Elder v. City Of Chicago et al
Filing
46
OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by the Honorable Sara L. Ellis on 2/28/2017:Mailed notice(rj, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
EMPEROR ELDER,
)
)
Plaintiff,
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)
v.
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CITY OF CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY
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SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT,
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COOK COUNTY SHERIFF THOMAS DART, )
COOK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY
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KIM FOXX, COOK COUNTY STATE’S
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ATTORNEY’S OFFICE,
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OFFICER R. GAWLOWSKI,
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OFFICER A.M. SKOKAL,
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OFFICER PITMAN, OFFICER MASON,
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OFFICER SHELTON, UNIDENTIFIED
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ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTONEYS,
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COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
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CORRECTIONS,
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Defendants.
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No. 16 C 878
Judge Sara L. Ellis
OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Emperor Elder brings this lawsuit against Defendants Cook County Sheriff’s
Department (the “Sheriff’s Department”), Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, the Cook County
State’s Attorney’s Office (“SAO”), Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx1 (collectively, the
“County Defendants”), the Cook County Department of Corrections (“CCDOC”), the City of
Chicago (the “City”), Chicago Police Officers Gawlowski, Skokal, Pitman, Mason, and Shelton
(the “Police Officers”), and unidentified Assistant State’s Attorneys, claiming that Defendants
violated state law and his constitutional rights in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Elder’s
complaint consists of six counts that stem from several interactions with Defendants between
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Elder originally sued former Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Foxx replaced Alvarez as
State’s Attorney while this motion was pending. Because Elder is suing the State’s Attorney in her
official capacity, Foxx has been substituted for Alvarez in the caption and throughout this Opinion.
January 21, 2015 and October 19, 2015. Specifically, Elder brings claims for false detainment
and imprisonment (Count I), malicious prosecution (Count II), denial of necessary medical care
(Count III), denial of the right to practice his religion (Count IV), conspiracy to violate his civil
rights (Count V), and failure to intervene to protect him from violations of his civil rights (Count
VI). The County Defendants move to dismiss [27] the complaint arguing that it is barred by
sovereign immunity and prosecutorial immunity, and that Elder has failed to plead sufficient
facts to state a claim for relief. The City also moves to dismiss [31] the complaint because Elder
has not alleged that the actions of the police officers were taken as a result of a City policy or
practice and his claims against the City are therefore insufficient under Monell v. Department of
Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 691, 98 S. Ct. 2018, 65 L. Ed. 2d 611 (1978).
Because Elder’s claims against Foxx and the SAO are barred by sovereign immunity, and
because Elder has failed to adequately allege a Monell claim against the remaining Defendants,
the Court grants Defendants’ motions to dismiss. Furthermore, because Elder has not served the
complaint on any other Defendants, namely the Chicago Police Officers, CCDOC, or the
unidentified Assistant State’s Attorneys, the Court is required under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 4(m) to either dismiss the case without prejudice with respect to those Defendants or
order service within a specified time. The Court therefore orders Elder to serve the remaining
Defendants within 30 days of this order; otherwise the Court will enter an order of dismissal with
respect to those defendants.
BACKGROUND2
On October 28, 2014, Officers Skokal and Gawlowski arrested Elder. On January 21,
2015, Elder appeared in court in connection to this arrest and the court dismissed the charges
2
The facts in the background section are taken from Elder’s complaint and are presumed true for the
purpose of resolving the Rule 12(b)(6) challenges. See Virnich v. Vorwald, 664 F.3d 206, 212 (7th Cir.
2011).
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against him. That same day Officer Gawlowski obtained an arrest warrant for Elder from the
same judge who dismissed the charges stemming from the October 28 arrest. The warrant
named Elder as “Anthony Elder,” a name which Elder contends is a “false identity . . . tied to the
social security number and description of Emperor Elder.” Doc. 1 ¶ 26.
Two days later, Officer Shelton and another Chicago Police Officer went to the home of
Amy Elder and entered the home without showing Amy Elder a paper copy of the warrant.
Shelton and her partner arrested Elder for missing a court appearance. The officers transported
Elder to the police station on 111th Street for processing. During this time the officers denied
Elder his medication. After processing, the officers transported Elder to Roseland Hospital.
Elder did not receive any significant treatment at Roseland Hospital and he returned back to the
police station. Once back at the police station, an officer informed Elder that he was being
charged with aggravated assault of a government employee. The police filed the charges against
Elder under the name Anthony Elder.
On January 24, 2015, the police transferred Elder to the custody of CCDOC. CCDOC
held Elder until February 4, 2015. During this period, CCDOC referred to Elder as Anthony
Elder despite knowing his legal name to be Emperor Elder. CCDOC released Elder on February
4th because the charges against him were dismissed. While incarcerated, Elder did not receive
any of the multiple medications he is prescribed. He experienced multiple seizures and spasms
during his incarceration. Elder alleges that “[t]he defendant witnessed and ignored these medical
issues.” Doc. 1 ¶ 87. Elder does not specify to which defendant he is referring.
While detained, Elder alleges that Defendants referred to him as “Anthony Elder.” Elder
states that his legal name, Emperor Elder, has spiritual significance in his religious practice.
Defendants also required Elder to sign paperwork that referred to him as “Anthony Elder” while
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he was detained. Additionally, during his confinement, Elder alleges that Defendants denied him
the opportunity to practice his religious beliefs; however, he does not state what specifically
Defendants prevented him from doing.
In May 2015, the Cook County State’s Attorney and her Assistant State’s Attorneys filed
a motion to reinstate previously dismissed charges against Elder. The court granted the motion
and set the case for trial in August 2015. The trial took place in August, but the outcome of the
trial is unclear from the filings in this case.
Finally, on October 19, 2015, Officer Mason detained Elder. Mason threatened to arrest
Elder and confiscated his possessions. Mason told Elder that she was aware of who he is and his
history. Mason did not state a reason for detaining Elder nor did Mason read Elder his Miranda
rights. Mason then called her precinct and requested a vehicle to transport Elder. Officer
Pittman and another officer then arrived in a transport truck. Afterward, Mason called an
ambulance, which arrived from the Little Company of Mary hospital. Pittman and Mason denied
Elder access to his medication and forced Elder into the ambulance, which then transported him
to the hospital. Throughout this interaction, Pittman and Mason were in contact with their
district.
Elder alleges that he suffered severe bodily injuries as well as mental anguish and
emotional distress as a result of Defendants’ conduct on the various occasions described above.
LEGAL STANDARD
A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) challenges the sufficiency of the complaint, not
its merits. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); Gibson v. City of Chicago, 910 F.2d 1510, 1520 (7th Cir.
1990). In considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the Court accepts as true all wellpleaded facts in the complaint and draws all reasonable inferences from those facts in the
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plaintiff’s favor. AnchorBank, FSB v. Hofer, 649 F.3d 610, 614 (7th Cir. 2011). To survive a
Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the complaint must not only provide the defendant with fair notice of a
claim’s basis but must also be facially plausible. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S. Ct.
1937, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009); see also Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.
Ct. 1955, 167 L. Ed. 2d 929 (2007). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads
factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable
for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. “While a complaint attacked by a Rule
12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to
provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitlement to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and
a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555
(internal citations omitted). “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.” Iqbal, 556
U.S. at 678.
ANALYSIS
I.
City of Chicago
The City moves to dismiss the complaint against it, arguing that Elder has not adequately
alleged a Monell claim. Elder does not style any of his counts as Monell claims against the City,
but because the City cannot be held liable under § 1983 based on respondeat superior, the Court
construes Elder’s complaint as attempting to assert a Monell claim.
A municipality may be held liable when “execution of a government’s policy or custom,
whether made by its lawmakers or by those whose edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent
official policy, inflicts the injury.” Monell, 436 U.S. at 694. Liability may be premised on (1) an
express policy that, when enforced, causes a constitutional violation; (2) a widespread practice
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that, although not authorized by written law or express municipal policy, is so permanent and
well-settled as to constitute a custom or usage with the force of law; or (3) a constitutional injury
caused by a person with final policymaking authority. McCormick v. City of Chicago, 230 F.3d
319, 324 (7th Cir. 2000).
Nowhere in his complaint does Elder allege any facts that tend to show that his treatment
was the result of an express policy, a widespread practice, or caused by someone with final
policymaking authority. In his response to the motion to dismiss, Elder does not address the
basis for the City’s motion, but only provides a string of citations to broad legal principals
regarding the constitution, § 1983, and motions to dismiss. Elder also includes a statement of
facts that largely restates the statement of facts in his complaint, only adding that “the actions
used against the Plaintiff by these multiple government agencies or departments along with the
individual employees presented such a widespread practice or custom that, to the Plaintiff, the
violation of my rights appeared to be a force of law.” Doc. 38 ¶34. This boilerplate statement of
a widespread practice or custom is not sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. See McCauley
v. City of Chicago, 671 F.3d 611, 616 (7th Cir. 2011) (“We have interpreted Twombly and Iqbal
to require the plaintiff to provide some specific facts to support the legal claims asserted in the
complaint. The degree of specificity required is not easily quantified, but the plaintiff must give
enough details about the subject-matter of the case to present a story that holds together.”
(alterations omitted) (citations omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
Even considering the complaint in the light most favorable to Elder, the Court finds no
basis to determine that his injuries resulted from a policy or practice at the City, therefore, Elder
has not adequately pleaded a Monell claim against the City and the Court grants the City’s
motion to dismiss without prejudice.
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II.
County Defendants
The County Defendants move to dismiss the complaint on the basis of sovereign
immunity, prosecutorial immunity, failure to plead a Monell claim, failure to adequately plead
his religious freedom and practice, conspiracy, and failure to protect claims, and because the
claims are barred by qualified immunity.
A.
Sovereign Immunity
Foxx and the SAO move to dismiss the claims against them on the basis that sovereign
immunity bars the claims. The Eleventh Amendment bars suits brought against a state in federal
court. Pennhurst State Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 98, 104 S. Ct. 900, 79 L. Ed. 2d
67 (1984). Sovereign immunity does not apply where the state consents to suit or federal
legislation abrogates the immunity pursuant to a constitutional grant of authority. Tennessee v.
Lane, 541 U.S. 509, 517, 124 S. Ct. 1978, 158 L. Ed. 2d 820 (2004). Elder brings his claims
against Foxx and the SAO pursuant to § 1983 and Illinois state law. Section 1983 does not
abrogate state sovereign immunity. Will v. Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 58, 109
S. Ct. 2304, 2306, 105 L. Ed. 2d 45 (1989). And the state of Illinois has consented to suit
exclusively in the Illinois Court of Claims. Brooks v. Ross, 578 F.3d 574, 579 (7th Cir. 2009)
(“The Illinois State Lawsuit Immunity Act stipulates that tort suits against the State must be
pursued in the Illinois Court of Claims.”).
The SAO and Foxx, when sued in her official capacity, are both arms of the State of
Illinois for purposes of sovereign immunity. Garcia v. City of Chicago, 24 F.3d 966, 969 (7th
Cir. 1994) (state’s attorneys are Illinois state officials, not county officials); Scott v. O’Grady,
975 F.2d 366, 369 (7th Cir. 1992) (suits against state officials in their official capacity are
deemed to be suits against the state and are barred by the Eleventh Amendment). Elder alleges,
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“[a]t all times relevant herein, the Assistant State’s Attorneys and Anita Alvarez were acting in
their official capacities.” Doc. 1 ¶ 12. Therefore, the Court construes Elder’s claim against Foxx
as an official capacity claim, and therefore in reality as a claim against the state. Because § 1983
does not provide for a cause of action against states and the state has not otherwise waived its
immunity from suit in federal court, Elder’s claims against the SAO and Foxx are barred and the
Court grants the motion to dismiss with respect to these claims. Because this disposes of all
claims against the SAO and Foxx, the Court need not address the prosecutorial immunity
argument.
B.
Monell Claim
Dart and the Sheriff’s Department move to dismiss Elder’s § 1983 claims against them,
arguing that Elder has failed to properly allege a viable Monell claim. Like with the City, Elder
may hold the Sheriff’s Department and Dart in his official capacity liable under § 1983 when
“execution of a government’s policy or custom, whether made by its lawmakers or by those
whose edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent official policy, inflicts the injury.” Monell,
436 U.S. 694. Again, liability may be based on (1) an express policy that, when enforced, causes
a constitutional deprivation; (2) a widespread practice that, although not authorized by written
law or express municipal policy, is so permanent and well-settled as to constitute a custom or
usage with the force of law; or (3) a constitutional injury caused by a person with final
policymaking authority. McCormick, 230 F.3d at 324.
Elder has failed to allege the existence of any policy, practice, or that his injuries were
caused by someone with final policymaking authority. Although Monell claims may proceed
with conclusory allegations of a policy or practice, some facts must be pleaded to put the
defendant on notice of the alleged wrongdoing. Armour v. Country Club Hills, No. 11 C 5029,
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2014 WL 63850, at *6 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 8, 2014) (citing McCauley, 671 F.3d at 616, and Riley v.
County of Cook, 682 F. Supp. 2d 856, 861 (N.D. Ill. 2010)). Here, Elder has not even provided a
conclusory allegation of the existence of a policy or practice, let alone specific factual allegations
to support the existence of such policies or practices. Elder points to no other detainees who
have been denied medical care or the opportunity to practice their religious customs. At most, as
in his response to the City’s motion, Elder states that “the actions used against Plaintiff by these
multiple government agencies or departments along with the individual employees presented
such a widespread practice or custom that, to the Plaintiff, the violation of my rights appeared to
be a force of law.” Doc. 40 ¶ 43. Once again, this boilerplate statement is insufficient to survive
a motion to dismiss. See McCauley, 671 F.3d at 616. Therefore, the Court grants Dart and the
Sheriff’s Department’s motion to dismiss Elder’s § 1983 claims.
C.
Conspiracy Claims
The County Defendants move to dismiss Elder’s conspiracy claim on the basis that he has
not alleged any specific individuals who participated in a conspiracy to deprive him of his
constitutional rights. Elder claims that, “[a]t all times relevant herein, all defendants and their
employees were in agreement to violate the rights as listed.” Doc. 1 ¶ 105. To state a claim for
conspiracy a plaintiff need merely “indicate the parties, general purpose, and approximate date,
so that the defendant has notice of what he is charged with.” Walker v. Thompson, 288 F.3d
1005, 1007 (7th Cir. 2002). However, the Court need not reach whether Elder has adequately
alleged a conspiracy because the Court has dismissed the underlying claims upon which the
conspiracy claim is based. A § 1983 conspiracy claim is dependent on the validity of the
underlying § 1983 claim. Reynolds v. Jamison, 488 F.3d 756, 764 (7th Cir. 2007). Therefore,
the Court dismisses Elder’s conspiracy claim.
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III.
Unserved Defendants
As of the date of this order, Elder has not served the complaint on the remaining named
Defendants—Gawlowski, Skokal, Pitman, Mason, Shelton, and CCDOC —or the unidentified
Assistant State’s Attorneys. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), after giving notice to
the plaintiff, the Court must dismiss the action without prejudice against those defendants who
have not received service within 90 days after the complaint is filed. Here, Elder filed the
complaint on January 1, 2016, well over 90 days ago. Elder should consider this his notice that
if he does not serve the other Defendants within 30 days of this order, the Court will dismiss his
complaint with respect to those Defendants, unless Elder shows good cause why he has not
served those Defendants. The Court warns Elder that ignorance of the rule is no excuse and does
not constitute good cause. Tuke v. United States, 76 F.3d 155, 156 (7th Cir. 1996).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons the Court grants Defendants’ motions to dismiss [27, 31]. The
Court dismisses Elder’s complaint without prejudice. Additionally, the Court orders Elder to
serve the remaining named Defendants within 30 days of this order, by March 31, 2017, or the
Court will dismiss the case with respect to those Defendants.
Dated: February 28, 2017
______________________
SARA L. ELLIS
United States District Judge
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