Diamond et al v. Kalamazoo, City of et al

Filing 99

OPINION AND ORDER APPROVING AND ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 92 ; denying objections 95 ; granting in part and denying in part motion for summary judgment 83 ; signed by Judge Janet T. Neff (Judge Janet T. Neff, rmw)

Download PDF
81,7(' 67$7(6 ',675,&7 &2857 :(67(51 ',675,&7 2) 0,&+,*$1 6287+(51 ',9,6,21 5<$1 ',$021' HW DO 3ODLQWLIIV &DVH 1R FY Y +21 -$1(7 7 1()) &,7< 2) .$/$0$=22 HW DO 'HIHQGDQWV BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB 23,1,21 $1' 25'(5 3ODLQWLIIV 5\DQ 'LDPRQG .DWK\ /DQJ %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG %ULHDQFD 'LDPRQG DQG &UDLJ /DQJ LQLWLDWHG WKLV PDWWHU DJDLQVW WKH &LW\ RI .DODPD]RR 0LFKLJDQ DQG HOHYHQ PHPEHUV RI LWV 'HSDUWPHQW RI 3XEOLF 6DIHW\ ³'HIHQGDQWV´ DIWHU SROLFH RIILFHUV UHVSRQGHG WR WKHLU FRPSODLQW RI DQ DVVDXOW E\ D QHLJKERU DQG &UDLJ /DQJ %ULHDQFD 'LDPRQG 5\DQ 'LDPRQG DQG %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG ZHUH DOO DUUHVWHG 'HIHQGDQWV ILOHG D 0RWLRQ IRU 6XPPDU\ -XGJPHQW (&) 1R   7KH PDWWHU ZDV UHIHUUHG WR WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH ZKR LVVXHG D 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ 5 5  UHFRPPHQGLQJ WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV¶ PRWLRQ EH JUDQWHG LQ SDUW DQG GHQLHG LQ SDUW VSHFLILFDOO\ WKDW VDYH IRU WKH IDOVH DUUHVW DQG IDOVH LPSULVRQPHQW FODLPV DVVHUWHG E\ 3ODLQWLIIV 5\DQ 'LDPRQG DQG %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG DJDLQVW 'HIHQGDQW (O]LQJD 'HIHQGDQWV¶ PRWLRQ IRU VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW EH JUDQWHG RU 3ODLQWLIIV¶ FODLPV EH GLVPLVVHG DV GHWHUPLQHG LQ WKH 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ  3ODLQWLIIV VXEVHTXHQWO\ DJUHHG WR GLVPLVV 3ODLQWLII %ULHDQFD 'LDPRQG¶V FODLPV DQG WR GLVPLVV 'HIHQGDQWV .HOO\ 3LWWHONRZ *HUDOG %HQWOH\ -RKQ 5HVVHJXLH $QWKRQ\ 0RUJDQ -RKQ +XUVW DQG 3DXOD +HQVOH\ UHDO QDPH 3DXOD +HQVHO  DQG WKH &LW\ RI .DODPD]RR 7KH PDWWHU LV SUHVHQWO\ EHIRUH WKH &RXUW RQ REMHFWLRQV WR WKH 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ E\ 3ODLQWLIIV 5\DQ 'LDPRQG %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG DQG &UDLJ /DQJ (&) 1R   WR ZKLFK 'HIHQGDQWV KDYH ILOHG D 5HVSRQVH (&) 1R   ,Q DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK  86& †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¶ UHOLDQFH RQ WKH 5XOH  VWDQGDUGV LV PLVSODFHG 7KH VKRUWFRPLQJV LQ 3ODLQWLIIV¶ FODLPV UHVXOW IURP D IDLOXUH WR SOHDG WKRVH FODLPV ZKLFK ZDV WKH EDVLV RI WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶V UXOLQJ WKDW WKH FODLPV IDLOHG $V 'HIHQGDQWV SRLQW RXW 3ODLQWLIIV¶ IDLOXUH WR DOOHJH IDFWV SHUVRQDOO\ LPSOLFDWLQJ 'HIHQGDQWV 6FKLSSHU 'HQKDUGHU *HLN DQG 'DKOLQJHU LQ DQ\ FRQVWLWXWLRQDO YLRODWLRQV LV IDWDO WR FODLPV DOOHJHG XQGHU †  7KHUHIRUH WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶V UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ WR GLVPLVV 3ODLQWLIIV¶ FODLPV DJDLQVW WKHVH GHIHQGDQWV ZDV QRW LQ HUURU DQG LV QRW FRQWUDU\ WR )HGHUDO 5XOH RI &LYLO 3URFHGXUH  7KH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH SURSHUO\ DSSOLHG WKH  JRYHUQLQJ OHJDO VWDQGDUGV 7R WKH H[WHQW 3ODLQWLIIV REMHFW WR WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶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¶V LOOHJDO VHDUFK DQG VHL]XUH FODLP 3ODLQWLIIV DUJXH WKDW JLYHQ WKH IDFWV WKH\ SUHVHQWHG LQ WKHLU UHVSRQVH WR WKH PRWLRQ IRU VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW DQG LQ WKHLU LQVWDQW 2EMHFWLRQV 'HIHQGDQWV GLG QRW KDYH SUREDEOH FDXVH WR DUUHVW &UDLJ 3ODLQWLIIV DVVHUW WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV VKRXOG KDYH ORRNHG EH\RQG WKH HYLGHQFH RI &UDLJ¶V JXLOW SUHVHQWHG E\ ZLWQHVVHV 5REHVRQ :LOOLDPV DQG 3ULWFKHWW ZKR ZHUH LQWHUHVWHG SDUWLHV WR WKH WRWDOLW\ RI WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV 3ODLQWLIIV VWDWH WKDW ³>L@W LV FOHDU WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV GLG QRW KDYH HQRXJK LQIRUPDWLRQ IURP WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RQ ZKLFK WR EDVH D VXVSLFLRQ VXIILFLHQW WR ULVH WR WKH OHYHO RI SUREDEOH FDXVH ,QVWHDG 'HIHQGDQWV XVHG WKHLU RZQ ELDV DORQJ ZLWK WKH ELDVHG VWDWHPHQWV RI LQWHUHVWHG SDUWLHV WR PDQXIDFWXUH SUREDEOH FDXVH´ (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,'  $GGLWLRQDOO\ ³>G@XH WR 'HIHQGDQWV¶ IDLOXUH WR SURSHUO\ LQYHVWLJDWH WKH PDWWHU DQG WKHLU REYLRXV UHWDOLDWRU\ EHKDYLRU LW FDQQRW EH FRQFOXVLYHO\ HVWDEOLVKHG WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV WUXO\ KDG SUREDEOH FDXVH WR DUUHVW 3ODLQWLII &UDLJ´ id. DW 3DJH,'  3ODLQWLIIV¶ DUJXPHQW LV ZLWKRXW PHULW 7KH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH SURSHUO\ FRQVLGHUHG WKH DSSOLFDEOH 0LFKLJDQ ODZ EDVHG RQ WKH UHFRUG HYLGHQFH DQG GHWHUPLQHG WKDW WKHUH ZDV D VXIILFLHQW EDVLV LH SUREDEOH FDXVH WR DUUHVW &UDLJ IRU DVVDXOW DQG EDWWHU\ (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,'  7KH  0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH QRWHG WKDW &UDLJ¶V UHOLDQFH RQ FODLPV DQGRU HYLGHQFH RI VHOIGHIHQVH GLG QRW DOWHU WKH SUREDEOH FDXVH DQDO\VLV id.  3ODLQWLIIV KDYH IDLOHG WR VKRZ DQ\ HUURU LQ WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶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¶V DQG 5\DQ 'LDPRQG¶V H[FHVVLYH IRUFH FODLPV VKRXOG EH GLVPLVVHG 7KLV REMHFWLRQ IDLOV $JDLQ DV WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH QRWHG DQG 'HIHQGDQWV SRLQW RXW LQ WKHLU UHVSRQVH 3ODLQWLII &UDLJ /DQJ DOOHJHG LQ WKH &RPSODLQW WKDW 'HIHQGDQW 5HVVHJXLH VXEMHFWHG KLP WR H[FHVVLYH IRUFH IROORZLQJ KLV DUUHVW E\ GHWDLQLQJ &UDLJ ZLWK ³H[FHVVLYHO\ WLJKW KDQGFXIIV´ DQG VODPPLQJ KLP LQWR D YHKLFOH (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,' (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,'  %HFDXVH 'HIHQGDQW 5HVVHJXLH ZDV DOUHDG\ GLVPLVVHG &UDLJ¶V H[FHVVLYH IRUFH FODLPV DUH SURSHUO\ GLVPLVVHG  $V WR 3ODLQWLII 5\DQ 'LDPRQG WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH WKRURXJKO\ UHYLHZHG WKH HYLGHQFH XQGHU WKH JRYHUQLQJ OHJDO VWDQGDUGV DQG SURSHUO\ FRQFOXGHG WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV ZHUH HQWLWOHG WR VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,'  7KLV &RXUW ILQGV QR PHULW LQ 3ODLQWLIIV¶ DUJXPHQW WKDW D FRQWUDU\ UHVXOW LV UHTXLUHG EHFDXVH 'HIHQGDQW *HLN SODFHG H[FHVVLYHO\ WLJKW KDQGFXIIV RQ 5\DQ DQG 'HIHQGDQW (O]LQJD IDLOHG WR ORRVHQ WKHP ZKHQ DVNHG 0RUHRYHU WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH SURSHUO\ IRXQG WKDW 5\DQ¶V DOOHJHG LQMXU\ ZDV GH PLQLPLV DQG LQVXIILFLHQW WR PDLQWDLQ WKLV FODLP 2EMHFWLRQ  LV GHQLHG 2EMHFWLRQ  3ODLQWLIIV REMHFW WKDW WKH 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ HUURQHRXVO\ IRXQG WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV DUH HQWLWOHG WR VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW RQ WKH PDOLFLRXV SURVHFXWLRQ FODLPV EURXJKW E\ 3ODLQWLIIV &UDLJ /DQJ DQG %UDQGHQ DQG 5\DQ 'LDPRQG 3ODLQWLIIV DUJXH WKDW WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH ZURQJO\ IRXQG WKDW 3ODLQWLIIV IDLOHG WR LGHQWLI\ DQ\ HYLGHQFH WKDW SURYHV 'HIHQGDQWV¶ LQYROYHPHQW LQ WKH GHFLVLRQ WR SURVHFXWH EHFDXVH WKH HYLGHQFH VKRZV WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV GLG PRUH WKDQ SDVVLYHO\ RU QHXWUDOO\ SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH GHFLVLRQ WR SURVHFXWH 7KH &RXUW GLVDJUHHV 7KH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH QRWHG WKDW 3ODLQWLIIV ³PXVW SUHVHQW HYLGHQFH VXIILFLHQW WR PDNH WKH FDXVDO FRQQHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH RIILFHUV¶ DOOHJHG µPLVVWDWHPHQWV DQG IDOVHKRRGV¶ DQG WKH VXEVHTXHQW GHFLVLRQ WR SURVHFXWH´ (&) 1R  DW 3DJH,'  8SRQ UHYLHZ RI WKH UHFRUG WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH FRQFOXGHG WKDW 3ODLQWLIIV IDLOHG WR LGHQWLI\ VXFK HYLGHQFH $GGLWLRQDOO\ IRU WKH UHDVRQV VWDWHG DERYH WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH GHWHUPLQHG WKDW WKH PDOLFLRXV SURVHFXWLRQ FODLP DVVHUWHG E\ 3ODLQWLII &UDLJ /DQJ IDLOHG RQ RWKHU JURXQGV LQFOXGLQJ WKDW SUREDEOH FDXVH H[LVWHG IRU KLV DUUHVW 3ODLQWLIIV KDYH IDLOHG WR VKRZ DQ\ HUURU LQ WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶V DQDO\VLV RU FRQFOXVLRQ DQG WKLV 2EMHFWLRQ LV WKHUHIRUH GHQLHG  &RQFOXVLRQ $FFRUGLQJO\ WKLV &RXUW DGRSWV WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH¶V 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ DV WKH 2SLQLRQ RI WKLV &RXUW 7KHUHIRUH ,7 ,6 +(5(%< 25'(5(' WKDW WKH 2EMHFWLRQV RI 3ODLQWLIIV 5\DQ 'LDPRQG %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG DQG &UDLJ /DQJ (&) 1R  DUH '(1,(' DQG WKH 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ RI WKH 0DJLVWUDWH -XGJH (&) 1R  LV $33529(' DQG $'237(' DV WKH 2SLQLRQ RI WKH &RXUW ,7 ,6 )857+(5 25'(5(' WKDW 'HIHQGDQWV¶ 0RWLRQ IRU 6XPPDU\ -XGJPHQW (&) 1R  LV *5$17(' ,1 3$57 $1' '(1,(' ,1 3$57 VSHFLILFDOO\ VDYH IRU WKH IDOVH DUUHVW DQG IDOVH LPSULVRQPHQW FODLPV DVVHUWHG E\ 3ODLQWLIIV 5\DQ 'LDPRQG DQG %UDQGHQ 'LDPRQG DJDLQVW 'HIHQGDQW (O]LQJD 'HIHQGDQWV¶ PRWLRQ IRU VXPPDU\ MXGJPHQW LV JUDQWHG RU 3ODLQWLIIV¶ FODLPV DUH GLVPLVVHG DV GHWHUPLQHG LQ WKH 5HSRUW DQG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQ /s/ Janet T. Neff -$1(7 7 1()) 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 'LVWULFW -XGJH 'DWHG 6HSWHPEHU 5  

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?