
to add class claims on behalf of all students with disabilities, present and future, in District # 303.
[Id.] ISBE and Smith moved to dismiss the TAC against them, which was granted in part and
denied in part. [Dkt 161.] The Illinois Student Records Act claim was dismissed with prejudice
as to both defendants, and as to Smith, the IDEA claim was dismissed with prejudice and the
constitutional claims were dismissed without prejudice. [Id.]
Pending before the Court is Defendants Stetson and Pine’s motion to dismiss on personal
jurisdiction and timeliness grounds. [Dkt 149.] Also before the Court is Defendants’ motion to
strike the class allegations on the ground that Plaintiffs cannot not satisfy the threshold
requirements of a class action, and to strike the TAC in its entirety because it does not contain a
3
short and plain statement of the claims as required by Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. [Dkt 121.]
Stetson & Pine’s Motion to Dismiss
Plaintiffs obtained a default against Defendants Stetson and Pine on December 12, 2016.
[Dkt 133.] On December 16, 2016, Stetson and Pine moved to vacate the default, which was
granted on February 28, 2017. [Dkt 161.] While the motion was pending, Stetson and Pine also
filed a motion to dismiss on the basis of Plaintiffs’ failure to serve process in accordance with
Rule 4 and on the expiration of the statute of limitations. [Dkt 149.]
For the reasons set out in the Court’s February 28, 2017 memorandum opinion vacating
the default (which issued during the briefing on this motion), the Court determined that service
on Stetson and Pine was not proper. [See dkt 161.] Plaintiffs’ arguments notwithstanding, the
defendants did not waive their challenge to defective service by first seeking to vacate the
default; indeed they argued it at length in their motion to vacate and the Court relied on it in
granting the motion. [Dkt 137, 161.] To waive a personal jurisdiction defense, a defendant must
give a plaintiff a reasonable expectation that it will defend the suit on the merits, or it must cause
the court to go to some effort that would be wasted if personal jurisdiction is later found lacking.
See Mobile Anesthesiologists, Chi., LLC v. Anesthesia Assocs. of Houston Metroplex, P.A., 623
F.3d 440, 443 (7th Cir. 2010). That is not the case here, where it has been clear from their first
appearance that Stetson and Pine challenged the court’s personal jurisdiction over them. Filing
their counsel’s appearance and their motion to vacate the default based on lack of jurisdiction
neither gave Plaintiffs an expectation they would defend the suit on the merits nor required court
resources that would be wasted upon a finding that jurisdiction is lacking.
4
In resisting this conclusion, Plaintiffs mistakenly rely on O’Brien v. R.J. O’Brien &
Assocs., Inc., 998 F.2d 1394 (7th Cir. 1993), in which the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district
court’s finding of waiver against a defendant who first appeared to oppose entry of a default, and
then filed a motion to dismiss.
In O’Brien, however, the defendant failed to raise the
jurisdictional defense in its motion to vacate, and it was upon this omission that the court found
waiver. See id. at 1398-99. Far from omitting their objection here, Stetson and Pine premised
their successful motion to vacate on their objection to the lack of service on them. [See dkt 137.]
Because Stetson and Pine were not properly served and have not waived their objection,
the court may not exercise personal jurisdiction over them. See U.S. v. Ligas, 549 F.3d 497, 500
(7th Cir. 2008). “When a plaintiff fails to serve process within the period of time prescribed by
the federal rules, Rule 4(m) requires the district court to dismiss the complaint without
prejudice.” Id. at 501. A dismissal with prejudice is appropriate, however, where the statute of
limitations has expired on the plaintiff’s claims. See Cardenas v. City of Chi., 646 F.3d 1001,
1007-08 (7th Cir. 2011). The court thus turns to whether the dismissal should be with prejudice.
There is no dispute that the statute of limitations expired on Plaintiffs’ claims before the
filing of the TAC and well before Stetson and Pine appeared, but Plaintiffs assert their claims
relate back to the timely filing of their first complaint. [Dkt 150 at 5-7; dkt 155 at 12.]
1
According to Stetson and Pine, relation back does not apply because Plaintiffs did not make a
mistake in failing to timely name them, and because neither were mentioned in any timely filed
complaint, and neither received the complaint and summons within the time prescribed by the
Rules. They also emphasize the prejudice to their ability to defend on the merits by being
1
As to the state law claims that tolled until Matthew’s 18th birthday, the limitations period
expired September 13, 2013; as to the federal law claims that tolled until Matthew’s 18th
birthday, the limitations period expired September 13, 2014.
5
brought into this action years after the underlying events, especially given the case’s long
procedural history. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, insist that relation back saves their claims,
arguing that their failure to name Stetson and Pine resulted from Plaintiffs’ mistaken belief that
School District # 303 was responsible for their actions given that both held temporary roles, and
because Stetson and Pine knew or should have known that they would have been named in the
original complaint but for Plaintiffs’ mistake. Service within the time prescribed is not required
in order to apply relation back, Plaintiffs add, but rather, only that defendants received notice of
the action. Because Stetson and Pine knew of the lawsuit, either from the news media, or from
the fact that District #303 was timely sued and is represented by the same counsel as they are
now too, Plaintiffs say, their claims against them relate back to their timely filed original
complaint.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(c) conditions relation back on three fundamental
prerequisites: (1) the amended complaint must arise out of the same conduct, transaction, or
occurrence described in the original pleading; (2) within the period for serving summons and
complaint the party to be brought in by amendment must have received notice of the lawsuit such
that the party would not be prejudiced in defending on the merits; and (3) the party to be bought
in must have or should have known that the action would have been brought against it but for a
mistake concerning the proper party’s identity. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(1). In considering
whether relation back is appropriate, the district court must only ask two questions: “first,
whether the defendant who is sought to be added by the amendment knew or should have known
that the plaintiff, had it not been for a mistake, would have sued him instead or in addition to
suing the named defendant; and second, whether, even if so, the delay in the plaintiff’s
6
discovering his mistake impaired the new defendant’s ability to defend himself.” Joseph v. Elan
Motorsport Techs. Racing Corp., 638 F.3d 555, 560 (7th Cir. 2011).
While there is no question that the claims against Stetson and Pine arise out of the same
conduct, transaction, or occurrence described in the original complaint, Plaintiffs have not
established the other required elements to enable relation back. First, while Plaintiffs are correct
that it need not be shown that Stetson and Pine received the summons and complaint in a timely
fashion, it must be shown that Stetson and Pine had notice of the action such that they would not
be prejudiced in defending on the merits at this late date. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(1)(C)(i).
Notably, Plaintiffs do not argue that Stetson and Pine had actual knowledge of the suit, but only
that their employer had knowledge, that their employer’s counsel had knowledge, and that it was
in the news. Plaintiffs cite Joseph as support for their argument that the knowledge of District
#303 is somehow imputed to Stetson, who is alleged to have been a substitute teacher of
Matthew’s during 2011-12, and to Pine, who is alleged to have briefly been a special education
case manager during the same school year. But the imputation of knowledge from an employer
to an employee was not at issue in Joseph; instead, the court considered the knowledge of related
and similarly named corporations, and the knowledge possessed by a supervisory employee of
still a third affiliate who was a considered a de facto employee of the intended defendant. See
Joseph, 638 F.3d at 560-61. 2 The facts are simply incomparable here.
2
Notably, unlike with Plaintiffs’ tardy naming of ISBE and its superintendent Smith for whom
the court applied relation back, Plaintiffs do not argue that they ever gave Stetson and Pine
reason to believe they intended to sue them, or that their failure to do so is in any way
attributable to their pro se status. Unlike with ISBE and Smith, Plaintiffs do not suggest they
issued a reservation of rights to Stetson or Pine, nor do they point to any specific communication
that plausibly could have let Stetson and Pine know that but for Plaintiffs’ mistake, they too
would have been timely sued.
7
Plaintiffs’ assertion that Stetson and Pine share an identity of interests with the original
defendants also does not save the claims. “The identity of interest principle is often applied
where the original and added parties are a parent corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary,
two related corporations whose officers, directors, or shareholders are substantially identical and
who have similar names or share office space, past and present forms of the same enterprise, or
co-executors of an estate.” Norton v. Int'l Harvester Co., 627 F.2d 18, 21 (7th Cir. 1980)
(finding insufficient identity of interest as between two separate entities with no intercorporate
relationship facing distinct claims against them) (internal quotations omitted).
Even if an
identity of interest theory could be applied to an employer/employee relationship, Plaintiffs’ own
authorities show it would not apply to non-managerial, non-highly ranked employees like
Stetson and Pine. See, e.g., Singletary v. Pennsylvania Dept. of Corr., 266 F.3d 186, 199 (3rd
Cir. 2001) (declining to apply identity of interest theory to “staff level employee . . . with no
administrative or supervisory duties”). 3
Likewise, that Stetson and Pine are now represented by the same counsel as their
employer does not suggest they had constructive knowledge of this action, especially since their
counsel only began representing them after they too received notice of the lawsuit.
See
Davenport v. Dovgin, 545 Fed Appx. 535, 539 (7th Cir. 2013) (“shared attorney” method of
imputing knowledge in order to find timely notice of lawsuit inapplicable where attorney only
began representing proposed defendant after untimely amendment). Similarly, even if Plaintiffs’
3
The closest case for an application of an identity of interest theory would be if Plaintiffs only
sought to apply it to their official capacity claims. But to the extent that Plaintiffs attempt to
bring official capacity claims against Stetson and Pine, the claims would be redundant since
Plaintiffs already have sued District #303. [See dkt 161 at 7 (citing Lewis v Madigan, 687 F.
Supp. 2d 958, 973-974 (N.D. Ill. 2010).]
8
dispute regarding the provision of services to Matthew was covered in the local media, it would
not establish knowledge of the sort contemplated under the Rule.
Plaintiffs argue they intended to sue all of Matthew’s teachers during his junior year
except one, and that the newly added defendants should have known that from the allegations of
Plaintiffs’ timely filed complaint. But Plaintiffs have not established that the defendants they
seek to add had knowledge of the lawsuit until they were brought into it years after the expiration
of the limitation period. Rule 15(c)(1)(C)(ii) asks what the prospective defendant knew or
should have known during the Rule 4(m) period, not what the plaintiff knew or should have
known at the time of filing her original complaint. See Krupski v. Costa Crociere S.p.A., 560
U.S. 538, 548 (2010).
Even if the court were to find Stetson and Pine had the requisite knowledge of the action,
it is not clear that Plaintiffs’ decision not to name them reflects the sort of mistake contemplated
under the Rule. Plaintiffs say they did not name Stetson and Pine because they believed that as
their employer, the School District would be liable for claims against them, but this argument is
belied by their naming of many other teachers and another case manager in their timely filed
complaint. Plaintiffs liken their purported mistake here to the one at issue in Joseph, where the
plaintiff named one corporation on a contract claim when the contracting party was actually a
related, similarly named corporation that shared office space and personnel with the one initially
named. But that is unlike the circumstances here. As the Supreme Court made clear, “[m]aking
a deliberate choice to sue one party over another while understanding the factual and legal
differences between the two parties may be the antithesis of making a mistake concerning the
proper party’s identity.” Krupski, 560 U.S. at 549.
9
Given their pro se status, however, it might be plausible that Plaintiffs failed to appreciate
the roles of Stetson and Pine in a way contemplated by the courts in Joseph and Krupski. Even if
that were so, there is no indication that Stetson and Pine knew or should have known of the
action, let alone that Plaintiffs were mistaken in not suing them as well. “A potential defendant
who has not been named in a lawsuit by the time the statute of limitations has run is entitled to
repose – unless it should be apparent to that person that he is the beneficiary of a mere slip of the
pen, as it were.” Joseph, 638 F.3d at 560.
An additional factor counsels against relation back. Plaintiffs argue that Stetson and Pine
could not possibly be surprised by their tardy inclusion as defendants “given their own wrong
action against the Plaintiffs.” [Dkt 155 at 13.] This is a position unsupported in the law, and
indeed, as yet unsupported by the record. There is as of yet no determination of wrongdoing. To
the extent Plaintiffs only meant to argue that Stetson and Pine have knowledge of the underlying
facts giving rise to this lawsuit because of their involvement in the acts complained of, it is
enough to note that this much is true in any case where a plaintiff belatedly seeks to add a
defendant who has some involvement in the underlying dispute. Moreover, as the Seventh
Circuit made clear in Joseph, the longer the delay in amending the complaint, the likelier the new
defendant is to have been placed at a disadvantage in the litigation. See Joseph, 638 F.3d at 560.
Here, more than four years had passed since the events at issue and more than three years since
the filing of the first complaint by the time Plaintiffs filed their TAC adding Stetson and Pine.
By that time, there had been years of motion practice and an answer filed in this case, as well as
an appeal to the Seventh Circuit. Given the deliberate choice to name some teachers and
administrators and not others, the lack of any indication that Stetson and Pine had notice of the
10
action, and the prejudice imposed by the substantial passage of time, relation back of the tardy
claims against Stetson and Pine would be inappropriate.
Because the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Stetson and Pine due to the failure to
serve them, and because any amended complaint would be beyond the statute of limitations and
unsaved by the principle of relation back, Stetson and Pine’s motion to dismiss with prejudice is
granted.
Defendants’ Motion to Strike
The remaining defendants move to strike the class allegations of the TAC, and to strike
the TAC in its entirety. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), “the court may strike from
a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous
matter.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f).
potentially serve only to delay.
Generally, motions to strike are disfavored because they
See Heller Fin., Inc. v. Midwhey Powder Co., Inc., 883 F.2d
1286, 1294 (7th Cir. 1989). “In some cases, however, a motion to strike removes unnecessary
clutter from the case, and serve[s] to expedite, not delay.” Id. “Despite the disfavored status of
a Rule 12(f) motion, a court may properly strike matter when it has the effect of confusing the
issues or where it is so lengthy and complex that it places an undue burden on the responding
party.” Alexander v. Northeastern Ill. Univ., 586 F. Supp. 2d 905, 915 (N.D. Ill. 2008) (internal
quotations omitted).
Insofar as the motion seeks to strike all class allegations, the Court considers the import
of Rule 23 in addition to Rule 12. Rule 23(c)(1)(A) states that “[a]t an early practicable time
after a person sues . . . as a class representative, the court must determine by order whether to
certify the action as a class action.” Fed. R. Civ.P. 23(c)(1)(A). “The rule’s text plainly indicates
11
that the court may decide to reject a plaintiff’s attempt to represent a class as soon as it becomes
obvious that the plaintiff will be unable to satisfy Rule 23.” Hill v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 946
F. Supp. 2d 817, 829 (N.D. Ill. 2013); see also Kasalo v. Harris & Harris, 656 F.3d 557, 563
(7th Cir. 2011) (court may deny class certification at “an early practicable time,” even before
plaintiff moves for class certification). Particularly when pleadings are facially defective and
definitively establish that a class action cannot be maintained, the court may properly grant a
motion to strike class allegations at the pleading stage. See Wolfkiel v. Intersections Ins. Servs.
Inc., 303 F.R.D. 287, 292 (N.D. Ill. 2014); Wright v. Family Dollar, Inc., No. 10-4410, 2010 WL
4962838 at * 1 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 30, 2010).
To maintain a class action, Plaintiff must identify a class and demonstrate that: “(1) the
class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable; (2) there are questions of law
or fact common to the class; (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of
the claims or defenses of the class; and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately
protect the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a). A plaintiff seeking class certification
has the burden of proving the proposed class meets the four requirements. See Oshana v. CocaCola Co., 472 F.3d 506, 513 (7th Cir. 2006). Failure to satisfy even one of the elements
precludes class certification. Id. Additionally, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the proposed
class meets one of the three conditions of Rule 23(b). Plaintiffs invoke Rule 23(b)(2) which
requires them to show that the defendants “acted or refused to act on grounds that apply
generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is
appropriate respecting the class as a whole.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2).
In their TAC, Plaintiffs propose that the class they seek to represent includes “themselves
and all other present and future St Charles public schools students who are identified as students
12
with disabilities pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education and Improvement Act of
204 (“IDEA”), Section 504, and Title II of ADA.” [TAC ¶ 39.] Plaintiffs allege there are
approximately 1,883 students with such a disability, “mostly identified, who are currently
enrolled in St Charles public schools and students with disability who will enroll in the future.”
[Id. ¶ 40.]
They seek to bring a class claim “for failure to timely and adequately implement
IDEA and for discrimination against students with disability.” [TAC ¶ 3.] They complain that
District #303, its Board of Education, and the ISBE “have failed to ensure that Plaintiffs and the
proposed class members are timely and adequately provided with accommodations necessary to
have an equal access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE).” [Id. ¶ 42.]
Defendants move to strike the class allegations on the grounds that Plaintiffs fail to
establish that there are common questions of law and fact, that Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of
those of the class, that Plaintiffs are proper representatives of the class, and that Plaintiffs have
adequately defined the class. Plaintiffs oppose the motion, arguing that the class is adequately
defined and adequately represented by them, that their claims are typical of the class, and that the
class is bound together by a series of common questions of law and fact. Plaintiffs appear to
have pared down their proposed class during briefing on the motion – to a proposed class of “at
least 220 students . . . already identified by District 303 itself (based on ISBE FOIA records).”
[Dkt 125 at 2.] Despite the broad allegations of the TAC, Plaintiffs also appear to have limited
their asserted class claim to the issue of whether there was a timely implementation of services to
eligible students with a disability. [Id.] Even under these more narrow allegations, certification
of a class in this case would be improper.
At the threshold, Plaintiffs’ class allegations suffer from a fundamental flaw. Although
Plaintiffs may represent themselves pro se, they may not represent any other people. See e.g.,
13
Nocula v. UGS Corp., 520 F.3d 719, 725 (7th Cir. 2015) (noting one pro se litigant cannot
represent another); 28 U.S.C. § 1654 (allowing parties to “conduct their own cases personally or
by counsel”); Georgakis v. Illinois State Univ., 722 F.3d 1075, 1077 (7th Cir. 2013) (“A
nonlawyer can’t handle a case on behalf of anyone except himself.”). “[I]t is generally not an
abuse of discretion for a district court to deny a motion for class certification on the ground that a
pro se litigant is not an adequate class representative.” Howard v. Pollard, 814 F.3d 476, 478
(7th Cir. 2015); see also Goodvine v. Meisner, 608 Fed. Appx. 415, 417 (7th Cir. 2015) (no
abuse of discretion in denying class certification upon finding pro se plaintiffs “could not fairly
represent the class interests because they were pro se (and had not made an effort to secure class
counsel).”).
In determining whether a class action might be certified, the court must find that the class
representative can “fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a).
A factor the court must consider in determining the adequacy of representation is the
qualification and experience of the person conducting the litigation. “Competent representation
is crucial because a judgment rendered in a class action suit for injunctive relief is binding on all
members of the class.” Johnson v. Chicago Pub. Schs., No. 10-CV-4266, 2010 WL 2891629 at
*2 (N.D. Ill. July 20, 2010). A layperson ordinarily does not possess the legal training and
expertise necessary to protect the interests of a class, so courts are reluctant to certify a class
represented by a pro se litigant. Id. at *2. The court similarly concludes it would be improper to
do so here.
Plaintiffs’ argument that Rule 23(g) requires the appointment of counsel for them is
based on a misunderstanding of the Rule that has been soundly rejected by the Seventh Circuit.
“[T]he purpose of Rule 23(g) is not to enable pro se plaintiffs to obtain recruited counsel in
14
conjunction with class certification; the purpose of the rule is to ensure that the proposed class
counsel is adequate.” Howard v. Pollard, 814 F.3d 476, 478 (7th Cir. 2015) (no error in district
court’s refusal to certify a pro se class or to appoint counsel) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 advisory
committee’s note to the 2003 amendments, and Sheinberg v. Sorensen, 606 F.3d 130, 132 (3d
Cir. 2010)). Further, Plaintiffs have not moved for the assistance of counsel in this case, nor is it
clear that recruitment would be warranted.
In any event, the Court further finds that maintaining a class action would not be
appropriate given the claims. Plaintiffs’ claims are not typical of the class they propose – indeed
none of the Staneks would even be a member of the class they propose. “A litigant must be a
member of the class which he or she seeks to represent at the time the class action is certified by
the district court.” Sosna v. Iowa, 419 U.S. 393, 403 (1975); accord Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v.
Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 348-349 (2011) (“[A] class representative must be part of the class and
possess the same interest and suffer the same injury as the class members.” (Internal quotations
omitted)).
Matthew Stanek is no longer a student of District #303, and his interests and any injuries
are different than those of current and future District #303 students. Likewise, because he is no
longer a District #303 student, his interests would not be affected by the injunctive relief
Plaintiffs seek for the class. Plaintiffs argue at length that Matthew’s graduation from District
#303 does not moot his interest in the case but that is not the issue here. Although courts apply
an “inherently transitory exception” to enable class certification where a plaintiff’s
circumstances change, the exception only applies when the proposed representative was a
member of the class when certification as first sought. See U.S. Parole Comm’n v. Geraghty,
445 U.S. 388, 399 (1980) (“Some claims are so inherently transitory that the trial court will not
15
have had enough time to rule on a motion for class certification before the proposed
representative’s individual interest expires.”) Here, neither Matthew, nor his parents Sandra and
Bogdon, were members of the proposed class at the time they first raised their proposed class
claims. Moreover, Plaintiffs do not complain in their TAC about the timing of Matthew’s
services or accommodations – the very element they argue holds together the claims of a class.
Another barrier to any class certification in this action is the lack of commonality. To
show commonality, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the class members’ claims “depend upon a
common contention” that is “of such a nature that it is capable of classwide resolution.” See
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. at 350. Superficial common questions, like whether
each proposed class member suffered a violation of the same law, are not enough to satisfy Rule
23(a)(2) which essentially requires a plaintiff to demonstrate that the class members all “suffered
the same injury.” Jamie S. v. Milwaukee Pub. Schs., 668 F.3d 481, 497 (7th Cir. 2012) (internal
quotation marks and citations omitted).
Plaintiffs argue that commonality is met by Defendants’ “policy of not implementing
timely services and accommodations,” and “common questions of law regarding Defendants’
violations of federal and state mandates, deprivation of FAPE [free and public education] to
disabled students, and failure by State Defendants (ISBE) to adequately monitor St. Charles
School District 303.” [Dkt 125 at 3.]
denial of a FAPE. Id. at 5.
According to Plaintiffs, the unifying common injury is
Complying with the IDEA’s mandate to provide all disabled
students with a free and public education, however, is “a complex and inherently child-specific
undertaking.” Jamie S., 668 F.3d at 486. Indeed, the Seventh Circuit vacated certification of a
class where Plaintiffs also alleged a systemic failure to comply with IDEA as the unifying class
injury, explaining that Plaintiffs’ theory “completely misunderstands Rule 23(a)(2). . . . To bring
16
individual IDEA claims together to litigate as a class, the plaintiffs must show that they share
some question of law or fact that can be answered all at once and that the single answer to that
question will resolve a central issue in all class members’ claims.” Jamie S. at 497.
Here, resolution of whether District #303 failed to hire sufficient therapists to provide
timely services would not resolve a central issue in the determination of Plaintiffs’ proposed
class claims as they say – even as limited in the briefing on the motion. As Defendants observe,
several individualized assessments must be made before therapists are required. First, a student
must be identified for evaluation under the IDEA’s child find obligation. See 34 C.F.R. §
300.111(a)(1)(i); 23 Ill. Admin. Code § 226.100. Next, the local education agency must timely
conduct an evaluation to determine if the student is eligible for special educations services and
accommodations. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.301; 23 Ill. Admin. Code § 226.100. Then, an initial
individualized education plan must be timely created identifying the services and
accommodations that the student will receive. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.324; 23 Ill. Admin. Code §
226.220. Finally, the services and accommodations must be timely implemented for the student
in accordance with his or her individualized education plan. 34 C.F.R. § 300.323(c)(2); 23 Ill.
Admin. Code § 226.100.
While Plaintiffs correctly note that even a single common question will do, both the
Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit have explained that superficial common questions like
whether each class member suffered a violation of the same law is not enough. See Wal-Mart v.
Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 350; Jamie S., 668 F.3d at 497. Plaintiffs’ allegations of too few therapists
to timely implement services, especially when that claim does not appear to be one that
particularly affected the named plaintiffs, does not support certification of a class under the
circumstances presented here.
17
As to the remainder of the TAC, it too must be stricken. As mentioned above, Plaintiffs’
TAC is 631 paragraphs set out over 203 pages. It contains seven counts against 16 defendants,
two of whom are dismissed as discussed above, and two of whom were dismissed in large
measure by the court’s earlier decision. [See dkt 161.] All of the class allegations must be
stricken. These factors alone suggest the cumbersome nature of the complaint. But even without
these complications, the TAC fails to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), which
requires only “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). This requirement serves two goals: it allows trial courts to speed
a case to resolution and it allows defendants to capably respond to the allegations in the
complaint. See United States ex rel. Garst v. Lockheed–Martin Corp., 328 F.3d 374, 378 (7th
Cir. 2003).
While a minor amount of surplus material in a complaint is not enough to frustrate Rule
8’s goals, unnecessary length coupled with repetitiveness, needless complexity, and immaterial
allegations are grounds for dismissal. See Kadamovas v. Stevens, 706 F.3d 843, 844 (7th Cir.
2013). This rule is based on the Seventh Circuit’s observation, which is directly applicable to
this case, that a disjointed and prolix presentation “may make a complaint unintelligible, by
scattering and concealing in a morass of irrelevancies the few allegations that matter.” United
States ex rel. Garst, 328 F.3d at 378 (affirming dismissal with prejudice third amended
complaint which was excessively long, convoluted, and confusing). Although the court takes
great care to view pro se pleadings liberally, this rationale nonetheless applies to a pro se
complaint. See, e.g., Griffin v. Milwaukee Cty., 369 Fed. Appx. 741, 743-44 (7th Cir. 2010)
(affirming dismissal with prejudice where despite opportunity to cure deficiencies, pro se
18
plaintiffs’ lengthy and disjointed complaint made it impossible for district court to identify the
specific allegations against each defendant).
Plaintiffs fill the TAC with allegations about students other than Matthew, including
pages of allegations about students who Plaintiffs say did not receive therapy services in
accordance with the particular requirements of their unique Individualized Educational
Programs, a student who Plaintiffs say did not receive the assistance of a qualified bilingual
specialist, and a student with Asperger’s disorder who Plaintiffs say was denied necessary
services.
They also include allegations about clustering of students with disabilities, and
allegations that a former District #303 employee complained about improperly obtained special
education funds.
The TAC additionally includes the recitation (sometimes repeatedly) of
countless conversations and exchanges of emails with Matthew’s teachers and other school
employees. Together, all of these allegations so weigh down the complaint that it fails to provide
defendants with the requisite notice of Plaintiffs’ claims.
Further, its length, needless
complexity, and inclusion of irrelevant material and repetitive material imposes an undue burden
on the court, to the prejudice of other litigants who also seek its attention. See Kadamovas, 706
F.3d 844.
For these reasons, Plaintiffs’ TAC is stricken.
Plaintiffs have already filed four
complaints in this action, and are given one last chance to file one that comports with the Federal
Rules. Any amended complaint must state in short and plain terms the claims Plaintiffs make.
It is not necessary to recite every exchange with every teacher or school administrator to state a
claim. Instead, “a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)
(quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2009)). To crystallize the issues,
19
Plaintiffs must identify which claims are asserted against which defendant, and which plaintiff
asserts them. Plaintiffs are warned that they may not attempt to resurrect any claims that this
Court or the Court of Appeals has unequivocally stated fails to state a claim. Plaintiffs are also
warned that although they are being given the opportunity to amend, it is for the purpose of
allowing them to attempt to state cognizable claims against proper defendants. They may not
add any new claims.
Pro se litigants are given more leeway than licensed attorneys when assessing their
pleadings, but they still must adhere to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Pearle Vision,
Inc. v. Romm, 541 F.3d 751, 758 (7th Cir. 2008) (“[C]ourts are required to give liberal
construction to pro se pleadings . . . [but] it is also well established that pro se litigants are not
excused from compliance with procedural rules.”). The essence of liberal construction is “to
give a pro se plaintiff a break when, although he stumbles on a technicality, his pleading is
otherwise understandable.” Hudson v. McHugh, 148 F.3d 859, 864 (7th Cir. 1998). That is not
the case here.
Plaintiffs have been given numerous chances to state their claims against
Defendants, and although they are now being given one more, they must comport with the
Federal Rules. Plaintiffs are reminded that they may obtain free limited legal assistance by
scheduling an appointment with the William J. Hibbler Pro Se Assistance Program, located at
219 South Dearborn, 20th floor, or by calling (312) 435-5691.
CONCLUSION
For all of the above mentioned reasons, Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Third
Amended Complaint and Class Allegations [dkt 121] and Defendants Julie Stetson and Rory
Pine’s Motion to Dismiss [149] are granted. Plaintiff is given leave until January 5, 2018 to file
20
an amended complaint consistent with this opinion.
Failure to do so will result in summary
dismissal of this case. Status hearing remains set on December 7, 2017, at 9:30 a.m.
Date: 12/1/2017
Jorge L. Alonso
United States District Judge
21
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?