Stevens v. Shelton et al
Filing
43
MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order: For these reasons, the Court grants Defendants' partial motion to dismiss on each of Counts II, IV, V, VI(a), VI(b), IX and XI, but denies Defendants' motion to strike Stevens's prayer for punitive damages as to Rhodes on Count X, R. 25. Counts I, III and X-which were not the subject of Defendants' motion to dismiss remain.Status hearing set for 4/5/2019 at 09:00 AM. Signed by the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin on 3/18/2019:Mailed notice(srn, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
ERIKA STEVENS,
Plaintiff,
v.
TARA SHELTON, ET AL.,
Defendants.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
No. 17 C 8710
Judge Thomas M. Durkin
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff Erika Stevens, a Chicago Public School teacher, brings this action
against defendants Tara Shelton, Andrew Rhodes, Patricia Davlantes and the Board
of Education of the City of Chicago (the “Board”) to redress discrimination,
harassment and retaliation due to her alleged disability and participation in
protected union activity. Specifically, Stevens alleges discrimination, failure to
accommodate, retaliation and interference by the Board under the Americans with
Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12112(a), (b)(5), and 12203(a) and (b), and violations by
some or all of the defendants of her constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Stevens also brings claims for defamation per se, false imprisonment and battery.
Currently before the Court is Defendants’ partial motion to dismiss under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), R. 25. For the following reasons, the Court grants in
part and denies in part Defendants’ motion.
Standard
A Rule 12(b)(6) motion challenges the “sufficiency of the complaint.” Berger v.
Nat. Collegiate Athletic Assoc., 843 F.3d 285, 289 (7th Cir. 2016). A complaint must
provide “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled
to relief,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), sufficient to provide defendant with “fair notice” of
the claim and the basis for it. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007).
This standard “demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfullyharmed-me accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). While “detailed
factual allegations” are not required, “labels and conclusions, and a formulaic
recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
The complaint must “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly,
550 U.S. at 570). “‘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.’” Boucher v. Fin. Sys. of Green Bay, Inc., 880 F.3d
362, 366 (7th Cir. 2018) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678). In applying this standard,
the Court accepts all well-pleaded facts as true and draws all reasonable inferences
in favor of the non-moving party. Tobey v. Chibucos, 890 F.3d 634, 646 (7th Cir. 2018).
Background
Stevens taught advanced math at South Loop Elementary School for over 8
years prior to the events giving rise to her lawsuit. R. 21-1 ¶ 4. At all relevant times,
defendant Tara Shelton was the principal of South Loop Elementary, defendant
2
Andrew Rhodes was the assistant principal, and defendant Patricia Davlantes was
South Loop Elementary’s resident principal. 1 Id. ¶¶ 5-7. Shelton, Rhodes and
Davlantes supervised Stevens, and all are Board employees. Id. ¶¶ 4-8.
Stevens alleges that she was diagnosed with a medical condition in or about
summer 2013 that causes potentially incapacitating reactions to stress. Id. ¶¶ 14-15.
Stevens informed Shelton of her condition shortly after diagnosis and explained that
she would need to take sick days to address symptoms. Id. ¶¶ 17, 22-24. Thereafter,
Stevens took time off to address symptoms, but typically did not exceed her allotted
sick time. According to Stevens, both her job performance and her students’
performance remained strong. Id. ¶¶ 16, 19.
Nevertheless, in the fall of 2014, Shelton became upset with Stevens taking so
much time off, demanded that she stop, and evaluated Stevens negatively when she
continued to do so. Id. ¶¶ 18, 21, 25. Then Shelton began interrupting Stevens’s
classes, at one point taking over Stevens’s lesson, and eventually assigned an
assistant teacher to Stevens’s classroom over her objection. Id. ¶¶ 26-29. At some
point, Shelton and Stevens met with Stevens’s representative from the Chicago
Teachers Union. 2 Stevens’s union representative asked Shelton whether she treated
Stevens poorly because of her medical condition. Shelton allegedly replied that
Apparently candidates selected as “resident principals” complete a one-year
principal-in-training internship program working with high-performing CPS
principals. See https://cps.edu/PrincipalQuality/Pages/Pipeline.aspx.
1
The timing of this meeting is unclear from Stevens’s amended complaint, but not
relevant to the resolution of Defendants’ motion to dismiss.
2
3
Stevens “did miss a lot of days.” Id. ¶¶ 40-41. According to the union representative,
Shelton was “singling” Stevens out, as “no other teacher faced this kind of treatment.”
Id. ¶ 42.
Then, in or about September 2016, Shelton imposed a new rule requiring
teachers to explain how each work assignment related to grade level teaching goals.
Id. ¶ 31. Stevens felt the rule imposed unnecessary work, particularly for her, because
her students performed at varying levels above grade level. Id. ¶ 32. At some point
thereafter, Stevens filed a class grievance with the union complaining about the rule.
Id. ¶ 33. According to Stevens, Shelton then began retaliating against her on a daily
basis. Id. ¶¶ 34-35. Stevens specifically complains that in May 2017, Shelton began
interfering with student examinations, including by cancelling student testing or
removing Stevens’s students from her classroom during testing, questioning her
students about whether Stevens was cheating on tests, and encouraging them to
accuse her of cheating. 3 Id. ¶¶ 38, 56-57. She also alleges that Shelton interrupted
Stevens’s class, gave students incorrect information about their lessons, began
“observing” her classes to create new and increasing demands, started writing
Stevens up for overusing certain instruction methods despite that her students were
performing well, and yelled at her for taking her students outside, despite other
teachers being permitted to do so. Id. ¶¶ 34-37, 49, 57. According to Stevens,
The Court assumes that when Stevens alleges that Defendants accused her of
cheating, she means that Defendants accused her of impermissibly assisting her
students during testing in some way.
3
4
Davlantes also interfered with her students’ examinations, including by being
disruptive and cutting testing short. Id. ¶ 39, 43-44, 48.
On or about June 2, 2017, Defendants again removed Stevens’s students from
her classroom for testing. Davlantes asked Stevens to leave the testing room, but
Rhodes physically blocked her exit, grabbing her arm. 4 Id. ¶¶ 50-53. Davlantes and
Rhodes suspended testing. Id. ¶ 54.
Finally, on June 7, 2017, Shelton told Stevens that she was being investigated
for cheating on student examinations and instructed her to leave school property. Id.
¶ 61. Shelton asked for the keys to Stevens’s file cabinet before she left. Id. ¶ 62.
Stevens refused to turn the keys over. Shelton blocked her exit and called the police.
Id. Over an hour later, apparently because neither Shelton nor Stevens backed down,
a Board attorney and a Union attorney arrived and Stevens left. Id. ¶ 63. Stevens
complains that Defendants did not follow proper procedure when Shelton “removed
and excluded” her from school property. Id. ¶ 70. The Board brought termination
charges against Stevens, and a hearing was held on September 10 and November 2,
2018. Id. ¶ 72; R. 42. The parties informed the Court that they have received the
hearing officer’s Findings and Recommendation, and that the Board will decide
whether to accept the Findings and Recommendation at the April 24, 2019 Board
meeting.
Although it is unclear from Stevens’s amended complaint, the Court assumes that
Stevens’s students were removed from her classroom for testing, Stevens followed her
students, but was then asked to leave the room.
4
5
Stevens filed this action on December 1, 2017. R. 1. On April 5, 2018,
Defendants moved to dismiss portions of Stevens’s complaint for failure to state a
claim under Rule 12(b)(6). R. 18. Then, on April 24, 2018 and with the Court’s
permission, Stevens filed an amended complaint, which counsel indicated would
remedy some of the deficiencies about which Defendants complained in their motion.
R. 21. Thereafter, on May 17, 2018, Defendants filed another motion to dismiss,
pointing out that Stevens’s amended complaint was “almost identical” to the original
and “the amendment did not cure the deficiencies.” R. 25 at 1 (emphasis in original).
The allegations outlined earlier have given rise to a virtual smorgasbord of
constitutional, federal statutory and state law claims. Specifically, Stevens’s
amended complaint alleges: 5 (1) the Board discriminated against her based on her
disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12112(a)
(Count I); (2) the Board failed to accommodate her disability in violation of the ADA,
42 U.S.C. § 12112(b)(5) (Count II); (3) the Board retaliated against her in violation of,
and interfered with her rights under, the ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a) and (b) (Count
III); (4) the Board and the individual defendants retaliated against her in violation of
her First Amendment rights because she filed a grievance with her union (Count IV);
(5) the Board and the individual defendants violated Stevens’s Fourteenth
Amendment right to equal protection when they harassed and retaliated against her
Stevens incorrectly numbered the counts in her complaint; it contains two Count
VI’s, and from there jumps to Counts IX, X and XI. The Court’s opinion reflects
Stevens’s numbering for clarity, although her due process claim will be renumbered
as Count VI(a), and her Fourth Amendment claim as Count VI(b).
5
6
for filing the grievance and/or because she was a “successful teacher” (Count V); (6)
the Board and the individual defendants violated Stevens’s Fourteenth Amendment
rights when they removed her from South Loop Elementary and suspended her
without following established process (Count VI(a)); (7) the Board and Shelton
refused to allow Stevens to leave when Shelton told Stevens she was suspended in
violation of her Fourth Amendment rights (Count VI(b)); (8) Shelton engaged in
defamation per se when she falsely accused Stevens of cheating on standardized tests
(Count IX); (9) Rhodes committed battery against her when he grabbed her arm and
blocked her path (Count X); and (10) Shelton falsely imprisoned Stevens when she
refused to allow her to leave the building following her notice of suspension (Count
XI). Stevens purports to bring all claims against one or more individual defendants
in both their individual and official capacities. She alleges that Shelton’s accusations
of cheating have affected her professional reputation, and that student examination
performance is a major basis upon which teachers are evaluated. Id. ¶¶ 45, 66. She
asserts that she has been unable to teach summer school or seek a position with an
after-school program and has not been paid since filing her initial complaint. Id. ¶¶
69, 72. She seeks a reinstatement order, actual damages, interest, restoration and
make-whole relief, an order prohibiting the Board from “any further prohibited
discrimination against her,” declaratory orders that the Board violated her
Constitutional rights, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees,
costs and presumed damages. R. 21-1 at 10-20. Defendants’ motion requests dismissal
of Stevens’s ADA failure to accommodate, Section 1983, defamation per se and false
7
imprisonment claims, and that the Court strike Stevens’s prayers for punitive
damages. R. 38 at 15.
Analysis
Defendants allege that Stevens’s complaint fails to state a claim in several
respects. The Court will address each argument in turn.
I.
Failure to Accommodate
At the outset, Defendants argue that Stevens’s failure to accommodate claim
(Count II) fails because Stevens does not allege that the Board failed to give her time
off to address her medical condition, or otherwise failed to reasonably accommodate
her. R. 25 at 5. Stevens’s claim alleges that the Board, through Shelton,
“discriminated against Ms. Stevens due to her disability,” and that Shelton
“heightened her harassment of Ms. Stevens at least in part for using her sick time to
address her disability.” R. 21-1 ¶ 80. But the Court agrees with Defendants that her
claim does not allege any facts to indicate Defendants failed to accommodate her—
either through granting time off or otherwise. And Stevens’s brief offers no argument
at all regarding Count II. See generally R. 31-1. Accordingly, the Court grants
Defendants’ motion with respect to Count II. See Alioto v. Town of Lisbon, 651 F.3d
715, 719 (7th Cir. 2011) (“[A] party waives an argument by failing to make it before
the district court. We apply that rule where a party fails to develop arguments related
to a discrete issue, and . . . where a litigant effectively abandons the litigation by not
responding to alleged deficiencies in a motion to dismiss.”); Kirksey v. R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Co., 168 F.3d 1039, 1041 (7th Cir. 1999) (“Our system of justice is
8
adversarial, and our judges are busy people. If they are given plausible reasons for
dismissing a complaint, they are not going to do the plaintiff’s research and try to
discover whether there might be something to say against the defendants’ reasoning.
An unresponsive response is no response. In effect the plaintiff was defaulted for
refusing to respond to the motion to dismiss.”).
II.
Constitutional Claims Against the Board and the Individual
Defendants in their Official Capacities
Next, Defendants contend that Stevens’s Section 1983 claims against the
Board (Counts IV, V, VI(a) and VI(b)) fail under Monell v. Department of Social
Services of the City of New York, 436 U.S. 658 (1978) and its progeny. R. 25 at 5. To
proceed against the Board under Monell, Stevens must plausibly allege that “an
official policy or custom not only caused the constitutional violation, but was the
‘moving force’ behind it.” Estate of Sims ex rel. Sims v. Cnty. of Bureau, 506 F.3d 509,
514-15 (7th Cir. 2007). To demonstrate the existence of an “official policy,” Stevens
must plausibly allege:
(1) an express policy that causes a constitutional deprivation when
enforced; (2) a widespread practice that is so permanent and well-settled
that it constitutes a custom or practice; or (3) an allegation that the
constitutional injury was caused by a person with final policymaking
authority.
Id. at 515. Defendants contend that Stevens has failed to plausibly allege facts
constituting an “official policy” under any of the three methods. In response, Stevens
argues that her allegations that Shelton was the ultimate decisionmaker, as principal
of South Loop Elementary, are enough for her claims to survive under the third
method of establishing municipal liability. R. 31-1 at 2-3.
9
Stevens pleads herself out of court; in her amended complaint, Stevens
acknowledges that Shelton was not the final decisionmaker, let alone the final
policymaker as Monell requires. R. 31-1 ¶¶ 93, 97, 102, 107 (alleging Shelton “has
final decision making [sic] authority to begin the termination process” with respect to
Stevens (emphasis added)). Courts have held time and again that school principals
do not have final policymaking authority with respect to personnel decisions for
purposes of a Monell claim in any event. See Darchak v. City of Chic. Bd. Of Educ.,
580 F.3d 622, 629 (7th Cir. 2009) (“State law determines who legally constitutes a
final policymaker, and Illinois law clearly assigns responsibility for personnel
decisions to the Board, not to individual school principals: ‘The right to employ,
discharge, and layoff shall be vested solely with the board . . .’ 105 ILCS 5/34–8.1”
(internal citations omitted)); Duda v. Bd. of Educ. of Franklin Park Pub. Sch. Dist.
No. 84, 133 F.3d 1054, 1061 (7th Cir. 1998) (“Nothing in the [Illinois] School Code
allows us to infer that a . . . principal has been delegated policymaking authority with
respect to personnel decisions.”); Silverman v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Chic., 2010 WL
3000187, at *10 (N.D. Ill. July 26, 2010) (“Illinois law . . . expressly states that the
principal shall only submit recommendations regarding appointment, retention, or
promotion to the superintendent,” and “the School Code specifically states that the
right to employ, discharge, and layoff shall be vested solely with the [B]oard” (internal
citations omitted)); Thompson v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Chic., 2014 WL 1322958, at
*4 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 2, 2014) (“school principals who allegedly made the contested
decisions are not final policymakers for the Board”).
10
Thus, Shelton is not a “final policymaker” as Stevens claims. And Stevens does
not allege that either Davlantes or Rhodes are “final policymakers.” Accordingly, the
Court grants Defendants’ motion to dismiss Stevens’s constitutional claims (Counts
IV, V, VI(a) and VI(b)) against the Board. Stevens’s official capacity claims against
the individual defendants—which are duplicative—are also dismissed. See Brandt v.
Bd. of Educ. of City of Chic., 420 F. Supp. 2d 921, 936 (N.D. Ill. 2006) (dismissing
official capacity claims as duplicative of claims against the Board, noting that such
official capacity claims are “another way of pleading an action against an entity of
which an officer is an agent.” (citing Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 165 (1985)));
Guzman v. Sheahan, 495 F.3d 852, 857 (7th Cir. 2007) (“[a]n official capacity suit is
tantamount to a claim against the government entity itself”).
III.
Constitutional Claims Against the Individual Defendants in their
Individual Capacities, and False Imprisonment Claim
A.
First Amendment Retaliation Claim
Defendants next argue that Stevens’s First Amendment retaliation claim
(Count IV) fails as to all defendants because Stevens was not engaged in protected
speech when she filed her union grievance challenging the “unreasonable and
oppressive work rule[ ]” requiring teachers to “explain how each work assignment
related to grade level teaching goals.” R. 25 at 8-9; R. 38 at 7-8; R. 21-1 ¶¶ 31-33.
Instead, Defendants argue that Stevens’s union grievance was “nothing more than a
private personnel dispute with her supervisor.” R. 25 at 9.
Generally, the Connick/Pickering analysis governs whether an individual has
a protected First Amendment right. Kuchenreuther v. City of Milwaukee, 221 F.3d
11
867, 973 (7th Cir. 2000). That analysis involves two steps. First, a determination as
to whether the speech can be “fairly characterized” as speech “on a matter of public
concern.” Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 146 (1983). And, if that hurdle is cleared, a
balancing of the interests of the citizen making the speech against those of “the State,
as an employer, in promoting the efficiency of the public services it performs through
its employees.” Id. (quoting Pickering v. Bd. of Educ. of Twp. H.S. Dist. 205, 391 U.S.
563 (1968)). Whether speech addresses a matter of public concern is a question of law
for the court. Gross v. Town of Cicero, 619 F.3d 697, 704 (7th Cir. 2010).
Protected “public concern” speech includes anything “that is a subject of
legitimate news interest; that is, a subject of general interest and of value and concern
to the public at the time of the publication.” City of San Diego v. Roe, 543 U.S. 77, 8384 (2004). But speech is not protected merely because it touches on an issue that the
public may find interesting. Colburn v. Trustees of Indiana Univ., 973 F.2d 581, 586
(7th Cir. 1992). Indeed,“[e]ven if the speech in question is on a topic of public interest,
determining whether speech addresses a matter of public concern requires courts to
‘delve deeper into the precise content, form, and context of speech that admittedly
may be of some interest to the public.’” Craig v. Rich Twp. High Sch. Dist. 227, 2013
WL 608411, at *2 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 19, 2013), aff’d on other grounds, 736 F.3d 1110 (7th
Cir. 2013) (citing Kokkinis v. Ivkovich, 185 F.3d 840, 844 (7th Cir. 1999)); see also
Kristofek v. Vill. of Orland Hills, 712 F.3d 979, 984 (7th Cir. 2013) (“[I]n answering
this question we look to the ‘content, form, and context’ of the statement.” (quoting
Chaklos v. Stevens, 560 F.3d 705, 712 (7th Cir. 2009))). The speech’s content is the
12
most important factor in determining whether it addresses a matter of public concern.
Kristofek, 712 F.3d at 984. But context also matters. “[T]he fact that [a plaintiff] ha[s]
a personal stake in expressing his views does not, by that reason alone, remove his
expression from First Amendment protection.” Campbell v. Towse, 99 F.3d 820 (7th
Cir. 1996). But if “the objective of the speech . . . is simply to further a purely
personalized grievance, then the speech does not involve a matter of public concern.”
Kristofek, 712 F.3d at 986; see also Gross, 619 F.3d at 706 (sexual harassment of
public employees is of widespread public interest, but personal sexual harassment
was a “purely personal grievance[ ]” and not a matter of public concern);
Kuchenreuther, 221 F.3d at 974-75 (police officer’s objections to policy limiting officers
to one set of handcuffs not protected despite that police operations and public safety
are matters of public concern because objections “addressed only an ‘inside’ matter
pertaining to [her] work condition” (quoting Bonds v. Milwaukee Cnty., 207 F.3d 969,
983 (7th Cir. 2000))).
Stevens goes to great lengths in her brief to attempt to describe her grievance
in a manner that implicates public concern. She argues that parents could be
concerned that the time spent adhering to the rule would take away from time
teachers needed to prepare lessons. She also argues that the public could be
concerned that the rule would increase staff turnover. R. 31-1 at 5. But the Court
disagrees. Even construing her allegations in the light most favorable to her, the
Court is hard-pressed to conclude that a work rule designed to match lessons with
13
teaching goals could plausibly be regarded as a matter of public interest let alone
public concern.
But even if the topic were of public concern—which the Court doubts—it still
fails because there is no evidence that it was motivated by anything other than to
benefit Stevens herself. Although described as a “class wide grievance,” R. 31-1 at 5;
R. 21-1 ¶ 92, that description is not dispositive. Gray v. Lacke, 885 F.2d 399, 413 (7th
Cir. 1989) (that complaints were purportedly on behalf of all female employees was
“indication of public, rather than private, concern,” but was “certainly not
dispositive.”). Instead, Stevens’s grievance was nothing more than a “personal
dispute ‘cloaked in the garb’ of [an] institutional grievance[ ],” and was “‘not thereby
made [a] matter[ ] of public concern.’” Gray v. Lacke, 885 F.2d 399, 413 (7th Cir. 1989)
(quoting Berg v. Hunter, 854 F.2d 238, 242 (7th Cir. 1988)). Indeed, the import to
Stevens in particular is clear from the amended complaint, in which she alleges that
the rule was “particularly nonsensical” as it related to “her students.” R. 21-1 ¶ 32.
And this in the context of numerous allegations that her relationship with Shelton
had suffered by this point. See generally id. Stevens’s grievance was “inextricably tied
to her personal disputes with her supervisors,” and cannot be an issue of “public
concern.” Gray, 885 F.2d at 413 (complaints of class-wide sexual harassment arose
from mere “personal disputes” where filed after complaints to supervisors about her
own harassment and subsequent suspension for insubordination); Berbas v. Bd. of
Educ. of City of Chic., 2000 WL 875728, at *3 (N.D. Ill. June 28, 2000) (the court “need
not ‘ignore any facts alleged in the complaint that undermine the plaintiff’s claim’”
14
that a grievance concerned an issue of public concern versus a “primarily private
dispute” (quoting Whirlpool Fin. Corp. v. GN Holdings, 873 F. Supp. 111, 123 n. 18
(N.D. Ill. 1995))).
Stevens fails to cite a single case even remotely analogous. And her reliance
upon Gray v. Lacke only serves to undermine her argument. As explained, the speech
there bearing closest resemblance to Stevens’s was denied protection. Moreover, the
sole incident of speech in Gray deemed a public concern is easily distinguished; it
involved unequal pay between men and women and no evidence to suggest a purely
personal dispute. 885 F.2d at 413-14 (union grievance concerning unequal pay
between male and female employees a matter of public concern because directed at
Sheriff Department in general and nothing to suggest it was purely personal).
Stevens fails to discuss any other case—including those cited by Defendants—in a
meaningful fashion. Accordingly, there was no public concern speech warranting
protection here.
Stevens contends in the alternative that even if her speech did not address a
matter of public concern, the Connick/Pickering analysis is an “imperfect fit” with
claims like hers involving “deprivation of and/or retaliation for exercising petition
and associational rights.” R. 31-1 at 6-7. She cites Hanover Township Federation of
Teachers v. Hanover Community School Corporation, 457 F.2d 456 (7th Cir. 1972)
and Balton v. City of Milwaukee, 133 F.3d 1036 (7th Cir. 1998) to argue against the
application of Connick/Pickering here. Her argument is difficult to follow, but neither
case compels a favorable result for Stevens. In Hanover, the court held that union
15
members cannot be terminated for union membership; but it expressly did not hold
that all union-related activity was protected “public concern” speech. 457 F.2d at 460
(“It does not follow, however, that all of a union or its members are constitutionally
protected.”). And in Balton, the court merely noted in dicta that “[a]
Pickering/Connick balancing test . . . is not easily transferable to freedom of
association cases.” 133 F.3d at 1039.
Simply put, the speech Stevens asserts as the basis for alleged retaliation was
personal in nature and likely would not even begin to approach an issue of public
concern even if it were not. Berry v. Illinois Dep't of Human Servs., 2003 WL
22462547, at *12 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 29, 2003) (“Pursuing a matter of individual concern
through a union grievance process does not make it protected First Amendment
conduct.”); McLaughlin v. Casler, 634 F. Supp. 2d 881, 891 (N.D. Ill. 2009) (speech
not protected where “either related to [plaintiff’s] own professional concerns or
involved issues of public interest that did not rise to the level of public concern”).
Stevens has failed to state a First Amendment retaliation claim. Count IV is
dismissed.
B.
Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Claim
Defendants next contend that Stevens fails to state an equal protection claim
(Count V). Generally, to state an equal protection claim under Section 1983, Stevens
must plausibly allege that: (1) she is a member of a protected class; (2) she was
otherwise similarly situated to members of the unprotected class; and (3) she was
treated differently from members of the unprotected class. Moore v. City of Chic.
16
Heights, 2010 WL 148623, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 12, 2010) (citing Brown v. Budz, 398
F.3d 904, 916 (7th Cir. 2005)). Stevens’s equal protection claim appears to be founded
upon her allegation that Shelton “targeted her for termination” as a result of her
union grievance. R. 21-1 ¶ 98. She also alleges that Defendants subjected her—a
“successful teacher”—to “harassment[,] and attempt[ed] to besmirch her professional
reputation . . . ultimately caus[ing] her to lose her job” without a “rational or
reasonable basis for doing so” due to her grievance. Id. ¶ 99. Defendants argue that
Stevens neither identified the protected class to which she belongs, nor identified any
similarly situated individual who was treated differently. R. 25 at 10; R. 38 at 10-11.
In response, Stevens argues that “[u]nder a standard of rationality,” “she need not
show that she was a member of a protected class” to make out her claim. Id. She cites
no case law to support this argument.
Neither the amended complaint nor the parties’ briefs are models of clarity on
this issue. But the Court reads Count V as a repackaging of Stevens’s failed First
Amendment retaliation claim, which serves as grounds to dismiss it on that basis
alone. 6 See Vukadinovich v. Bartels, 853 F.2d 1387, 1391-92 (7th Cir. 1988) (granting
defendants’ motion for summary judgment on equal protection claim where complaint
alleged plaintiff was “selected for termination in retaliation for the exercise” of right
to free speech, but speech was not protected as a matter of law); see also Thayer v.
Indeed, Stevens’s First Amendment retaliation and equal protection claims both
state “Because of Ms. Stevens’ lawful participation in a class wide grievance
challenging unreasonable and oppressive work rules, Defendant Shelton targeted her
for termination and enlisted the help of Davlantes and Rhodes.” See 21-1 ¶¶ 92, 98.
6
17
Chiczewski, 705 F.3d 237, 255 (7th Cir. 2012) (noting that class-of-one equal
protection claim was “seemingly a mere rewording of his First Amendment relation
claim,” and “[i]t may be proper” to find that the claims . . . fall together”); Wade v.
Collier, 783 F.3d 1081, 1087-88 (7th Cir. 2015) (dismissing equal protection claim as
“merely a rewording” of plaintiff’s malicious prosecution claim); Andrekus v. Bd. of
Educ. of Dist. U-46, 2004 WL 2535274, at *13-14 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 28, 2004) (granting
defendants’ motion for summary judgment in part because equal protection claim was
“merely a rewording of failed First Amendment retaliation claim”); Kirby v. City Of
Elizabeth City, N. Carolina, 388 F.3d 440, 447 (4th Cir. 2004) (“The claims based on
the allegation that [plaintiff] was treated differently in retaliation for his speech are,
at their core, free-speech retaliation claims that do ‘not implicate the Equal Protection
Clause.’” (quoting Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 250 (4th Cir. 1999))).
Moreover, to the extent Stevens attempts to rely upon the so-called “class-ofone” theory of equal protection, her claim would fail in any event. The class-of-one
theory is designed to “protect individuals against purely arbitrary government
classifications,” even when a classification “singl[es] out just one person for different
treatment for arbitrary or irrational purposes.” Geinosky v. City of Chic., 675 F.3d
743, 747 (7th Cir. 2012). It requires a plaintiff to allege that she has been “[1]
intentionally treated differently from others similarly situated and that [2] there is
no rational basis for the difference in treatment.” Forgue v. City of Chic., 873 F.3d
962, 968 (7th Cir. 2017) (citing Engquist v. Oregon Dept. of Agr., 553 U.S. 591, 601602 (2008)). But the theory “does not apply in the public employment context,” and
18
therefore cannot apply here. Engquist, 553 U.S. at 598; see also Albritton v. Vill. of
Dolton, 2011 WL 4501418, at *9 (N.D. Ill. Sep. 28, 2011) (dismissing equal protection
claim with prejudice to the extent plaintiff plead a class-of-one claim, but without
prejudice to the extent she sought to bring a class-based claim). 7 Accordingly, Stevens
must allege membership in a protected class to proceed. “Normally, we think of the
Equal Protection Clause as forbidding the making of invidious classifications—
classifications on the basis of such characteristics as race, religion, or gender.”
Vukadinovich v. Bd. of Sch. Trustees of Mich. City Area Schs., 978 F.2d 403 (7th Cir.
1992) (quoting Vukadinovich, 853 F.2d at 1391-92). Stevens does not allege that she
was treated differently because of her membership in any of these groups. For all of
these reasons, Count V is dismissed.
C.
Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Claim
Defendants also take issue with Count VI(a) of Stevens’s complaint, in which
she claims to have lost income without due process in violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment. R. 21-1 ¶¶ 100-104. The parties debate in their briefs whether Stevens’s
lost income as a result of her suspension can be considered “lost property” for
purposes of her claim, and Defendants also assert that proper process was (and would
be) followed.
A claim under the Fourteenth Amendment here is untenable; the amended
complaint fails to allege any facts demonstrating that Stevens enjoyed a protectable
This is because the class-of-one theory is “a poor fit in the public employment
context,” where “government offices could not function if every employment decision
became a constitutional matter.” Id. at 598, 605 (quoting Connick, 461 U.S. at 143).
7
19
property interest in either continued pay or continued employment with the Board,
including because she does not allege that she enjoyed tenure. Compare Bartlett v.
City of Chic. Sch. Dist. #299, 40 F. Supp. 3d 959, 964 (N.D. Ill. 2014) (tenured teacher
had a protected property interest “from, at a minimum, not being fired from his
teaching position” and being suspended without full pay).
Stevens cites Nelson v. Colorado, 137 S. Ct. 1249 (2018) in support of her due
process claim. That case concerned Colorado statutes requiring exonerated criminal
defendants to prove their innocence by clear and convincing evidence in order to
obtain a refund of costs, fees and restitution paid. See generally Nelson v. Colorado,
137 S. Ct. 1249 (2018). It is not applicable here. Stevens cites no other authority.
Count VI(a) is dismissed.
D.
Fourth Amendment and False Imprisonment Claims against
Shelton
Stevens alleges that Shelton violated her Fourth Amendment rights (Count
VI(b)) and falsely imprisoned Stevens (Count XI), in both cases by “refusing to allow
Ms. Stevens to leave the building when Shelton told her she was suspended.” R. 21-1
¶¶ 108, 117. The Court addresses each claim in turn.
1.
Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment, incorporated against the States by the Fourteenth
Amendment, protects “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons . . .
against unreasonable searches and seizures.” U.S. Const. amend. IV. To state a
Section 1983 claim under the Fourth Amendment, a plaintiff must plausibly allege
that: (1) there was a search or seizure; and (2) the search or seizure was unreasonable.
20
Angara v. City of Chic., 897 F. Supp. 355, 358 (N.D. Ill. 1995). “A person has been
‘seized’ within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment only if, in view of all the
circumstances surrounding the incident, a reasonable person would have believed
that he was not free to leave.” United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554 (1980).
Although typically arising in the criminal context or with regard to police activity,
Fourth Amendment protections apply to the actions of all governmental
employees. See Doe v. Heck, 327 F.3d 492, 509 (7th Cir. 2003) (“the strictures of the
Fourth Amendment apply to child welfare workers, as well as all other governmental
employees” (citing Brokaw v. Mercer Cnty., 235 F.3d 1000, 1014 n.4 (7th Cir. 2000)).
Here, Stevens alleges in Count VI(b) that she was “seized” within the meaning
of the Fourth Amendment when she was told she could not leave school premises
following her suspension. R. 21-1 ¶¶ 108, 117. Stevens provides further color in the
“Facts” section of her amended complaint, alleging that Shelton “demanded” the keys
to Stevens’s “personal file cabinet” and when Stevens refused to give her the keys,
Shelton refused to let her “remove her personal belongings, [ ] blocked [Stevens’s] exit
and called the police.” Id. ¶ 62. Stevens alleges that “[t]his went on for over an hour”
until CPS and union attorneys arrived and “told Shelton she needed to allow Ms.
Stevens to leave.” Id. ¶ 63. Stevens cites no case law to support her claim that these
allegations state a Fourth Amendment claim. But even if a teacher could maintain a
Fourth Amendment claim against a principal (which is not clear), the Court agrees
with Defendants that it would be unreasonable for Stevens to believe that she was
not free to leave. Stevens’s allegations make clear that Shelton “blocked her exit”
21
because Stevens would not return the keys. It appears based on the allegations that
Stevens could have left merely by returning the keys. That is not a constitutional
seizure. Accordingly, Stevens has failed to allege a plausible Fourth Amendment
claim. Stevens’s Count VI(b) is dismissed.
2.
False Imprisonment
Defendants argue that Stevens also failed to plausibly allege a false
imprisonment claim against Shelton for the same reasons they allege her Fourth
Amendment “seizure” claim fails; Stevens had a choice. The Court agrees. To state a
claim of false imprisonment under Illinois law, Stevens must plausibly allege an
“unreasonable restraint of [her] liberty, against [her] will, caused or procured by”
Shelton. Rogers v. Cook, 2008 WL 5387642, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 23, 2008) (citing
Meerbrey v. Marshall Field and Co., 564 N.E.2d 1222, 1231 (1990)). Stevens again
fails to cite any authority or otherwise fully develop her argument. Thus, because
according to her amended complaint Stevens was prevented from leaving only
because she refused to turn over her keys, the false imprisonment claim (Count XI)
is also dismissed.
E.
Rhodes’ Personal Involvement
Defendants contend that Stevens’s constitutional claims against Rhodes
(Counts IV, V and VI(a)) fail to state a claim against Rhodes because they do not
allege his personal involvement in the purported violations. R. 25 at 7. 8 The Court
The Court has already dismissed these claims, but addresses this argument for
completeness.
8
22
agrees. Simply put, Stevens’s claims make no specific factual allegations regarding
Rhodes, other than to state without more that “Defendant Shelton targeted [Stevens]
for termination and enlisted the help of Davlantes and Rhodes.” R. 21-1 ¶ 92. Indeed,
the only allegations specific to Rhodes appear in Count X—Stevens’s battery claim.
There, Stevens alleges that Rhodes “blocked her path” when she attempted to leave
her classroom, “grabbed her arm” after she asked him not to touch her, and, along
with Davlantes, “suspended testing.” R. 21-1 ¶¶ 52-54. Stevens argues without citing
any authority that these allegations demonstrate that Rhodes was “working in
concert with Shelton” and are sufficient. R. 31-1 at 3-4.
Individual-capacity liability under Section 1983 requires a defendant’s
personal involvement in the alleged constitutional violation. Palmer v. Marion Cnty.,
327 F.3d 588, 594 (7th Cir. 2003); see also McGee v. Ill. Dep’t of Transp., 2004 WL
726110, *3 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 1, 2004) (individual liability does not attach under Section
1983 without personal participation in constitutional deprivation). Stevens’s
allegations miss the mark; there has been no allegation that Rhodes was “personally
involved in the alleged constitutional deprivation” of rights about which Stevens
complains. Matz v. Klotka, 769 F.3d 517, 528 (7th Cir. 2014). Accordingly, the Court
would grant Defendants’ motion as to Stevens’s constitutional claims against Rhodes
on this ground even if they had survived Defendants’ other arguments.
IV.
Defamation Claim Against Shelton
Defendants next take issue with Stevens’s defamation per se claim against
Shelton (Count IX). To plead defamation under Illinois law, Stevens must plausibly
23
allege that: (1) Shelton made a false statement about her; (2) publication of the
statement was not privileged; and (3) Stevens was damaged as a result. Cox v.
Calumet Public Schs. Dist. 132, 180 F. Supp. 3d 556, 563 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 18, 2016)
(citing Haywood v. Lucent Tech., Inc., 323 F.3d 524, 533 (7th Cir. 2003)). A statement
is defamatory per se “if the words impute that a person lacks integrity in performing
his job.” Goldberg v. Brooks, 948 N.E.2d 1108, 1113 (Ill. App. Ct. 2011) (citing Solaia
Tech., LLC v. Specialty Publ’g Co., 852 N.E.2d 825 (Ill. 2006)).
Here, Stevens alleges that Shelton “falsely accus[ed] Ms. Stevens of ‘cheating’
on standardized tests” as a “purported and pretextual basis to remove her from her
position while the Board investigates.” She further contends that these accusations
“impugned Ms. Stevens’ professional reputation,” and created “a cloud around her
treatment at South Loop Elementary.” R. 21-1 ¶ 111. Defendants do not argue that
Stevens fails to state a claim. Instead, they assert that Shelton enjoys absolute
statutory immunity from Stevens’s defamation per se claim under both Section 2-201
and Section 2-210 of the Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort
Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 10/2-109 (“Tort Immunity Act”). R. 25 at 11-14; R. 38 at 1214. Stevens argues that Shelton does not qualify for immunity because she was
“neither making policy nor exercising her discretion” when she “fabricated
allegations” of cheating to “justify her illegal and retaliatory actions against Ms.
Stevens.” R. 31-1.
24
1.
Section 2-210 of the Tort Immunity Act
Section 2-210 of the Tort Immunity Act confers broad immunity upon
municipal employees accused of defamation, providing that:
A public employee acting in the scope of his employment is not liable for
an injury caused by his negligent misrepresentation or the provision of
information either orally, in writing, by computer or any other electronic
transmission, or in a book or other form of library material.
745 ILCS 10/2-210. “Employee” for purposes of the Tort Immunity Act includes “a
present or former officer, member of a board, commission or committee, agent,
volunteer, servant or employee, whether or not compensated.” 745 ILCS 10/1-202.
Thus, under Section 2-210, employees have immunity “even if a statement is
defamatory . . . for their statements made within the scope of their authority.”
Horwitz v. Bd. of Ed. of Avoca School Dist. No. 37, 260 F.3d 602, 617 (7th Cir. 2001)
(citing Klug v. Chic. Sch. Reform Bd. of Trustees, 197 F.3d 853, 861 (7th Cir. 1999));
see also Cox, 180 F. Supp. 3d at 563-64 (defendant-superintendent entitled to
immunity where plaintiff alleged she “communicated . . . that Plaintiff was
discharged for cause to third parties” but alleged no facts supporting “an inference
that [defendant] was acting outside of her official authority” when she did so).
Although Stevens argues that “making knowingly false statements cannot be within
the scope of authority of a public employee,” R. 31-1 at 12, the case law is clear that
Section 2-210 provides absolute immunity, which “cannot be ‘overcome by a showing
of improper motivation or knowledge of the statement’s falsity, including malice.’”
Horwitz, 260 F.3d at 618 (quoting Klug, 197 F.3d at 861); see also Goldberg, 948
N.E.2d at 111 (Section 2-210 provides “broad protection to public employees acting
25
within the scope of their employment”). Here, a school principal’s oversight of teacheradministrated testing is undoubtedly within the scope of the principal’s employment.
Accordingly, even assuming that Shelton’s statements regarding Stevens’s alleged
“cheating” constituted defamation per se within the meaning of Illinois law (which
neither the parties, nor the Court address here), Shelton enjoys absolute immunity
under Section 2-210 of the Tort Immunity Act, without regard to her motivations.
Stevens cites no authority otherwise. Count IX is dismissed.
2.
Section 2-201 of the Tort Immunity Act
Because the Court dismissed Count IX under Section 2-210 of the Tort
Immunity Act, the Court need not decide whether Stevens’s defamation claim may
also be dismissed under Section 2-201.
V.
Punitive Damages
Defendants argue that Stevens cannot recover punitive damages against
either the Board or the individual defendants in their official capacities, and further
contend that she also cannot recover punitive damages against the individual
defendants in their individual capacities.
1.
Against the Board and the Individual Defendants in their
Official Capacities
Defendants argue that Stevens cannot recover punitive damages from any of
the individual defendants in their official capacities or from the Board. R. 25 at 14;
R. 38 at 15. Defendants are correct that municipalities and local government entities
are immune from punitive damage awards under Section 1983. Robinson v. City of
Harvey, Ill., 617 F.3d 915, 916 (7th Cir. 2010) (citing Newport v. Fact Concepts, Inc.,
26
453 U.S. 247 (1981)). Nor are government entities subject to punitive damages under
the ADA. See Blalock v. Ill. Dep’t of Human Servs., 349 F. Supp. 2d 1093, 1097 (N.D.
Ill. 2008) (“42 U.S.C. § 1981a exempts government agencies from judgment for
punitive damages, with respect to both Title VII and ADA claims.”). Instead, punitive
damages may be recovered against government actors only in an individual capacity
suit. See Hill v. Shelander, 924 F.2d 1370, 1374 (7th Cir. 1991) (“punitive damages
[may] be recovered against a government actor only in an individual capacity suit”);
Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 35 (1983). But a review of Stevens’s amended complaint
reveals that she has not sought punitive damages against the Board, and she seeks
punitive damages against the individual defendants only in their “personal”
capacities. Accordingly, and because the Court has dismissed Defendants’ Section
1983 claims against the Board and against the individual defendants in their official
capacities in any event, this argument is moot. 9
2.
Against the Individual Defendants in Their Individual
Capacities
Finally, Defendants argue that Stevens also cannot seek punitive damages
from the individual defendants in their individual capacities on any of her
constitutional, defamation per se, battery or false imprisonment claims (Counts IV,
V, VI(a), VI(b), IX, X and XI). R. 25 at 14-15; R. 38 at 15. The Court dismissed
Defendants also point out that Stevens failed to respond to their argument that the
Board is immune from punitive damages, and thus has waived her opportunity to
argue otherwise. See Alioto, 651 F.3d at 719. Because the amended complaint
includes no prayer for a punitive award as to the Board, and because a punitive award
is not available against the Board in any event, the Court need not address this issue.
9
27
Stevens’s constitutional claims and her defamation and false imprisonment claims in
full, so the Court need only address Stevens’s prayer for punitive damages on her
battery claim against Rhodes (Count X). Defendants argue that the individual
defendants (including Rhodes) are immune from punitive damages under Section 2102 of the Tort Immunity Act. That section provides:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, . . . no public official is liable
to pay punitive or exemplary damages in any action arising out of an act
or omission made by the public official while serving in an official
executive, legislative, quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial capacity,
brought directly or indirectly against him by the injured party or a third
party.
745 ILCS 10/2-102. Section 2-102 therefore confers immunity when both: (1) the
defendant is a “public official” within the meaning of the statute; and (2) the
defendant served in an official executive, legislative, quasi-legislative or quasijudicial capacity when he or she engaged in the acts allegedly resulting in injury.
Ohlrich v. Vill. of Wonder Lake, 2015 WL 4724822, at *4 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 10, 2015).
Stevens argues without citing authority that the individual defendants
(including Rhodes) do not qualify for immunity under Section 2-102 because they
were not exercising discretion in the performance of a uniquely governmental
function as Defendants allege; instead, they were concocting allegations of cheating
and “intervening in order to harass” Stevens and cause her students to “score lower”
on tests. R. 31-1 at 12-13.
Neither side points out the relative uncertainty regarding whether a public
official sued in his or her individual, as opposed to official, capacity can be immune
under Section 2-102. See Ohlrich, 2015 WL 4724822, at *4-5 (noting that neither the
28
Illinois Supreme Court nor the Seventh Circuit had addressed whether a police officer
could be immune from a punitive damage award under Section 2-102 when sued in
his individual capacity, but granting officer’s motion for summary judgment
regarding punitive damages on battery claim on that basis). The Court is persuaded
by the reasoning in recent decisions finding that Section 2-102 may provide immunity
from punitive damages when a public official is sued in his or her individual capacity.
See, e.g., Ohlrich, 2015 WL 4724822, at *4 (finding “no reason to believe that when
Section 2-102 refers to acts made ‘in an official executive . . . capacity’ that the statute
is somehow restricted to official capacity claims” against police officers); Haug v. Twp.
of New Lenox, 2010 WL 1611070, at *4 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 20, 2010) (“the statutory grant
of immunity is broad, and there is nothing in the text of § 2-102 limiting its
application to official-capacity suits”).
But Defendants fail to establish that Rhodes and the other individual
defendants can avail themselves of the Tort Immunity Act. Instead, they merely
argue in conclusory fashion that they are “public officials” because they are
government employees and contend that they were “exercising discretion in the
performance of a uniquely government function” without explaining how that phrase
relates to Section 2-102. R. 25 at 14-15; see Padilla v. Perez, 2017 WL 345553, at *6
(N.D. Ill. Jan. 24, 2017) (declining to dismiss request for punitive damages under 2102 where defendants did not attempt to argue that they were public officials and
cited no authority to that effect); Haug, 2010 WL 1611070, at *4 (declining to strike
request for punitive damages under 2-102 where defendants failed “to explain what
29
[official executive, legislative, quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial capacity”] mean
under Illinois law” or “to develop any argument whatsoever that it can be concluded
from the allegations of the complaint that defendants acted as public officials
functioning in such a capacity.”); Carroccia v. Anderson, 249 F. Supp. 2d 1016, 1029
(N.D. Ill. 2003) (“Because the parties have spent so little time on the issue—just one
sentence in defendants’ brief and no discussion in plaintiff’s—the Court believes that
the matter is best left for consideration at the summary judgment stage.”).
Accordingly, even if Section 2-102 provides immunity from punitive damages
in an individual capacity suit, it would be premature to strike Stevens’s prayer for
punitive damages here. See Doe ex rel. Doe v. White, 627 F. Supp. 2d 905, 911 (C.D.
Ill. 2009) (declining to strike punitive damages prayer against assistant principal
given “paucity of case law interpreting this statute” and parties’ failure to address
whether he was a “public official” or serving “in an official executive, legislative,
quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial capacity.”); Lifton v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Chic.,
290 F. Supp. 2d 940, 946 (N.D. Ill. 2003) (“it is simply too early to determine whether
[principal] was serving in an official capacity while engaged in the alleged conduct”).
The Court declines to do so. Stevens’s prayer for punitive damages as to Rhodes on
Count X stands.
Conclusion
For these reasons, the Court grants Defendants’ partial motion to dismiss on
each of Counts II, IV, V, VI(a), VI(b), IX and XI, but denies Defendants’ motion to
30
strike Stevens’s prayer for punitive damages as to Rhodes on Count X, R. 25. Counts
I, III and X—which were not the subject of Defendants’ motion to dismiss—remain.
ENTERED:
_______________________
Honorable Thomas M. Durkin
United States District Judge
Dated: March 18, 2019
31
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?