Singleton et al v. Cannizzaro et al

Filing 200

ORDER AND REASONS: GRANTING 159 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, as set forth in document. Signed by Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on 6/8/2020. (am)

Case 2:17-cv-10721-JTM-JVM Document 200 Filed 06/08/20 Page 1 of 13

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

RENATA SINGLETON ET AL.

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

NO: 17-10721

LEON CANNIZZARO ET AL.

SECTION: “H”

ORDER AND REASONS
Before the Court is Defendants Leon Cannizzaro (in his individual
capacity), Graymond Martin, David Pipes, Iain Dover, Jason Napoli, Arthur
Mitchell, Tiffany Tucker, Michael Trummel, Matthew Hamilton, Inga
Petrovich, Laura Rodrigue, and Sarah Dawkins’s (collectively, the “Individual
Defendants”) Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 159). For the
following reasons, the Motion is GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
The Court is very familiar with the facts and allegations in this case,
which were laid out in detail in an Order and Reasons issued on February 28,
2019. 1 Relevant to this instant matter, however, are the following pertinent
facts and allegations. This lawsuit alleges that the Orleans Parish District
Attorney’s Office (“OPDA”) unlawfully compelled victims and witnesses of
crimes to cooperate with prosecutors. Those who failed to comply with

1

See Doc. 116 at 1–5.

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prosecutors’ requests were allegedly threatened, harassed, and, in some cases,
jailed. The primary tool allegedly used by prosecutors to compel cooperation
was a document manufactured by OPDA to look like a court-ordered subpoena.
These “subpoenas” were not actually approved by a judge and did not give
anyone the authority to fine or jail witnesses who failed to appear.
Nevertheless, prosecutors often threatened witnesses with jail time for failure
to comply with these “subpoenas.”
Plaintiffs in this case include eight people—victims of and witnesses to
crimes

(“Individual

Plaintiffs”)—and

Silence

is

Violence

(“SIV”),

an

organization that advocates on behalf of crime victims. The Defendants are all
prosecutors at OPDA. Plaintiffs seek monetary and injunctive relief for alleged
violations of federal and state law by the Defendants. The federal claims
include violations of the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments under 42
U.S.C. § 1983. The Louisiana state law claims include allegations of abuse of
process and fraud.
Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss on the grounds of qualified
immunity, absolute immunity, and failure to state a claim on March 1, 2018.
This Court granted the motion in part and outlined the remaining claims in its
Order and Reasons issued therewith. 2
Presently before the Court is Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment on Plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief. The motion seeks dismissal
of all requests for injunctive relief asserted by Plaintiffs against Defendants
for lack of standing. Plaintiffs do not oppose the motion to the extent that it
relates to the Individual Plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief. Plaintiffs also
do not oppose the motion to the extent that it relates to claims for injunctive
relief against certain Defendants no longer employed by OPDA. Plaintiffs only
2

Id. at 51–52.

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oppose the motion insofar as it relates to the following claims for injunctive
relief by Plaintiff SIV:
(1) Against Defendant Cannizzaro in his individual capacity for
retaliation prohibited by the First Amendment;
(2) Against Defendants Cannizzaro, Martin, and Pipes in their individual
capacities for failure to train, supervise, and discipline the
prosecutors at OPDA for allegedly unlawful conduct and their failure
to intervene; and
(3) Against Defendants Cannizzaro, Martin, and Pipes in their individual
capacities for substantive due process violations arising out of the
creation and use of the “subpoenas.”
Plaintiffs also request clarification on the remaining claims as outlined in this
Court’s Order and Reasons dated February 28, 2019.
LEGAL STANDARD
“The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that
there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.” 3 “As to materiality . . . [o]nly disputes over
facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will
properly preclude the entry of summary judgment.” 4 Nevertheless, a dispute
about a material fact is “genuine” such that summary judgment is
inappropriate “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a
verdict for the nonmoving party.” 5

3
4
5

FED. R. CIV. P. 56.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
Id. at 248.

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In determining whether the movant is entitled to summary judgment,
the Court views facts in the light most favorable to the non-movant and draws
all reasonable inferences in his favor. 6 “If the moving party meets the initial
burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact, the burden
shifts to the non-moving party to produce evidence or designate specific facts
showing the existence of a genuine issue for trial.” 7 Summary judgment is
appropriate if the non-movant “fails to make a showing sufficient to establish
the existence of an element essential to that party’s case.” 8
“In response to a properly supported motion for summary judgment, the
nonmovant must identify specific evidence in the record and articulate the
manner in which that evidence supports that party’s claim, and such evidence
must be sufficient to sustain a finding in favor of the nonmovant on all issues
as to which the nonmovant would bear the burden of proof at trial.” 9 The Court
does “not . . . in the absence of any proof, assume that the nonmoving party
could or would prove the necessary facts.” 10 Additionally, “[t]he mere argued
existence of a factual dispute will not defeat an otherwise properly supported
motion.” 11
LAW AND ANALYSIS
I.

Clarification of Remaining Claims
As an initial matter, the Court addresses Plaintiffs’ request for

clarification of the remaining claims. Plaintiffs note in their opposition that:
Coleman v. Hous. Indep. Sch. Dist., 113 F.3d 528, 533 (5th Cir. 1997).
Engstrom v. First Nat’l Bank, 47 F.3d 1459, 1462 (5th Cir. 1995).
8 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986).
9 Johnson v. Deep E. Tex. Reg. Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, 379 F.3d 293, 301 (5th Cir.
2004) (internal citations omitted).
10 Badon v. R J R Nabisco, Inc., 224 F.3d 382, 393–94 (5th Cir. 2000) (quoting Little v. Liquid
Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994)).
11 Boudreaux v. Banctec, Inc., 366 F. Supp. 2d 425, 430 (E.D. La. 2005).
6
7

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The summary of this Court’s order listing the claims that are still
live in the case omits reference to the individual injunctive claims
against Cannizzaro, Martin, and Pipes alleged by Plaintiffs under
Count V, Violation of Fourteenth Amendment Due Process. Doc.
116 at 51. However, the Court found that Plaintiffs had stated a
claim for violation of Substantive Due Process against the
Defendants, granting Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss on this claim
only so as to preclude damages against the individual Defendants
on the basis of qualified immunity. Doc. 116 at 25-26. The
individual injunctive claims, which Plaintiffs specifically and
adequately pled, thus survive. Plaintiffs respectfully request that
the Court clarify its order to specify that the individual injunctive
claims for violations of substantive due process are still live. 12
Count V of the Complaint raises a violation of Fourteenth Amendment
Substantive Due Process against Defendant Cannizzaro in his official capacity
and against Defendants Cannizzaro, Mitchell, Pipes, Doe, Napoli, Dover,
Trummel, Hamilton, Petrovich, Rodrigue, Dawkins, and Martin in their
individual capacities. This Court found that Plaintiffs adequately pleaded a
substantive due process claim upon which relief could be granted. 13 This Court
also found, however, that the Defendants were entitled to qualified immunity
“for claims seeking damages based on allegations of substantive due process
violations.” 14 This Court found that Defendants were entitled to qualified
immunity because Plaintiffs failed to establish that the “prosecutors in this case
violated clearly established law.” 15
In the Conclusion of this Court’s Order and Reasons, the Court stated
that, under Count V, only “Plaintiffs’ § 1983 substantive due process claims
seeking damages and injunctive relief against Cannizzaro in his official

Doc. 174 at 5 n.2 (emphasis and citations in original).
Doc. 116 at 26 n.112.
14 Id. (emphasis added).
15 Id.
12
13

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capacity” remain. 16 Plaintiffs now ask this Court to clarify whether it meant to
omit the individual injunctive claims under Count V. The Court did not intend
to omit the remaining individual injunctive claims under Count V.
“Qualified immunity shields government officials from civil damages
liability unless the official violated a statutory or constitutional right that was
clearly established at the time of the challenged conduct.” 17 Qualified immunity
does not, therefore, shield officials from claims for injunctive relief. 18 This Court
made a finding that the Individual Defendants were entitled to qualified
immunity on Count V; thus, the Individual Defendants are shielded from claims
for damages—not claims for injunctive relief—under Count V. Accordingly,
under Count V, Plaintiffs’ § 1983 substantive due process claims seeking
damages and injunctive relief against Cannizzaro in his official capacity and
injunctive relief against the Individual Defendants in their individual capacities
remain. 19
II.

Standing
The Court now turns to address SIV’s standing as it relates to its claims

for injunctive relief. Defendants argue that SIV’s claims for injunctive relief
should be dismissed because Plaintiffs cannot show that SIV suffers a risk of
imminent future injury. “Article III of the Constitution limits federal courts’

Id. at 51.
Heaney v. Roberts, 846 F.3d 795, 801 (5th Cir. 2017) (quoting Reichle v. Howards, 566 U.S.
658, 664 (2012)).
18 Williams v. Ballard, 466 F.3d 330, 334 n.7 (5th Cir. 2006) (citing Orellana v. Kyle, 65 F.3d
29, 33 (5th Cir. 1995)) (“Qualified immunity does not protect officials from injunctive
relief.”).
19 Defendants do not argue that the finding of qualified immunity as it relates to Count V
shields Defendants from claims for injunctive relief. Defendants only argue that Plaintiffs
“have not adequately stated any substantive-due-process claims against the Individual
Defendants.” Doc. 177 at 6. This Court has already held, however, that Plaintiffs
adequately pleaded a Fourteenth Amendment Substantive Due Process claim. Doc. 116 at
26 n.112.
16
17

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jurisdiction to certain ‘Cases’ and ‘Controversies.’” 20 “One element of the caseor-controversy requirement is that plaintiffs must establish that they have
standing to sue.” 21 Standing requires a showing of three elements: (1) an injury
in fact; (2) a causal connection between the injury and the conduct complained
of; and (3) a likelihood that the injury will be redressed by a favorable
decision. 22 As to the injury requirement, the injury must be concrete and
particularized and actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical. 23 “A
plaintiff seeking injunctive relief, unlike a plaintiff seeking damages, must
establish more than the existence of a ‘past wrong’ to satisfy the injury-in-fact
requirement. Instead, a plaintiff must ‘show that he has sustained or is
immediately in danger of sustaining some direct injury as the result of the
challenged conduct.’” 24
Notably, “[t]he party invoking federal jurisdiction bears the burden of
establishing [the] elements [of standing].” 25 “[E]ach element must be supported
in the same way as any other matter on which the plaintiff bears the burden
of proof, i.e., with the manner and degree of evidence required at the successive
stages of litigation.” 26 The motion presently before the Court is a motion for
summary judgment—not a motion to dismiss. 27

Clapper v. Amnesty Int’l USA, 568 U.S. 398, 408 (2013).
Id. (quoting Raines v. Byrd, 521 U.S. 811, 818 (1997)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
22 Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560–61 (1992).
23 Id. at 560.
24 Smith v. Bd. of Comm’rs of La. Stadium & Exposition Dist., 371 F. Supp. 3d 313, 321 (E.D.
La. 2019) (quoting Armstrong v. Turner Indus., Inc., 141 F.3d 554, 563 (5th Cir. 1998)).
25 Lujan, 504 U.S. at 561.
26 Id.
27 The Court thinks it is prudent to point out this obvious fact. Perplexingly, the language
used by the Plaintiffs in their brief would have one believe that the motion pending is a
motion to dismiss. See Doc. 174 at 4 (“Defendants argue that SIV has not alleged that it
has been harmed by any individual defendant.”); id. at 7 (“This Court held that those
allegations are sufficient to claims [sic] upon which relief can be granted. Defendants have
not pointed to any evidence to the contrary.”).
20
21

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At the pleading stage, general factual allegations of injury
resulting from the defendant’s conduct may suffice, for on a motion
to dismiss we presume that general allegations embrace those
specific facts that are necessary to support the claim. In response
to a summary judgment motion, however, the plaintiff can no
longer rest on such mere allegations, but must set forth by affidavit
or other evidence specific facts, which for purposes of the summary
judgment motion will be taken to be true. 28
Having established these core principles, the Court now addresses SIV’s
standing as it relates to three claims for injunctive relief.
A. SIV’s claim for injunctive relief on its First Amendment
retaliation claim against Defendant Cannizzaro (Count III)
SIV’s retaliation claims are based on two events. First, Plaintiffs allege
that Defendant Cannizzaro told SIV’s executive director in 2016 that she could
be prosecuted for witness coercion if she encouraged witnesses not to
communicate with OPDA. Second, Plaintiffs alleged that three years earlier,
Defendant Cannizzaro called SIV’s executive director and told her that she could
be charged with obstruction if she dissuaded victims from assisting prosecutors.
Defendants assert that these allegations fall short of establishing a
genuine issue of material fact on whether SIV faces a real and immediate threat
of injury in the future by Defendant Cannizzaro. Defendants note that Plaintiffs
fail to attach or cite to any summary judgment evidence in their opposition.
Plaintiffs do not appear to address SIV’s standing as it relates to its First
Amendment retaliation claim. Instead, Plaintiffs assert that their Complaint
sufficiently alleges that Defendant Cannizzaro violated SIV’s rights under the
First Amendment for retaliation and that “Defendants have offered no facts in
their Motion for Partial Summary Judgment that refute these allegations.” 29
Plaintiffs misapprehend which party has the burden of proof in this motion.

28
29

Lujan, 504 U.S. at 561 (internal quotation marks, brackets, and citations omitted).
Doc. 174 at 4.

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As explained previously, the party invoking federal jurisdiction, the
plaintiff, bears the burden of establishing standing. “If the dispositive issue is
one on which the non-moving party will bear the burden of persuasion at trial,
the moving party may satisfy its burden of production by either (1) submitting
affirmative evidence that negates an essential element of the non-movant's
claim, or (2) affirmatively demonstrating that there is no evidence in the record
to establish an essential element of the non-movant's claim.” 30 Here, Defendants
have affirmatively demonstrated that there is no evidence in the record—
beyond Plaintiffs’ allegations in the Complaint—to establish that SIV faces a
real and immediate threat of injury in the future by Defendant Cannizzaro.
Plaintiffs, the non-moving party, “may defeat a motion for summary judgment
by calling the Court’s attention to supporting evidence already in the record that
was overlooked or ignored by the moving party.” 31 Plaintiffs fail entirely to do
so. Moreover, Plaintiffs provide this Court with no summary judgment evidence
whatsoever. Plaintiffs merely point to the allegations in their Complaint and
this Court’s Order and Reasons which held that some of Plaintiffs’ claims are
sufficiently pleaded. “[U]nsubstantiated assertions are not competent summary
judgment evidence. The party opposing summary judgment is required to
identify specific evidence in the record and to articulate the precise manner in
which that evidence supports his or her claim.” 32 Plaintiffs have failed to carry
their burden of presenting evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of
material fact necessary to defeat summary judgment on this particular claim
for injunctive relief.
B. SIV’s claims for injunctive relief against Defendants Cannizzaro,
Martin, and Pipes in their individual capacities for substantive

Smith, 371 F. Supp. 3d at 319.
Id.
32 Id.
30
31

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due process violations arising out of the creation and use of the
“subpoenas”
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs cannot show a substantial, imminent
risk of future substantive due process violations by the Individual Defendants
arising out of their use of “subpoenas.” In response, Plaintiffs note that they
sufficiently pleaded a substantive due process claim by SIV arising out of
OPDA’s use of “subpoenas,” reiterating that those allegations established that
SIV suffered an injury. Specifically, Plaintiffs note that they alleged that SIV
has been forced to alter the focus of its organizational mission—from generally
advocating for victims of violent crime to protecting those same victims from
zealous prosecutors—because of OPDA’s use of “subpoenas” and other
intimidating tactics. Plaintiffs also assert that SIV faces an ongoing and
concrete threat of harm because “SIV’s redirection of its resources to the clients
it serves in response to [OPDA’s coercive] tactics is a continuing injury, and the
threats it faces as a result of those tactics are going.” 33 To support this claim,
Plaintiffs point to allegations in their Complaint. They also note that
“Defendants have adduced no evidence to suggest that the unlawful policies are
not currently in place.” 34 Again, Plaintiffs misapprehend the burden of proof
necessary to defeat this motion.
As previously explained, the burden is on the Plaintiffs to put forth
summary judgment evidence—not unsubstantiated assertions—that create a
genuine issue of material fact as to SIV’s ongoing risk of harm as it relates to
OPDA’s use of subpoenas. Plaintiffs have not done so and are erroneous in
asserting that it is the Defendants’ burden to prove the nonexistence of a
concrete risk of imminent harm. Not only do Plaintiffs fail to proffer evidence of

33
34

Doc. 174 at 8.
Id.

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an ongoing risk of harm or a future, imminent injury, but they fail to proffer any
evidence of a past injury. This Court cannot hold that unsubstantiated
allegations in a Complaint are sufficient to create a genuine dispute of material
fact as to SIV’s risk of injury.
C. SIV’s claims for injunctive relief against Defendants Cannizzaro,
Martin, and Pipes in their individual capacities for failure to
train, supervise, and discipline and failure to intervene (Counts
VI and VII)
The crux of this claim is that the Individual Defendants’ failure to train,
supervise, discipline, and intervene regarding OPDA’s use of “subpoenas”
caused SIV to suffer an injury and puts SIV at an ongoing risk of imminent
future injury. Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have not and cannot show that
“the alleged failure to train, supervise, discipline, or intervene poses a
substantial, imminent risk of future harm.” 35 Plaintiffs fail to directly address
its standing for injunctive relief on this claim, and, as with the other claims,
Plaintiffs again fail to point to any evidence whatsoever to demonstrate a risk
of imminent harm necessary to seek injunctive relief. Mere allegations in a
complaint, with nothing more, cannot defeat this motion.
Having found that Plaintiffs failed to carry their burden to defeat this
motion on all three claims for injunctive relief, the Court turns to Plaintiffs’ last
argument: “summary judgment would be inappropriate because the relevant
facts are as yet unavailable to the Plaintiffs.” 36 Plaintiffs argue that, at the time
the motion was filed, they had been afforded insufficient time to conduct
discovery. Plaintiffs cite to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(d), which
provides:

35
36

Doc. 177 at 10.
Doc. 174 at 10.

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If a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for specified
reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition,
the court may:
(1) defer considering the motion or deny it;
(2) allow time to obtain affidavits or declarations or to take
discovery; or
(3) issue any other appropriate order.
Plaintiffs present this Court with an affidavit executed by counsel. 37 They note
that they propounded interrogatories regarding current or past policies and
procedures related to seeking “subpoenas” and material witness warrants but
that they have not yet been answered. Plaintiffs also note that they have not
had the opportunity to depose any of the Defendants, and they hope to use the
depositions to determine whether the policies and practices surrounding the use
of “subpoenas” and those giving rise to SIV’s retaliation claims are still in place.
The Court does not find merit in this argument. Plaintiffs could have
proffered evidence already in their possession to oppose this motion. For
example, Plaintiffs could have presented an affidavit from SIV’s executive
director, detailing any recent clients that they have had to assist regarding
OPDA’s use of “subpoenas;” the resources that were diverted to support those
clients; or any recent communications it had with OPDA. This Court need not
expound upon the myriad ways in which Plaintiffs could have proffered evidence
to oppose this motion. While additional discovery may shed light on relevant
issues—OPDA’s current policies and procedures, for example—Plaintiffs
nevertheless possess evidence relevant to this motion. Plaintiffs failure to attach
any evidence whatsoever in opposing this motion is not a sufficient reason to
defer a ruling.

37

Doc. 174-1.

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CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary
Judgment is GRANTED. Plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief are hereby
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
New Orleans, Louisiana this 8th day of June, 2020.

____________________________________
JANE TRICHE MILAZZO
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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