Bahl et al v. Ramsey, County of et al
Filing
135
ORDER granting 82 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting in part 85 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting 88 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; denying without prejudice 90 Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony (Written Opinion). Signed by Senior Judge David S. Doty on 12/29/2010. (PJM)
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Bahl et al v. Ramsey, County of et al
Doc. 135
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA Douglas Duane Bahl and Susan Kovacs-Bahl, Plaintiffs, v. County of Ramsey, Ramsey County Sheriff's Department and City of St. Paul, Defendants. Roderick J. Macpherson III, Esq., Minnesota Disability Law Center, 430 1st Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401, counsel for plaintiffs. Thomas E. Ring, Ramsey County Attorney, 50 Kellogg Boulevard West, Suite 560, St. Paul, MN 55102 and Judith A. Hanson, St. Paul City Attorney, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 750, St. Paul, MN 55102, counsel for defendants. ORDER Civil No. 08-5001(DSD/JJG)
This matter is before the court upon defendants' motions for summary judgment and plaintiffs' motions for partial summary
judgment and to exclude testimony.
Based on a review of the file,
record and proceedings herein, and for the following reasons, the court grants defendants' motions in part, grants plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment and denies the motion to exclude testimony.
Dockets.Justia.com
BACKGROUND This disability-discrimination action arises out of the arrest and detention of plaintiff Douglas Duane Bahl by defendants City of St. Paul (St. Paul) and County of Ramsey and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department (together, Ramsey County). Bahl is deaf and Bahl
uses American Sign Language (ASL) as his primary language. Aff. ¶ 3, ECF No. 109.
Bahl attended Gallaudet University and
holds a Masters Degree from the University of Minnesota. Bahl Dep. 52. His college classes were conducted in ASL. Bahl taught high
school social studies, geography, civics, basic English, drama and math for fourteen years at the Minnesota School for the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota. Id. at 5354. Bahl currently instructs ASL He reads
at the University of Minnesota and St. Paul College.
English at a sixth-grade level, and usually communicates in ASL, though he uses a Blackberry handheld device to communicate by text and email. Bahl Dep. 18687, ECF No. 112-2. When Bahl
communicates with non-ASL speakers in person, he typically uses an interpreter, and alternatively communicates by writing. On November 17, 2006, around 5:00 p.m., Bahl was driving to visit his then-girlfriend, plaintiff Susan Kovacs-Bahl1 in a
rehabilitation facility near Fairview Riverside Hospital. 97100. an
Id. at
He ignored a red light and drove through cross traffic in St. Paul Police Officer Stephen Bobrowski
intersection.
1
Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl since married. 2
observed Bahl's actions and activated his lights and siren. stopped his car. Id. at 100-01.
Bahl
When Bobrowski reached the
driver's side of the car, Bahl shook his head, gestured to his ear and said "no." Id. at 101104. Id. Bahl next gestured that he wanted Bobrowski was not carrying a pen
to communicate in writing.
or paper, and he pointed to his mouth and said "drivers license" and then made a card shape with his hands. ECF No. 112-2. Bahl claims that Bobrowski next pushed his shoulder, which was painful, and Bahl leaned to the right.2 Bahl Dep. 10910. Bobrowski Dep. Ex. 1,
Bobrowski grabbed Bahl's wrist, and Bahl again pulled away because it was painful. Id. at 112. Bahl reached to his right for paper
and a pen and began to write "joint" to tell Bobrowski that his joints are sensitive. Bobrowski then sprayed Bahl with aerosol Id. at
subject restraint, and Bahl started flailing his arms. 11516.
Bobrowski pulled Bahl from his car and then pulled Bahl's See id. at 11718. Backup assistance
arm behind his back.
arrived, and after Bahl was restrained, an ambulance transported him to Regions Hospital for treatment. Bahl arrived at the hospital at 5:52 p.m. Bobrowski told the When the
nurses that Bahl is deaf and asked for an interpreter.
hospital interpreter arrived, Bobrowski told her that Bahl was
Although St. Paul maintains that Bahl first grabbed Bobrowski and pulled him to the car, St. Paul accepts Bahl's version of the facts for the purpose of this motion. 3
2
under arrest and could make phone calls.
Bobrowski Dep. 6567.
Bahl communicated with hospital staff through the interpreter. When police officers asked the interpreter to help communicate with Bahl, she refused, saying that her job was only to interpret for hospital matters. Bahl agreed, saying that the police had to get Bahl Dep. 12526. Hospital staff assessed
their own interpreter. and treated Bahl.
Meanwhile, Colleen Luna, police shift commander, prepared a typewritten statement, which stated in full: 06235877 Bahl, Douglas Duayne [sic] You have been arrested for GROSS MISDEMEANOR OBSTRUCTING WITH FORCE MN State Statute 609.50 We will not be asking you any questions at this time. When an investigator interviews you a sign language interpreter can be provided if you wish. Bahl Dep. Ex. 1, ECF No. 112-2. Bobrowski picked up the statement
from the law-enforcement center, returned to the hospital and presented the statement to Bahl. looking at the statement. Bahl nodded affirmatively after When presented
Bobrowski Dep. 122-24.
with the statement at his deposition, Bahl stated: "I can read [the words], but some of the words I don't understand." Id. 13536.
4
At the hospital, Bahl also had the following exchange with a deputy of the Ramsey County Sheriff, written on the charge
statement:3 Bahl: Deputy: Bahl: Deputy: Bahl: Deputy: Bahl: "Will you get me an interpreter" "St. Paul would have to" "When?" "Its up to the investigators" "Tonite?" "St. Paul knows and they do not want to ask" "I do not understand clearly between you and St. Paul -- confusing." Bahl Dep. Ex. 1. Bahl also wrote: "ADA Law! must provide
Interpreter or I'll file lawsuit" and "I feel it's urgent to act now -- cuz of brutality." Regions Hospital Id. Bahl at 8:36 p.m., and the
discharged
physician notes state that his right eye was clear, and his left eye had significant periorbital swelling. Ring Aff. Ex. 4, ECF No. 97-3. Staff gave two prescriptions to Ramsey County, and
instructed Bahl to take ibuprofen or Vicodin for pain as needed. Id. Bobrowski transported Bahl to the Ramsey County Adult
Detention Center (ADC) and transferred custody to Ramsey County in
The deputy on duty did not identify his handwriting with certainty. See Murphy Dep. 45 ("It looks like right here but can't be certain."). 5
3
the sally port to the jail.
Two corrections officers, Chad Lydon Lydon tried to
and Wesley Matsch were on duty in the booking area. talk to Bahl, who made a handwriting gesture. and Bahl communicated through writing. waited in the open booking area.
Thereafter, Lydon
Once in the jail, Bahl
A television in that area Bahl
typically showed an orientation video with closed captions.
does not recall seeing the video. Matsch began the intake forms on a computer. Matsch completed the medical information questions by
printing and modifying the form so that Bahl could respond in writing. See Matsch Dep. Ex. 6. Matsch also noted on the booking
forms that Bahl is deaf.
Ring Aff Ex. 6.
After completing the booking process, Matsch asked nurses to examine Bahl. pack. The nurses cleaned his nose and gave him an ice
Bahl asked the nurse to get him pain-relief medication, and Bahl Dep. 365, 37071. Bahl
she said that she would do so.
asserts that he could not communicate with the nurses about how to get medication from his house. While still at the Pl.'s Mem. Opp'n 8, ECF No. 113. desk, Bahl had a "written
booking
conversation" in which he asked that Matsch and Lyndon allow him to use email to contact Kovacs-Bahl. Bahl Dep. 351. Matsch said that Matsch Dep. 68,
they could not do so, but offered use of a TTY.4
ECF No. 97-6; Bahl Dep. 35152, 36668. Bahl declined, saying that
A TTY also called a TDD allows use of a telephone line to type a conversation. 6
4
he could not reach Kovacs-Bahl that way. 97-6; Bahl Dep. 35152, 36668. him to use email.
Matsch Dep. 68, ECF No.
Next, Bahl asked Lydon to allow Lydon told Bahl that he did Id. at 58. Lydon Id.
Lydon Dep. 5456.
not have the authority to allow him to do so.
agreed to ask his supervisor about Bahl's request for email.
The supervisor, Brad Trelstad, denied the request, but said that the TTY was available. Trelstad Dep. 20, ECF No. 112-5; Lydon Dep. at 6061. Lydon again told Bahl that he could not use email but Lydon Dep. 64. Id. Bahl became frustrated
that he could use a TTY.
and Lydon directed him to sit down.
Whether Bahl then changed his mind and requested to use a TTY is unclear. He testified that while still in the booking room "I They said, no,
came up with the idea, I asked, can I have a TTY? you'll have to use that tomorrow morning.
And I -- because I
thought of somebody else I could contact that had a TTY on their end." Bahl Dep. 36667. After his counsel interjected to say that
"there's some confusion" about the timing, Bahl then testified, "I made the request to contact [Kovacs-Bahl] through the use of a computer, but I don't remember requesting a TTY." Id. at 367.
About an hour later, jail staff assigned Bahl to a cell in general housing, where he had a roommate, rather than in an orientation unit, where he would be alone. paper, a vending card and coveralls. He received pencils,
The housing unit had two
tiers of cells, and inmates are allowed out of their cells one tier
7
at a time.
The common area has an officer desk, telephones and a
television. Inmates may make monitored collect calls while allowed out of their cells, but generally are not allowed to place calls for another inmate. Officers staff the desk during the day, and Inmates learn about
inmates are locked in their cells at night.
jail rules through a handbook, with copies in the cells and at the officer's desk. One experienced inmate is designated the
"swamper," and he has additional responsibilities as a resource for inmates and staff in the housing unit. On Saturday morning, Bahl asked the officer on duty a number of questions. Bahl Dep. 431. Id. The officer answered the questions.
Bahl states that he requested a TTY, but the ADC did not Bahl Dep. 435. Gary Hoven, the officer on duty, does
provide one.
not recall Bahl asking for a TTY but states that he offered to call Bahl's girlfriend or someone else for him. No. 97-7. he began Bahl declined. inquiring about Id. an Hoven Dep. Ex. 2, ECF
The sergeant in charge states that interpreter, but that the guard All he
reported: "Don't bother. wants is e-mail."
He's refusing an interpreter.
Brommerich Aff. ¶¶ 910.
Hoven states that he Hoven Dep.
asked the swamper to make sure Bahl had needed items. Ex. 2.
Later on Saturday, a St. Paul Police investigator, Sergeant Bryant Gaden, came to the jail to interview Bahl. Gaden did not
bring an interpreter, and communicated in writing with Bahl:
8
Bahl:
Can you get Sign Language interpreter? I already requested last night. Sign language is my primary language. Not true I am deaf and use ASL. language. Writing is a language English is my second language. More effective communication is through ASL not my 2nd language. I will read you the rights form, you can read along. Then I will go and look for interpreter. Thanks! Read them, if you understand initial space then I will give you a copy. Initials? Ex. 24, at of 57. the Thereafter, form, and Bahl completed to the each Please respect my
Gaden: Bahl: Gaden: Bahl:
Gaden:
Bahl: Gaden: Bahl: Bahl Dep.
biographical
section
initialed
show his
understanding of each Miranda right. the form. Id.
Id. at 8.
Bahl then signed
Gaden asked, "At this point you would like to stop
and have an interpreter present?" and Bahl replied, "Yes please." Id. at 7. Gaden ended the interview. Thereafter, he decided that
an interview was not necessary to the city's case and did not justify the cost of an interpreter.
9
On Sunday, Bahl asked Hoven for a TTY, writing "I need to call via TTY in regards to my work for tomorrow." 10, ECF No. 97-2. do." Id. Bahl Dep. Ex. 24, at See what we can
Hoven responded, "After noon.
On the same piece of paper, Hoven wrote:
This is jail -- hard to accommodate Don't get arrested again Lesson learn -- jail sucks Id. Bahl then communicated with another inmate, Windish, who
relayed a message to Kovacs-Bahl at the hospital and to Bahl's employer. Later that night, an officer came to Bahl's cell and
communicated through Bahl's roommate a message from Bahl's daughter: Your daughter called for you here to see how you were doing. She was mad they arrested you. She was cursing out the officers for arresting you. She told them you were law abiding & a good person & to let you go! Id. at 19. On Monday morning, the officer in Bahl's unit told Bahl that he had not yet been charged, and offered the TTY. Bahl declined.
After lunch, the officer told Bahl that he had been charged, and that bail was set at $6,000 with court the next day. for the TTY, which was present at the officers' desk. Bahl asked Bahl used
the TTY at the officer's desk because it needed to be plugged into a phone jack. from the ADC.5 Bahl made three calls. Later, Bahl was released
5
On September 14, 2007, a jury convicted Bahl of misdemeanor (continued...) 10
On July 28, 2008, Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl began this action in Minnesota state court, claiming disability discrimination against St. Paul and Ramsey County under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act (RA), the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) and common-law negligence.6 St.
Paul and Ramsey County timely removed, and now move for summary judgment. Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl move for partial summary judgment
on certain affirmative defenses of St. Paul and Ramsey County and to exclude the expert testimony of James Bruton. considers the motions.7 The court now
DISCUSSION Summary judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, the
discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ.
(...continued) obstruction of legal process based on the November 17, 2006, traffic stop. On February 11, 2009, the court granted Ramsey County's motion to dismiss claims seeking a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief and for association discrimination. See ECF No. 47. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on March 4, 2009. See Am. Compl., ECF No. 48. Shortly after oral argument in this case, the Eighth Circuit heard argument in Loye v. Cnty. of Dakota, 625 F.3d 494 (8th Cir. 2010). Recognizing the potential impact of Loye on this case, the court notified the parties that it would hold the instant motions under advisement pending disposition of Loye by the Eighth Circuit. 11
7 6
5
P. 56(c);8 see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). A fact is material only when its resolution affects the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248
(1986). A dispute is genuine if the evidence is such that it could cause a reasonable jury to return a verdict for either party. id. at 252. On a motion for summary judgment, the court views all evidence and inferences in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See id. at 255. The nonmoving party, however, may not rest upon See
mere denials or allegations in the pleadings but must set forth specific facts sufficient to raise a genuine issue for trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324. See
Moreover, if a plaintiff cannot support
each essential element of his claim, the court must grant summary judgment because a complete failure of proof regarding an essential element necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. 322-23. I. ADA, RA and MHRA Claims Title II of the ADA forbids a public entity from excluding qualified individuals with disabilities from participating in or receiving the benefits of its services, programs or activities. 42 Id. at
The court cites the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in effect at the time of the motions and hearing. Changes effective December 1, 2010, do not affect the outcome of this case. 12
8
U.S.C. § 12132.9
Thus, to prevail on a claim of disability
discrimination, a plaintiff must allege that he or she (1) is a qualified individual with a disability, (2) was excluded from participating in or receiving the benefits of the service, program or activity, and (3) such exclusion was because of his or her disability. 1999). See Randolph v. Rodgers, 170 F.3d 850, 858 (8th Cir.
An entity excludes a person disabled in communication when
it fails to provide effective communication that allows meaningful access to services and activities. Loye, 625 F.3d at 496, 500.
The communication need not "produce the identical result or level of achievement," but rather must provide an "equal opportunity to gain the same benefit." quotation marks omitted). Depending on the circumstances, effective communication "may require the use of auxiliary aids and services, such as See id. at 499 (citation and internal
interpreters for the hearing impaired." 35.160(b)(1). Auxiliary aids include:
Id. at 49697; see 28 CFR
Qualified interpreters, notetakers, transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, assistive listening devices, assistive
Section 504 contains similar prohibitions with the additional requirement that the "program or activity receiv[e] Federal financial assistance." 29 U.S.C. § 794(a). Likewise, the MHRA forbids discrimination "in the access to, admission to, full utilization of or benefit from any public service because of ... disability." Minn. Stat. § 363A.12, subdiv. 1. The court refers only to the ADA, but its analysis applies equally to section 504 and the MHRA. See Yeng Thao v. City of St. Paul, 481 F.3d 565, 567 n.3 (8th Cir. 2007). 13
9
listening systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD's), videotext displays, or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments.10 28 C.F.R. § 35.104. The public entity must give "primary
consideration" to furnishing the auxiliary aid requested by the disabled individual and honor the choice unless another effective means of communications exists. app. A. Id. § 35.160(b)(2); id. pt. 35,
When the information exchanged is not complex or does not
occur over a long period of time, a notepad and written materials may permit effective communication. Id. pt. 35, app. A pmbl.
An entity may show, as an affirmative defense, that the accommodation provided was effective, would have resulted in an undue burden or would have altered the fundamental nature of a program. See Randolph, 170 F.3d at 858; 28 C.F.R. § 35.160. The
parties agree that Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl are qualified individuals with disabilities for purposes of the ADA, RA and MHRA.
The addition of exchange of written notes to the definition of "auxiliary aid" effective March 15, 2011, confirms that such method is considered an auxiliary aid. See Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services, 75 Fed. Reg. 56164, 56177 (Sept. 15, 2010) (amending 35 C.F.R. § 34.104 effective March 15, 2011). 14
10
II.
St. Paul A. Traffic Stop
Bahl first claims that St. Paul violated the ADA, RA and MHRA when Bobrowski did not honor Bahl's request to communicate in writing. Specifically, Bahl argues that not honoring his request
excluded him from the service of an investigatory stop without use of excessive force. As an initial matter, the Eighth Circuit has
never held that police actions before an arrest are a service. Even if they are, Bahl's claim fails because he does not allege that St. Paul used excessive force.11 Moreover, the undisputed
facts show that after Bobrowski touched Bahl's shoulder, Bahl reached into the interior of his car. Events unfolded rapidly, and Bobrowski's concern about a suspect reaching further into his car, his decision to restrain Bahl and his use of force are objectively reasonable. As a result, Bahl does not show that he was denied a
service by St. Paul, and his claim fails. Further, Bobrowski witnessed Bahl drive through traffic
against a red light at rush hour. high threat to public safety.
This dangerous behavior posed a
Accord Bircoll v. Miami-Dade Cnty., The ADA, RA and MHRA do not
480 F.3d 1072, 1086 (11th Cir. 2007).
require Bobrowski to grant Bahl's requested auxiliary aid when doing so would require him to turn his back on a driver who he had
Bahl makes no claims that Bobrowski violated his civil rights or used excessive force: he only challenges the communication that occurred prior to the altercation. 15
11
just witnessed endanger public safety. Under the circumstances, it would be unreasonable to expect Bobrowski immediately to return to his squad car to retrieve a pen and paper. Bahl testified that he
had been pulled over several times before and knew that he would need to show his drivers's license. Bahl requested the auxiliary
aid of writing using gestures; Bobrowski's decision first to try simple communication by using gestures to make a rectangle with his hands and saying "drivers license" was reasonable under the
circumstances,12 and allowed Bahl meaningful access to service. Therefore, summary judgment is warranted on his claim regarding the traffic stop. B. Statement of Charges
Bahl next claims that St. Paul violated the ADA, RA and MHRA by not providing an ASL interpreter to tell Bahl the reason for his arrest.13 Bahl argues that the communication was not effective
because English is his second language and he only reads at a sixth-grade level. Bahl's claim fails for several reasons. First, at the time Luna wrote the statement, Bahl's only request for an
Indeed, Bahl states that, although he does not read lips as a daily means of communication, he can understand words in context. See Bahl Aff ¶ 4. ("I can sometimes understand a single word when the speaker says it slowly and if the word involves the context of the situation the speaker and I are in. For example, if ketchup is offered to me when I am buying a hamburger, I might understand the word `ketchup.'"). Minnesota Statutes § 611.32 does not create or establish liability for violation of the ADA or RA. See Randolph v. Rodgers, 170 F.3d 850, 859 (8th Cir. 1999). 16
13
12
auxiliary aid was his request to Bobrowski to use writing.
The
only evidence of Bahl requesting an interpreter on Friday is a note he wrote to a different entity, Ramsey County, after receiving Luna's note. auxiliary aid. Moreover, Bahl's argument that he cannot communicate The record As a result, Luna was honoring Bahl's requested
effectively in English is not supported by the record.
demonstrates that he communicates effectively through writing -- he repeatedly sought to use email at the ADC; he uses a Blackberry to communicate; he used a TTY at the ADC; he communicates in writing at medical appointments; and saved copious notes written between himself, officers and other detainees. Further, the record
specifically shows that he received effective communication about his reason for arrest. He wrote to another detainee that he was Therefore, summary judgment is
arrested: "For fighting police."
warranted on his claim regarding the statement of charges. C. Custodial Interrogation
Lastly, Bahl argues that the city violated the ADA, RA and MHRA by failing and to that provide it did him so the service of of a custodial
interview,
because
his
disability.
Interrogation of persons in custody cannot be characterized as a service for purposes of the ADA, RA and MHRA. Indeed, the Fifth The
Amendment protects a detainee's right not to be interviewed. right to testify attaches at trial.
At the time of Bahl's arrest,
17
before being charged, he had the right not to communicate, not the right to testify. The record shows an effective Miranda warning
and a voluntary refusal to communicate without an interpreter. Therefore, Bahl cannot establish that he was denied a service due to his disability, and summary judgment is warranted. D. Vicarious Official Immunity
Bahl's MHRA claims also fail because St. Paul is immune from suit under the MHRA in this case. Official immunity protects
police officers and other public officials "from the fear of personal liability that might deter independent action and impair effective performance of their duties." State by Beaulieu v. City
of Mounds View, 518 N.W.2d 567, 569 (Minn. 1994) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Police officers are protected
by official immunity because "the community cannot expect its police officers to do their duty and then to second-guess them when they attempt conscientiously to do it." internal quotation marks omitted). A public official who exercises "judgment or discretion is not personally liable to an individual for damages unless he is guilty of a willful or malicious wrong." Id. at 56970. An official Id. at 570 (citation and
commits a malicious wrong when he intentionally commits an act that he has reason to believe is prohibited. Id. at 571. As a result,
the court examines the "principally objective" legal reasonableness of the official's actions. Id.
18
When an official is immune from suit on a particular issue, generally the "government employer will enjoy vicarious official immunity from a suit arising from the employee's conduct." To
Schroeder v. St. Louis Cnty., 708 N.W.2d 497, 508 (Minn. 2006).
extend individual immunity to the entity, the actions of the employee must be within the confines of an assigned duty. S.W. v.
Spring Lake Park Sch. Dist. No. 16, 592 N.W.2d 870, 877 (Minn. Ct. App. 1999). Bobrowski's decision initially to try to communicate with Bahl using gestures and lip reading before leaving Bahl alone to
retrieve a pen and paper were objectively reasonable and lawful. Further, Luna's decision to write a simple description of the offense for which Bahl was arrested was also reasonable and lawful, especially in light of Bahl's request to communicate in writing. Lastly, Gaden's communication with Bahl in writing about his Miranda rights, and decision not to interview Bahl were reasonable and lawful. the MHRA. The record shows that St. Paul has policies and trains police officers persons. in communication, including communication with deaf As a result, each official is immune from suit under
See Frazer Dep. 4548, 5356, 6164 ("We spend a huge
amount of time in academy FTO, and in-service training on the issues of communication .... effective communication."). The basis of our job is to have As a result, they acted under a duty
19
from St. Paul.
Moreover, Bobrowski, Luna and Gaden all exercised Therefore, St. Paul is
discretion in their duty to communicate. immune from Bahl's MHRA claims. E. Negligence
Bahl next claims that St. Paul violated its statutory duty to provide an interpreter: Proceedings at time of apprehension or arrest. Following the apprehension or arrest of a person disabled in communication for an alleged violation of a criminal law, the arresting officer, sheriff or other law enforcement official shall immediately make necessary contacts to obtain a qualified interpreter and shall obtain an interpreter at the earliest possible time at the place of detention. A law enforcement officer shall, with the assistance of the interpreter, explain to the person disabled in communication, all charges filed against the person, and all procedures relating to the person's detainment and release. Minn. Stat. 611.32 subdiv. 2. Police do not violate the statute
where a person communicates effectively in writing. State v. Kail, 760 N.W.2d 16, 20 (Minn. Ct. App. 2009). The court has already
determined that written communication between Bahl and St. Paul was effective. Therefore, § 611.32 does not create a duty for St. Paul
to provide an interpreter for Bahl to communicate the reason for his arrest and detention, and Bahl's claim fails. summary judgment in favor of St. Paul is warranted. III. Claims Against Ramsey County Bahl claims that Ramsey County violated the ADA, RA and MHRA by failing to provide information regarding jail procedures, Accordingly,
failing to provide an ASL interpreter for contact with nurses and 20
failing to provide a method to communicate with persons outside the jail. Kovacs-Bahl also claims that Ramsey County discriminated
against her in violation of the ADA, RA and MHRA by failing to allow Bahl to use email or a TTY to contact her. A. Jail Procedures
Bahl argues that Ramsey County denied him information about jail procedures, including procedures for release. Ramsey County
makes information available to all detainees in three ways: an inmate handbook placed in cells and available at the officer's desk, a video with closed-captioning in the booking area and by answering questions asked by detainees. Bahl argues that Ramsey
County did not tell him to watch the video and that there is no evidence that captioning was active on the television. ¶ 12. Bahl Aff.
Bahl further argues that Ramsey County did not personally Id.
give him an inmate handbook or tell him where to find one. ¶ 14.
Ramsey County responds that it does not direct any detainee
to watch the video or tell any detainee to read the handbook. Viewing the facts in a light most favorable to Bahl, Ramsey County provided the same service and same access to Bahl as it does to all detainees. Even assuming that Bahl did not see the video
and that the captions were not turned on, Bahl had meaningful -- indeed equal -- access to information. Moreover, the record shows
Bahl asking questions and receiving information from ADC staff about jail procedure, release, and charging decisions. Bahl Dep.
21
Ex. 24, ECF No. 97-2. County failed to
In short, no evidence shows that Ramsey meaningful access to information.
provide
Therefore, Bahl's claim fails, and summary judgement is warranted.14 B. Bahl Communication with Nurses next claims that Ramsey County failed to provide
meaningful access to medical treatment while he was in the ADC. Specifically, Bahl argues that the failure to provide an
interpreter for his communications with the nurses prevented him from receiving medical care. Bahl states that he didn't ask some
questions because he felt rushed by the line of other detainees waiting to see the nurse. Bahl Dep. at 735. Bahl also states that
he was unable to ask the nurses how to get another prescription from home.15 Pls.' Mem. Opp'n 27,
Bahl's argument that Ramsey County violated Minnesota Statutes § 611.32 subdiv. 2 is without merit. The statute plainly applies to arresting officers or entities, not the detaining entity. See Minn. Stat. § 611.32 subdiv. 2. ("Following the apprehension or arrest of a person disabled in communication for an alleged violation of a criminal law, the arresting officer, sheriff or other law enforcement official shall immediately make necessary contacts to obtain a qualified interpreter and shall obtain an interpreter at the earliest possible time at the place of detention."). Bahl offers no authority for applying § 611.32 against the detaining entity. Even if § 611.32 applied, the court has already determined that Bahl was not disabled in communication because he communicated effectively in writing. Therefore, his negligence claim also fails, and summary judgment is warranted on this basis. Bahl told Regions Hospital, through an interpreter, that he takes "either naproxen or indomethicin" [sic]. Ring Aff. Ex. 4. 22
15
14
The record is contrary to Bahl's assertions.
All of his
interactions with nurses involved passing medication and providing ice packs for his injury. At no time did he require more intense The record shows that Bahl saw
medical treatment or assessment.
nurses at every shift and that he requested and received pain medication and ice packs every day. 97-6. Wuornos Dep. Ex. 5, ECF No.
Bahl's decision not to ask questions to avoid delaying the
line or because he "didn't want to ask the nurse about the medication in writing," does not mean that Ramsey County failed to provide meaningful access via written communications. Dep. 735, 770. See Bahl
Moreover, when asked if someone could bring his Matsch Dep. Ex. 6, ECF
medications from home, he answered, "No."
No. 97-6. Further, Bahl recalls effective communication. See Bahl Dep. 733 (stating that "one nurse was more willing to listen to my concerns versus this other nurse ...."). Last, Ramsey County
introduced evidence of numerous occasions when Bahl communicated in writing with doctors and nurses about more-complex medical issues. See Feuerhake Aff. Ex. 1; Hanson Aff. Ex. Q. received effective communication and equal Therefore, Bahl to medical
access
services, and summary judgment is warranted. C. Communication with Persons Outside the ADC
Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl first argue that Ramsey County unlawfully refused to provide Bahl with email access. Ramsey County allows
limited, monitored phone calls before intake and when detainees are
23
allowed in the common areas.
As an initial matter, email is not a
modification of a telephone call; it is an entirely different service. Even if it were a modification, Bahl offers no evidence
that email or internet access were available on a computer in booking or the officer's desk in the cell area, or that Ramsey County could, over the weekend, make that service available. Further, Ramsey County offered Bahl use of a TTY, and he refused.16 Therefore, Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl's claims that Ramsey County
discriminated by failing to provide email fails. Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl next argue that Ramsey County failed to provide a TTY. The ADA, RA and MHRA require Ramsey County to Detainees at the
provide meaningful access to telephone services.
ADC do not have unfettered, immediate access to telephone services. As a result, Ramsey County was not required to provide a TTY immediately to Bahl. However, the ADA, RA and MHRA require Ramsey
County to provide Bahl a TTY within a reasonable time after he requested access to one.17
Bahl states that he could not reach Kovacs-Bahl via TTY because she did not have one in the hospital. Bahl fails to explain, however, why he could not have used a relay service, which he has experience using, to communicate to the hospital. Ramsey County argues that Bahl is estopped from bringing a claim for failure to provide telephone service because he refused to use a TTY on Friday night. This defense is without merit. Bahl did not permanently waive telephone service by his Friday refusal. If Bahl later requested use of a TTY, Ramsey County had a duty to provide one within a reasonable time. 24
17
16
Bahl claims that he asked for a TTY on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but Ramsey County did not provide one until Monday. In response, Ramsey County argues that it repeatedly Ramsey
offered him access to a TTY on Friday, and he declined.
County also argues that guards offered to make a call for Bahl and the only record of a request for a TTY is on Sunday, between 3 and 11 pm, after which the guards provided access the next morning. The court must deny summary judgment when, as here, a genuine dispute of a material fact exists. A reasonable jury could
discredit the testimony of the guards and credit Bahl's testimony that he requested a TTY after his refusals on Friday, but Ramsey County did not accommodate his request within a reasonable time. As a result, a single fact question remains: did Ramsey County provide access to a TTY within a reasonable time after Bahl's request? Therefore, summary judgment is not warranted on Bahl and
Kovacs-Bahl's claims that Ramsey County failed timely to provide a TTY. D. Vicarious Official Immunity
Bahl's MHRA claims about jail procedures, treatment by nurses and use of email also fail because Ramsey County is immune from suit under the MHRA for those claims. The actions of ADC staff
required discretion in exercising their duties to communicate and to provide medical care. MacPherson Aff. Ex. S (Ramsey County The
policies regarding non-English-speaking and deaf detainees).
25
failure
of
staff when
to they
communicate do not do
jail so
procedures any
to
Bahl the
individually,
for
detainee;
decisions of the nurses to communicate with Bahl about medication and an ice pack using gestures and writing; and the decision of staff to refuse Bahl's email request and offer use of a TTY were all objectively reasonable and lawful. is immune from suit under the MHRA. As a result, each official The employees acted under a
duty imposed by Ramsey County and, therefore, Ramsey County has vicarious claims.18 IV. Affirmative Defenses of St. Paul and Ramsey County The parties agree that the court may enter partial summary judgment against St. Paul for its defenses of ADA and RA immunity, lack of constitutional injury, estoppel and statute of limitations and against Ramsey County for its defenses of ADA and RA immunity, lack of constitutional injury and statute of limitations. See official immunity for Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl's MHRA
Stipulation 2, ECF No. 115; Defs.' Resp. 34, ECF No. 108. Further, the court has already determined that Ramsey County's estoppel defense as to TTY use is without merit. Therefore,
partial summary judgment in favor of Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl is warranted.
Because fact questions remain about the timeliness of Ramsey County's response to Bahl's TTY request, it is not entitled to immunity on that claim. 26
18
V.
Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony Bahl and Kovacs-Bahl move to exclude particular testimony from
Ramsey County's expert witness, James Bruton.
The testimony at
issue addresses whether Ramsey County effectively communicated with Bahl. The court has already determined that Bahl received
effective communication without consideration of Bruton's opinions. The instant motion appears irrelevant to the remaining dispute about Bahl's request to use the TTY. Therefore, the instant motion is moot. The court will entertain a new motion to exclude should
it become necessary.
CONCLUSION Accordingly, based on the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. The motion for partial summary judgment by Bahl and
Kovacs-Bahl [Doc. No. 88] is granted; 2. The motion for summary judgment by St. Paul [Doc. No. 82]
is granted; 3. The motion for summary judgment by Ramsey County [Doc.
No. 85] is granted in part: a. The motion is denied as to the claim that Ramsey
County failed to provide access to a TTY; b. The motion is granted as to all other claims;
27
4.
The motion to exclude expert testimony [Doc. No. 90] is
denied without prejudice. Dated: December 29, 2010 s/David S. Doty David S. Doty, Judge United States District Court
28
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